EFFECT OF EPIDEMIC

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 13

EFFECT OF EPIDEMIC

Principal Reviews the Year's Work "The year which is now closing will be remembered as a particularly haru one, marked by the shortened holidays and a strenuous effort to make up for ten week's lost time," is the comment of the principal, Mr W. A. G. Penlington, in his annual report of the activities of the Hastings High School to the High School Board. "In this effort the members of the staff have co-operat-ed splendidly, and the pupils have responded well. This active spirit of work has enabledus to cover our intended programme of lessons, though necessarily in a rather hurried and superficial manner. There will be need for thorough revision next year. "Last year 45 candidates were presented for the university entrance examination, and 34 of them, or 75 per cent. passed. This was $he largest number of candidates yet presented by the school, and the percentage was also the highest. "Our senior pupils have, I fear, been rendered unduly optimistic by these successes, and also by the announcement that some concession will be made in the standard of university entrance this year; some of those who recently sat the examination have little prospect of passing, and I do not expect that we shall have anything like the same percentage of passes this year. "The total number of new pupils admitted during the year 1937 was 190, 18 less than the 1936 figures. In addition there were 265 of last year's pupils who returned,- making a total of 455 pupils (210 girls and 245 boys) of the roll during the year. Of this number 454 held free places. "The number of pupils taking the various courses were as follows: —

"A1 though a smaller proportion of the pupils have left school this year than last in order to enter employment, there is still a strong demand for juniors to fill vacancies— -greater, in fact, than the school has been able to supply." The report adds tliat Ihe elassroom accommodatioii at Ihe school is still deficient, and that it was hoped that two more roonis would shortJy be adtled on the girls' side, enabling the art room to be reserveil for its propcr purpose. An extension of tne workshops and the erection of a new hoiue science room were also matters requiring attention.

Total Classical 58 girls 47 boys 105 General 72 girls 105 boys 177 Commercial 58 girls 43 boys 101 Agricultural — girls 25 girls 25 Engineering — girls 25 boys 25 Handicrafts 22 girls — boys 22 210 245 455