NGATEA HIGH SCHOOL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5239, 15 February 1928, Page 4

NGATEA HIGH SCHOOL

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The 'monthly meeting of the Ngatea District High School Committee was held on Monday evening, Mr W. McDuff presiding. GROUND IMPROVEMENTS.

The chairman reported that so far 170 yards of sand had been placed on the playground. A contract had not yet been let for the erection of the pergola, as the Education Board had not placed the money collected in the committee’s banking account. It was. also doubtful when the subsidy would be made available, apd he did not wish to incur expense until the money was available. TRANSPORTATION. A ; letter was received from a Kerepeehi resident urging the arrangement of a bus service from Kerepeehi to convey children to and from the high school. The headmaster reported that there were four Kerepeehi children attending the high school. The chairman said he did not see that the committee could do anything. The contractor would: probably receive consideration on applying to the Education Board. He was entitled to more than ho was getting on account of the. fact that he was conveying more than twice as manly children as in the past year, and had lately cojnmenced going to Kerepeehi. The committee decided to recommend that Mr J. H. Nicholson’s request be granted. COMMERCIAL INSTRUCTION. A circular was received from the Education Department relative to the teaching of commercial subjects in the secondary department. The headmaster reported that of the 32 pupils in the high school only three desired instruction in shorthand and typewriting, and there was ■not an instructor available. He 'had advised the department accordingly. HOT WEATHER HOURS*. A circular letter was received relative to the closing of the school during the hot weather. The headmaster reported that the school should have been cldised almost every afternoon last week, as the temperature was above 80 degrees. The difficulty was to arrange the buses for taking the children' home, but this had since been arranged and on Monday, when the temperature was above 80 degrees, the school was closed at noon. The unwritten law among Auckland headmasters was to close the school when the temperature exceeded 70 degrees. WATER SUPPLY.

The matter of connecting up with the .water supply main|s was mentioned by the headmaster. The chairman stated that this would be done as soon as labour became available. HOPAI BUS. The secretary was instructed to again write to- the Education Board relative to the overcrowding of the bus ffom Hopai. t SCHOOL PICNIC. The matter of holding a school picnic was discussed at length; and in view of 1 the many calls on the public recently it was decided that a picnic be held at New Brighton Beach if sufficient funds to pay for transportation were collected. INSPECTOR’S 1 REPORT. A report of thb inspection of the secondary department in October last commented that the standard reached might be considered somewhat in advance of fair. The lower form reached a higher standard than the upper forms, where the foundation work was unsound. There was evidence of a more earnest spirit of endeavour, wihich, together with improved work conditions, should result In the attainment of a higher level of efficiency. Pupils should also benefit considerably from the library which was being established.