HAMILTON SCHOOLS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20425, 16 February 1938, Page 6

HAMILTON SCHOOLS

ROLL NUMBERS HIGHER SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM With keener competition in the business world, where specialisation has demanded higher training, there is a greater demand for more extensive education, a factor which has become increasingly apparent in the Hamilton secondary schools this year, following the announcement by the headmasters that all rolls reveal an increase on last year. More pupils are seeking academic education for professions as -well as manual training for trades. Approximately 1300 Waikato children are attending secondary schools in Hamilton daily this year which Indicates that Hamilton is growing as one of the leading educational centres In j the Dominion. s onT 116 record opening attendance of a 600 pupils at the Hamilton Technical t o'™ 6 ? 6 com Prised about 280 girls and 3 320 hoys. The figure represents an 1 mcrease of about 25 over the roll _ number last year and ten over the V previous year which until this term 3 “f d heen the largest enrolment. All the previous pupils who intend to return have not yet resumed and lt Is understood that there are several new j pupils yet to be enrolled. There are over 270 first-year i scholars at the Technical College this . 7 ear, w 7 hich is a record new-pupil ent rolment. The college night school re- , sumes during the first week in Maroh i * dd tt is anticipated by the principal, ■ w - Fraser, that the night-school . roll will be the largest in the history ► of the college. | Boys In Barracks ! The boys of the Technical College are undergoing five days physical 1 drlu at Hinemoa Park this week ac- ’ cording to the visual pr&otlce which was abandoned last year on account ! le infantile paralysis precautions. ' ™e scheme is undertaken with a view ’ improving the general bearing and discipline of the pupils. All the boys of the school with the exception of a few certified as medically unfit are attending the barracks. In addition to drill the hoys have a swim at the j Whitiora school baths each day. High School Roll About 30 more pupils than attended , the school last year have been enrolled at the Hamilton High School the result that the total enrolment is 472 with slightly more boys than girls, filiere are 168 new 7 pupils so far but it is expected that additional enrolments will he made during the ensuing few weeks. Mr C. McGill, who has been abroad to study languages In France, has rejoined the staff. A feature of the opening of the Waikato Diocesan School year yesterday was the record enrolment of 150 girls, an increase of approximately 30 over last year. There are 77 hoarders at the school which represents the total capacity of the college residential facilities. There an over 30 new pupils and the headmistress. Miss A. E. Satchell, stated to-day that several further applications from prospective country pupils had to be declined as boarding accommodation was not available. The only staff change is the engagement of Miss R. Haig, of Dunedin, as music mistress in place of Miss T. Willoughby, who has returned to Auckland. Lack of Aooommodatlon The accommodation problem in the Hamilton schools, which has been exercising the minds of educationalists in the town for some time, has taken on unprecedented dimensions this year especially with regard to hoarding. The Hamilton High School Girls’ hostel Sonning was inadequate for boarding requirements and additional premises had to be acquired. Still larger buildings could be used to advantage. The Hamilton Technical College requires boarding facilities for its country pupils and the lack of them was strongly emphasised at the meeting of the Board of Managers last week. The Diocesan School, too, has not sufficient hoarding accommodation for all the pupils from whom applications were received for enrolment. A new diningroom and kitchen block is being constructed at the school and it is anticipated that the building will he ready lor use about May. The classroom accommodation at both the Hamilton High School and the Hamilton Technical College is too small for the needs of the schools, which have expanded considerably during the large few years. With a record roll at the Technical College there is justification for an additional assistant teacher but according to the principal there is insufficient room to provide a class-room for him. At present the staff of the college dayschool numbers 23 fulltime assistants and four part-time teachers. There are five additional part-time teachers for the night school section.