SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2748, 17 April 1916, Page 8

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

TERRACE SCHOOL

. The Committee of the Terrace School, in their annual report, state that the health of the children has been satisfac™pJ'- ,la view of tho prevailing epidemic the school has been thoroughly disinfected, and great care is being taken in keenlag the place clean and wholesome.' As a result of a deputation from the committee to the Education Board, the re- ' spoiisibility has been fixed on the Health pepartnient as the authority to decide on the disinfecting of the school' in the event of a pupil being affected by an infectious disease. Dining the year efforts ' were made to obtain additional playing- £ r ?<" iu \ anil a petition, to be presented has been prepared, and will shortly be sent to householders. Tie petition asks -the House to pass the necessary legislation to enable the board to have transferred to it from the "Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board the piece of ground known as the tennis court, situated to the south of the school. During the year improvements were made to the playground, and provision made for storing bicycles. ■ Instead of holding a picnic this year, sports were arranged in Ivelburn Park, and proved highly successtui. . The headmaster reports that a ■ year ago the roll number stood,at 614; to-day it is 611. But for the natural anxiety of parents regarding the possible spread of infantile paralvsis, if is probable that the average attendance would again, have reached .601. Many old boys have gone to tho war. The school is' represented at all the fronts,'and-several have been mentioned in dispatches, have teen given the Military Cross, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and one received the Legion ■of Honour! At least 26 kavo paid' the great sacrifice, while 54 have-been wounded. The headmaster has collected.over'6o names of those who went to Samoa, and considerably over 300 who have gone to Egypt; no doubt the atter list is very incomplete,' and the headmaster would be glad if parents and friends -would supply him with any names likely to be.omitted. Doubtless, at a later stage, as in the caso of the Boer War, the old boys -will see to it that the names are 'suitably recorded .■ on the school walls.,. Between September,'l9ll, and. December, : 1915,, the school' collected ■£269 odd for various war funds; in addition, a largo amount of material was bought and made up by the, girls for the Red Cross and other-organisations. The inspectors, report'', the'-school- as efficient. In Standard VI wo received 85 proficiency certificates and 15 competency certificates; while in the Departmental examination 22 qualified for, free places, of whom ten qualified-inthe scholarship examination. NORTHLAND SCHOOL'.. ■': The Northland School Committee's an-nual-report states:—& good deal "of useful work has been done' by'tho committee and headmaster- to improvo the outlook of the school ground. Some hundreds of hedge trees have been planted, and a close-boarded fence has been erected to protect them from the north wind. Tho playground at the south end has been enlarged by-taking in part of the vegetable garden. The Education Board also did a considerable amount of useful improvements during- the year. The committee would havelikedto have seen a good deal more done during tho year, but as the work requires considerable money to ■ carry it out, the committee did not feel justified in appealing to the residents while the war lasts for such funds. The work, however, has only been delayed for a short time, the Education Board having liberally consented to carry out the work on condition that the committee fulfil their part of the contract. Tho [education of Ul>e children during tho, year, according to the inspector's report,' has been highly satisfactory. The Sixth Stirndard consisted ; of 11' bovs and girls,' and each one gained a proficiency certificate. , The average. attendance for the whole year was 91 per cent, of the pum'ls on the roll, which is highly creditable, considering the anvmnt of sickness that has prevailed for scfme -time- past. The balance-sheet shows a very sound condition. The children collected £2i for our soldiers, besides doing other useful work. About a dozen - of old boys aro at the front, and,it is hoped before long to see their names commemorated on the BoaTd of Honoui. ..

PETONE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOU: The annual report to he presented at the householders' meeting this eveninj, in connection with the Petone District . High School, states that the average at'tendanco for the year was as follows:— On roll at May 31, 1915, 732; primary department;, (iO, secondary department; total, 792 j admitted during year; ' 289 (primary); 56 (secondary); total, 321; with, drawn during year, 279 (nriinary); 45 (secondary) ;! total, 324. Roll'at 31 lt»ch, 1916—742 (primary)'; 71 (secondary); ffital, 813.' '. The average weekly roll was 744 (primary), and's3 (secondary); total, 797; and the average daily attendance, 686 (primary); 50 (secondary); total, 73C; percentage: attendance, 92.2 (primary), 94.5 (secondary); average, 92.3. In the primary department, 9 pupils obtained junior free places' on .the scholarship .papers, and in the secondary department, 5 were sue-, cessful in the Public Service examinations, and 3 in the senior free places. Two gained national scholarships, and; twowere sucm-ssM. in the intermediate examination. At the inspectors' annual examination in November,, 66 obained heir Sixth Standard proficiency certificates, and 6 secured competency certificates. During.the year 98 pupils did not. miss a I mhijlo ha' May's attendance, and are entitled to first-cjass attendance certificates, whilst 108 wore' not absent more than five half-days, and are qualified, to receive second-class certificates. Reference-- is made to the number o£ ex-pupils who have enlisted, and in. some cases wero not epared o return home, and a tribute is paid to the courage of "those who landed at Hie Dardanelles, , tho words of. the Greatest that ever spoko to man beingquoted: "Greater love hath no man than this— that he lay down his life lor his [mend." The report adds that the health of the school is good, in' spite of the pre,' 6ent epidemic, osd the scrupulous,cleanliuew of the children was a most 'encouraging feature of the school. -Every pos-' sible attention - was given Ivy the headmaster (Mr. AY. Foster) .to the health of the children, fresh air and sea-bathing forming a prominent part .of the school routine during hot weather. It was satisfactory to note the number on the school roll that could swim. All the classrooms had been fumigated, and were constantly disinfected. Tho playgrounds were also similarly treated by the .council's water-cart. Needlowork has become a pleasant and instructive part of tho child's education. Household science was now beyond he experimental stage, and its value was being recognised, the singing of the children has vastly improved, and drawing and colour work, and geometrical drawing, which was taught at tho school, were important subject, and were loved by. the children) The report expresses thanks to all who have assisted m the work and life of the school throughout the-year, and records appreciation of tho efficient minner in which the nchoo! has been conducted by the headmaster and staff.