Riccarton H.S. Seeking More Laboratory Aid

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31088, 17 June 1966, Page 14

Riccarton H.S. Seeking More Laboratory Aid

The Riccarton High School board will write to the Direc-tor-General of Education (Dr. K. J. Sheen) expressing disappointment at the scale of laboratory assistance allocated to the school. The headmaster (Mr A. J. Gainsford) told the board that the school’s allocation of 15 hours’ assistance each week was insufficient Only when a roll of 900 was reached would assistance be increased to 25 hours. Because of the number of laboratories and the development of science teaching at the school, an allocation of 20 hours was needed. Because four members were absent, the board decided to hold a special meeting on July 4 to discuss the school certificate examinaation.

Although the secretary (Mr P. J. Halligan) said it was too late to send any recommendations to the Education Department, the chairman (Mr M. C. Butler) said the board would be failing to its duty if it did not seriously consider the issue.

Professor H. R. Gray said the board would get a better appreciation if ideas were pooled. When Mr J. R. Humphrey said that be was a layman on the topic and wanted to hear professional opinion, Mr Halligan said the Education Department wanted lay, not expert, views. Suggesting that a special meeting be held, Mr Butler said he had some strong views on school certificate and the board was not just a rubber stamp.

In his report, Mr Gainsford said the new gymnasium would be finished by the end of July. Mr Gainsford said that of the 14 awards made in Christchurch by the Junior Chemical Society, three Riccarton sixth-form pupils gained special awards. Details of work undertaken by A. Brown while a pupil at the school last year had been published to the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry journal.