TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Evening Star, Issue 21751, 20 June 1934, Page 14

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD The Technical College Board met yesterday afternoon, there being present the chairman (Mr T. Scott), Mrs W. Herbert. Messrs G. Clark, TV. W. Batchelor, J. Sheppard, R. H. Todd, H. H. Johnson, E. E. Dnthie, C. .1. Hayward, H. H. Leary, and J. E. Wheeler. The Auditor-General returned a certificated copy of the balance-sheet and accompanying accounts, the Chairman stating that there were no “ tags.” Several members expressed dissatisfaction that the audit charges should be. so high, and it was decided to forward a protest. ’ Tho Kaikorai Tram Company was thanked for providing concession tickets for young workers attending evening classes, the workers receiving this benefit being those in receipt of 15s per week or less. The Minister of Education wrote expressing his inability to permit training of specialist teachers by members of the staff.—The fetter was received. PR INCIPAL’S REPORT. In bis inonthly report the-Principal (Mr W. G. Aldridge) stated:— “ The half-yearly examinations began on Wednesday, June 13, and will be completed on the morning of Wednesday, June 20. Seven hundred and eighty-eight pupils were on the roll a fortnight ago, a number greater than we have been called upon to examine hitherto. There has been much absence of both teachers and pupils since tho month of April on account of colds and influenza, but attendance has almost readied normal figures again. All swimming practice this term is before or after school, with the exception of a short period on Monday afternoon. The board should know’, I think, that teachers have willingly accepted swimming supervision duty both before morning school and niter afternoon school, in order to prevent the otherwise unavoidable interruptions of lessons.

I have already reported to the board the institution of the free-work period from 3 to 4 on Wednesday afternoons; After four months’ trial it seems that the majority of the freework groups will prefer to continue unaltered until the end of the year. I was prepared for a decision to continue with the system,-but hardly for such a sustained interest among the groups already formed. The decision shows, I think, that the pupils as a whole realise the value of the special opportunities provided in this period,” The report was adopted.