FOXTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3629, 23 April 1927, Page 4

FOXTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

SCHOOL WORK REVIEWED

BY THE HEAD MASTER

At Thursday’s annual meeting of householders the headmaster submitted the following report to the meeting:—

“In submitting, this my third annual report for your information and consideration, I do so with a great deal of pleasure and pride, for T regard the year just ended as one of the most successful in the long history of the school. The people of this district show a very marked interest in the school as is evidenced by the fact that in- most of its activities many parents and friends rally round and give the school their practical support. ROLLS AND ATTENDANCE. The average school rolls and attendance for the year 1926 -\yere as follows: — Attend- Per Roll. ance. . cent. Side School 43 40 90 Primary 414 373 90 Secondarq 30 35 97 At the end of the March quarter for this year the rolls were as follows: — t Primary 418 Secondary 38 Side School 44 Total 500. An average attendance of 90 per cent, in the main primary department over a whole year is much too low and in this matter I feel that some parents are negligent regarding their children’s schooling. The bad effects of irregularity- of attendance and lack of punctuality upan character formation and educational progress not only with regard to the particular children concerned, but also upon the classes in which- these children are placed must be patent to all and I would most earnestly appeal to all parents for their co-operation in this direction. STAFF. During the year' there have been several changes in the staff of the school. Miss M. Mullaney left on May 14th and her place was filled till the end of the year by Miss Martha Williams, whose place in turn has since been filled by Miss M. Admore, an ex-pupil of the school. On June 22nd Miss D. Browning left to return to England, and Miss Leslie was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mrs. M. C. Price, senior secondary assistant, having received an appointment on the staff of the Hutt y alley High School left on March Bth, her place being temporarily filled by Miss Buchanan, pending the arrival of Mi-. Doel, the newly appointed teacher, who took up his duties on 4th inst.

I regret also to report that Miss Dent is about to leave us to take up a position in the South Island. Naturally so many changes are not in the best interests of the work of the school, but in this respect we suffer no more than other schools throughout the country. Last year we had only one probationer on the staff. We now have three, namely Mr. D. McMurray, Misses H. Spring and T. Hussey, all of whom are ex-pupils of the school and have passed the University Matriculation Examination. EXAMINATION SUCCESSES. As has already been reported in the local press the schoolis record in the field of examinations was as follows: — Teacher’s “D” Certificate, partial pass. —1. Matriculation.—t2. Senior free passes. —5. Junior National scholarship. —1. Junior free places.—3. Proficiency certificates. —36. In my opinion such a record is material evidence that the . work done in all departments has been well up to standard and is an indication that both teachers and pupils have faithfully applied themselyes to their respective duties. The Bock Memorial prizes for Dux boy and Dux girl of the primary department were won by Donald Chrystall and Patience Booth respectively. .THE INFANT DEPARTMENT. Under Miss Williams, the infant Mistress, assisted by Miss Dent, this department has continued its good work. The bright and cheerful atmosphere at all times prevailing makes school life to the little ones a real joy and the work accomplished has, as hitherto, received the approbation of the Inspectorate. THE PRIMARY STANDARDS. In the standard classes throughout, standards 1 to 6 consistently good work was done enabling me to promote at the end of the year a very high percentage of the children from each class. The fact that 36 out of 39 or 92 per cent, of the pupils presented for the proficiency examination obtained proficiency certificates, bears testimony to the good work done in the upper division of the primary classes. It has been my opinion that the average class age in this school has for some years been much too high there being far too many pupils in each standard above the normal age. I am pleased therefore to report that there is evdienee that our school is rapidly approaching the normal in this respect. THE SECONDARY DEPARTMENT.

The elevation last year of the Foxton school to the status oi! a District High School should eventually prove to he a great boon to the majority of children residing in this district, for it makes it pos-

sible for a child to proceed from the infant classes right through to matriculation without going elsewhere for his education, a course that should reasonably be accomplished by the time a pupil reaches the age of 1C or 17 years. • The secondary department provides courses of study and instruction fitting .a child for either a professional or commercial career, and as soon as the existing disability of scattered class-rooms has been removed by the erection of a suitable building for the accommodation of the secondary pupils, the local district high school will, I feel sure, be second to nonp in the whole district. The subjects of instruction in the secondary classes are: —English, arithmetic, history, mathematics, French, Latin, geography, drawing, book keeping, shorthand, commercial correspondence, agriculture, home science, physical science, physical training, - woodwork, cookery, and needlework, and as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made typewriting will be added to the list. In addition extra classes of instruction for those pupils wishing to enter the teaching profession are also held and at present arc being attended by four pupils. In order to cope with the work I would like to point out that it has been found necessary to lengthen the school day for the secondary classes and in this connection I would like to pay a special tribute to the teachers, Messrs Doel and Burdes, for the zeal and enthusiasm they bring to their work. With the object of securing the‘best possible results, parents of secondary pupils are recommended to keep in close touch with the teachers aiid myself and also to co-operate with us by seeing that the home work set daily is regularly and conscientiously carried out. . THE SIDE SCHOOL. At this school the two young teachers responsible tor the work Misses, Cloves, and Young have given of their best and the work done has been of a. very high order. Attendance is good and punctual and altogether the residents of the Beach have much to be grateful for. SPORTS. Games of every suitable kind an encouraged and provided for in all departments of the school and in the field of sport our school has more than held its own. The secondary boys last year entered a team for the Fourth Grade Rugby competition and though successful in winning only one game, regularly fulfilled their engagements and demonstrated that victory alone is nol the sole object of playing the game. The primary school has had a phenomenal run of successes and at present holds the following trophies : Football: The Austin Banner. Running: The McKelvie Shield, The Hobson Shield. Swimming: Boy’s Championships of the Mauawatu. The above clearly indicates that for physique and endurance our young people are made of the right stuff and I am firmly convinced that the Foxton children are as well endowed both physically and mentally as the children of any district in the Dominion. Touching on swimming, reminds me that I would like once again to draw your attention to the fact that out of 306 children in the standard classes or the primary school only 22. can. swim. This works out at about 7 per cent, and represents to my mind a deplorable state of affairs, and I sincerely trust that the local civic authorities will see to it that the baths are constructed before next summer in order that the children may be taught the most important art of swimming. TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. Woodwork and cookery classes are still being conducted, but without equipment of any kind. Provision is being made for the erection of up-to-date rooms for these important classes when the High school building is being erected and I trust that the time is not far distant when Foxton will have all the fully -esuipped buildings necessary to meet all branches of educational activity in our midst. I am also pleased to report the establishment of companies of Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and Brownies in our midst. These organizations for the most part officered by teachers of the school, are excellent in their conception and objective and are strongly commended to parents for interest and support. I cannot conclude this report without making reference to the good work done in the cause of education by your late representative on the Wanganui Education Board, Mr AIL - . Fraser, who for many years rendered conspicuous service on that body. In his successor, Mr. J. K. Horublow, the Southern Ward has a man who will sec that its interests are carefully safeguarded and whose wide knowledge and marked ability enable him to take more than a mere parochial interest in educational matters.

In conclusion I wish to express my sincere thanks to members of the committee for their manifest interest in and on behalf of the school during the past year. Again it lias been a real pleasure to be associated with them in the work, for the most cordial and harmonious relationships have prevailed and I trust will cintinue to do so. To all those citizens who have in any way shown an interest in the school and its work and last, but not least, to the members of the staff who have rendered faithful and loyal service, I tender my sincere thanks and appreciation.