PAEROA HIGH SCHOOL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4614, 15 October 1923, Page 2

PAEROA HIGH SCHOOL

MEETING. GF COMMITTEE. ji The monthly committee, meeting cf the Paeroa District High School was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Saturday evening. There were present: Messrs W. H. Taylor (chairman), C. H. Pascoe, L. C. Cane, W. T. Power, R, G. Soutbby, E. E. Gillman, N, C. Busby, C. H. Mettam, and the secretary. The headmaster, Mr G H. Taylor, also attended. ‘ FREE EXERCISE BOOKS. The headmaster reported that he had received 750 exercise books from the Progress Printing Co., Auckland; bearing advertisements on the covers from local tradespeople. These books had been distributed free to the school children. ; TECHNICAL SCHOOL SITE. ! The Supervisor of Manual and Technical Training, Auckland, wrote asking for the opinion of the commits tee as to the desirability or otherwise of planting ornamental shrubs and : shelter trees on the Paeroa Technical High School site. After due discussion the secretary was instructed to reply, that the com-; . mittee thought that the time was not * yet opportune to incur the expense of planting, as suggested, owing to the site being leased for grazing purpose? and the trees would have no protect tion from stock. ; SCHOOL GROUNDS. j The report of the Visiting Committee was considered, and Mr Gillman submitted a list of proposed improvements to the school grounds. The proposed works were the continuation of the rock wall and wire netting fence along the school boundary in Wood Street, construction of concrete, steps to the upper playground in the boys’ area, painting seats and gates, and the removal of a portion of the. bank on the north-eastern side of thq school building; the cost of carrying out the work to- be paid for out of the sale of empty bottles collected bythe children. With the Government; spbsidy some £ll6 would be available." Authority was given to Mr Gillman/ the headmaster, and secretary to apply for the subsidy and to arrange for having the work carried out. REPAIRS TO ASPHALT. ? The headmaster reported that the' asphalt was chipping badly in some parts of the playground, and required attention. 7 It was decided to ask the Board to . arrange for a coating of tar and "sand, the work to be done during the Christmas vacation if possible. EXTRA LAVATORIES. It was decided to again communi-. cate with the Board’s architect with a view to having increased lavatory accommodation installed for the infants’ department as early as possible. NEW SKYLIGHT. The headmaster stated that the new skylight had been received and fitted up in the infants’ room and was giving satisfaction. MOTOR TRAFFIC. Mr Gillman drew attention to the danger to children of. .motor-cars, . especially in such places as the Bank of New Zealand' and Criterion bridge corner, and also in Thames Road, where the children came down the bank from the track round Primrose > Hill and crossed the road opposite the Methodist parsonage. It was stated that motorists came up the hill at a fair speed in that locality, and ch'ldren could not see the cars approaching from Thames way until they were almost on to them. It was decided to write to "the Borough Council pointing out the danger, and ask if the council could see its way to erect warning notices to motorists asking for careful driving in such places, ~ POSITION OF POUND. " The headmaster asked if anything could be done to obviate the necessity of driving stock to the public pound by way of Wood Street. It was pointed out that apart from the damage done to the rock wall and gardens in Wood Street by .stock, the children were often terrified by beasts, and on several occasions what might have been a serious accident had been narrowly averted. The chairman said he quite agreed that the practice was a very dangerous one with so many small children about. It was decided to write and ask the Borough Council if it could be arranged that no stock should be driven along-Wood Street while the children were going to and from school, and if possible that the Bennett Street route to the pound should be used. SCRIPT PRINT. Mr Pascoe-asked if the chairman could explain the reason for adopting script print in lieu of writing in the school. In reply the headmaster said that it was a matter of internal arrangement in the school. The matter had been thrashed out in other schools, and a certain amount of opposition to the system had been met with. As a result the senior inspector had had careful tests made, and reports submitted to him from the other inspectors showed that they were unanimously in favour- of the scrip; print system for reasons of legibility, speed, and . neatness. Print script was only being taught in ceytain classes. Every child was taught to write its name in the usual way. Where a pupil was a natural writer the style would not be altered. Print script was being universally taught in the schools. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £l6 14s 7d were passed for payment. ~