TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15992, 8 December 1919, Page 7

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

BREAKING-UP BAY, On Friday afternoon the annual breaking-up and prize-giving ceremony was held at the Technical College, when there was a large crowd of pupils and visitors present. Mr Luxford was in the chair. Mr Palmer-Brown, in an opening address, mentioned the fact that the past year had been a successful one from every aspect for the Technical College, and this was largely due to the fact that the school had been working under an improved status. Next year a new boarding hostel would be provided, and this was something for the Technical College to look forward to. The inauguration of the Wanganui Technical Got lego Past Students’ Association was the establishment of a means whereby the old pupils of the school were kept together and thereby lasting traditions were set up. The Mayor (Mr C. H Machsty) congratulated the school on the past year’s work, and wished the pupils a happy time during their coining holidays. The director, Mr G. Parkes, in presenting his report, stated that the enrolmente for 1919 stood at 340, the number haring doubled itself in the past five years. The growth in our numbers has been accompanied by a tendency on the part of pupils to remain longer at the school, and this has been somewhat more noticeable during the war. but it is much to be regretted that so many pupils find it necessary to leave after the first year.

Past Students’ Association.—The inauguration of a Past Students’ Association during this year has been successfully accomplished. It has taken an active part in the campaign to provide the school with a memorial hall, and their interest and enthusiasm are so great that success is certain. School Councils.—An endeavour has been made this year to promote some measure of self-government among our boys and girls. Regular meetings of representatives of the various classes have been held, partly for debates, partly for controlling their fellow pupils. The Council members have taken up their disciplinary duties in classroom and playgrounds in the proper spirit, and I believe their decisions are generally accepted by the pupils. Athletics.—The interests of the boys and girls in their school sports is very keen, the boys particularly taking th-eir games seriously. This, no' doubt, is . due to the better facilities provided, and we hope that when the girls concentrate on one winter and one summer game, as the boys do, that they will have better competitions and take a keener interest in their games. The boys’ cricket team won the junior grade in last season’s competitions, and their football team was well np in the football competitions. In the house matches, Braik House (football) and Varney House (cricket) were victorious.

Alexander Scholarships.—Under Hie will of the late Miss Alexander, the school is endowed with an income of ■£lso per annum for the provision of scholarships. It is hoped that this year the Board will award the first of these. It is proposed that the value of the scholarships should be ~£sO each per annum, payable to pupils selected for training for positions as teachers in commercial, engineering, domestic and agricultural courses. This scheme will make it possible for our best students to remain at school long enough to enable them to qualify for bursaries in domestic science, engineering and agriculture at Otago University, Canterbury College and Lincoln College. Boys’ Hostel.—This important aide of Iho school continues to develop, the enrolments this year being over 40. The Government has, after four years of asking, at last been able to promise us adequate premises, and steps are now being taken to find a suitable site. Staff.—Few changes in our staff have occurred during the year. Mi® Ncilson and Mira Robinson, both temporary teachers, left, and Mr Nicol and Mr Cork have taken their places. We have to congratulate Mr McWilliams on receiving an important appointment at the Wellington Technical College. To the whole staff, the thanks both of the pupils and myself are due for the excellent service rendered. Much additional ’work has been put upon the staff by money raising campaigns in Hie past year, and although the strain in times of shortage of teachers has been exceptionally heavy, the efficiency of our teaching, I feel, has been steadily increasing.

In the course of his remarks the principal, Mr G- Parkes, made complimentary reference to the work of the head boy and head girl prefects of the school, Carlyle Gilberd and Dorothy Webb, who by their respective interests in the work of the school, had been of the greatest assistance to him during the past year.