ROSS NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1928, Page 1

ROSS NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent)

The following reports were presented to the annual meeting of householders on Monday evening:— HE ADM AST HR’S R EPORT. The year commenced with a roll number of 7-1 (Id hoys, 32 girls). The present roll number is 06 t-10 hoys, 20 girls). The average attendance was Hi ‘hoys, 21 girls, total average 01. Parents are to he commended for the regularity and punctuality of the children. The Attendance Officer's assistance has not been necessary during the whole year.

Satisfactory reports of the work of (lie school have been received from the Inspector, drill and agricultural instructors. The annual Proficiency examination resulted thus:— Roll number Standard Vl. 7 ; number previously awarded Proficiency certificates 2; number presented for examination, ~>; number gained Proficiency. I : number gained Competency, 1 : number failed, 0. The school secured second prize in

the potato growing competition. Ihe prize money (Cl) was spent on materi d for lessons in agriculture. During the year. Miss E. ( heslernian. who had for a period <>t nearly six years rendered excellent service as infant mistress and junior standard teacher, was appointed to a position of responsibility on the Training Stall' in Christchurch. Miss Chestcrman departure was much regretted by parents. as well as the children and myscif. She has, however, been very capably succeeded by Miss Ita l.lovu. who lias been hero since Juno.

Mr Robert Chalmers completed twelve months ol service as Probationer to mv satisfaction, and is now a student at the Christchurch Training College. .Miss Joyce Den in is his successor. and has already evidenced capacity bevoml the ordinary.

T have again to thank parents and Committee, and the Commitee’s secretary. Mr A. W. Peebles, for cordial co-operation in the welfare of the school, and would emphatically urge that only by tmremitling co-operation can success (ontinne to he achieved. 1 would suggest that the best method of helping in the work ol a teacher lies in conversing with the children in the topics discussed In school during the dav, and on kindred and as Miciuted subjects. If parents wont 1 make thonisoUes conversant with the exceedingly interesting matter contained in the monthly school journal, amt with the abridged classics that are now so universally used as supplementary school readers, or get the children to tell what has been learned in the nature study or agriculture period. a. new interest would he generated in the children’s work. each child feeling that he or she lias something to add to the matter discussed. Another matter presses lor attention.

Many parents do, I admit, watch for defects in their children’s utterance of the words of ordinary conversation. If this were universally done, much of the teachers’ time and energy would be saved for other work. There are common defects such as saving loight for light, brcaown for hrown, gov u for going, and a very prevalent liabit of speaking with half-closed teeth, which can be, and ought to he corrected at, home. If these matters receive careful attention out of school, much valuable time can he saved. The real teacher, after all. is the parent, the salaried teacher cannot in five hours correct all the had habits contracted in the remaining nineteen. He is, when all is suid and clone, only the hired expert for the teaching ot a small body of specialised subjects—the narent.’s substitute. -

There is one other matter calling for /comment. Children arc dismissed nl*3.3G p.m. or a few minutes thereafter. Upon very rare occasions one may leave school as late as 4.T0. I think it veiy necessary that parents insist that children reach home within a reasonable time after the closing hour, otherwise mischief may he done by the very best children. The postal authorities have recently complained of tlie number of insulators broken in our district. I hey are careful t„ say that they do not suspect the hoys attending Ross School, and T have no reason for any such suspicion. Tint it cannot he denied that it, is while sauntering home after school that such mischief is usually done, and the same may he said of other temptations to which the disengaged mind of any hoy or girl is prone. I hope parents will hear with me in giving utterance to those ideas, as I feel that it is, after all. in the moments ol leisure that good or had habits take firmest hold. SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT. On Jiuhalf of tlie lioss School Committee I have the honour to report as follows:—At the annual meeting of householders held in the school room on 2nd May, 11)27, the following were elected to serve as a committee for the ensuing year, viz.: Messrs 11. t )„uiers, S. Heyward. A. Thompson, S. Gladstone and I''. Holmes. During, the year twelve meetings were held and the attendances were as follows :—TI. Osmors 11, A. Thompson 11. T. Holmes 11. 8. Heyward 0. S. Gladstone nil.

As is shown by tin 1 Headmasters n pert the roll number has further decreased, the present number being

Owing to the decreased attendance 1 lie incidental allowance trom the Hoard is now only £37 per annum.

The cost of school cleaning has not decreased the, caretaker for the past vo,nr receiving £3O and cost of cleaning apparatus more than absorbed the balance of ihe incidental allowance.

Ic will thus he seen that after providing for the school cleaning there is absolutely nothing left to pay for fuel, dental services, etc., etc., except any monies raised by local effort. A school fair was held last month and proved to he a good success financially, the net proceeds being £44 17s 7d. The success of the fair is mainly due to the efforts of the Headmaster and staff who are to he congratulated on the splendid result.

Out of this money the committee have decided to purchase a piano for school use and also add £3 worth of books to the school library. Both of these amounts will he subsidised by the Board £ for £. The committee have just put in five loads oi dockings and with the coal on hand should provide sufficient fuel for the winter months.

.Some small repairs are required in the school building and fences otherwise the buildings and grounds are in satisfactory order.