TE ARO

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2143, 8 May 1914, Page 9

TE ARO

Tho committee of the To Aro School, in. their annual report, stated tlmt tho work of the school had progressed: satisfactorily throughout tho year. High praiso was paid to tho late headmaster, Mr. Clement Watson, IS.A., who rotircu on - account ot\ ill-health •in December last. Mr. Watson bocanio headmaster > of tho Willis Street Sfchool 33 years ago, and held tho position without> a break until his, retirement. The committee have placed on official record their deep sense of tho valuable service which Mr. Wat'sou has rendered to tho community, l and their sincere regret that tho condition of his health has mado his retirement necessary. In December the .Education Board proposed the amalgamation of the Mitchelltown and To Aro Schools, and the committee assented. It agreed to various suggestions made by the Mitchelltown v Committee, but declined' to agree to a change in tho n|uno of the school, on ■ tho ground that tho To Aro School has a long and interesting history, extending over'a term of. fifty years, 33 years under Mr. Watson, and many years previously under tho late Mr. Holmes. 'When tho school reassembled after tho Christinas holidays a new headmas- ■ ter was welcomed in the person of Mr. Malcolm, who now has charge of tho threo sshools. Since Mr. Malcolm's advent a number of improvements havo ■ been effected. ' Seating has been provided in tho playground, and new apparatus,' maps; charts, and blackboards Lave been secured. A room provided for tho teachers has been comfortably furnished, and is. much appreciated by the staff. ' In April,. 1913, the rolls of the Willis Street and Ghuznee Street schools contained in tho aggregate the names of 668 pupils, and the average attendance .was 523. On April 30 this year the.roll figures were: —Willis Street, 510; Ghuznee Street, 176; and Mitchelltown, 135; a total of 821, with an average', attend- . ance of 757.' Tho committee Stato tliat they havo devoted .'a great part of their special funds to the promotion of various games, cricket, football, tonnis,' , ahd 'hockey ' material having' been provided. Tho library also lias been well looked'after, 'and has been added to. ■ No picnic was ' held, it being deemed ' advisablo to Bpend tho money, instead on sporting material, the use of which would benefit the children *all the.year.•.