A MODEL SCHOOL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1933, 30 January 1919, Page 4

A MODEL SCHOOL.

AND MODEL HEADMASTER

We wonder how many of the prominent members of the New Zealand Educational Institute could rival the work of a headmaster in the Wanganui Education District (not a member of the Institute) described by the Chairman of his Committee in a letter to the Wanganui Education Board at last meeting, as follows

Meetings of parents and children have been instituted to encourage patriotism and citizenship, thereby cementing perfect harmony between parents, children and committee.

Introduced merit cards and citizenship ribbons. These are awarded at intervals throughout (he year to those qualified to receive them. Attendance, espriUde-corps, individual responsibility, behaviour, and environment inside and outside the school being taken into account. This is a splendid introduction, and a better school method of uplifting and improving the morals of girls and bo vs would be hard to find.'

During the winter months and oh cold days a very well organised system has been instituted whereby the scholars have their lunch in the quadrangle, hot tea being served by the monitors under the superintendence of a teacher. As we experience very severe weather in this neighbourhood during the winter, this innovation commends itself. It is indeed a pleasant sight to see the scholars sit down around huge fires and eat their lunch in such an orderly manner. The. anxiety of parents is relieved knowing that, the children were warm and comfortable, and a good average attendance lias been maintained. The whole of l/e working, arranging beforehand, and cleaning up afterwards is done by the pupils.

During I he winter mouths we were nimble to obtain labour to cut firewood. A working bee, composed of lire bigger boys was organised, and sufficient wood was cut to last the winter, under the teacher's persona! superintendence. The conditions which forced the circumstances were explained lo the hoys, who made the work' a pleasure, and who were delighted to know they were of sonic service lo their fellowcreatures.

An idem was given the pupils Lo organise concerts, with the object of assisting in some way matters which were, worthy of assistance or required attention. Several such concerts were organised; these were held on Friday afternoons in the quadrangle it tier school was out, parents were invited, a penny being charged for admission. Healthy amusement was provided for the younger ones, and at the same time I lie object in view was not lost sight of. A boy in each ease look (lut chair. By this means suitable week-end literature was provided for Primer IV., and Standard I. Plant- and seed- were bought to beautify the ground, and a “benefit” was given in aid of the Barnardo Homes. The hoys were taken on educational and pleasure trips, an incident, very much appreciated by boys and parents alike, many of the hoys not having been away from home before.

The large quadrangle has been beautifully decorated with educational and geographical pictures, shields representing the Empire ami Dominions, blocks of various kinds of New Zealand limber and samples of some of the products of the Dominion, the whole being exceedingly instructive. As a citizen, our headmaster has organised and helped several successful efforts to raise lands for Red Cross and patriotic purposes, i regret that the annual lest of merit laid to he foregone litis year on account of ( he'epidentic, hut feel sure that the examinations would have disclosed the training as .scholars to he equal to that as citi-

zens. The general opinion is that we are singularly fortunate in having such an efficient, man at the head of the school, and are indebted lo the Board for the selection. — Feilding Star.