FOXTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4412, 8 February 1930, Page 3

FOXTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

COMMITTEE MEETING.

A meeting of the District Hig > School Committee was held m .the school yesterday afternoon There were present: Messrs J. K. tlornblow (chairman), H. Hutchins, R. Rangiheuea and the headmaster (Mr. F. A. Miason). 'Mr. iSwanger Education Board secretary, was also- in attendance. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Perreau and ft. F. Smith. A statement of receipts and expenditure in connection with the school gala day effort was received and it was decided to thank the staff and scholars for the splendid result of their efforts. Mir. Hutchins was granted an ex - tension of time in connection with the finishing of estimates for laying down extra tennis court and basket hall area. It was resolved to hold the annual school picnic on the Ashhurst Domain on Wednesday, 26th inst. HEADMASTER’S REPORT.

The headmaster’s report was read as follows: — “All sections of the school reopened after the summer vacation on Monday, February 3rd, with roll numbers as follows department, 356; secondary department, 50; side school, 41. Attendance, especially in the primary department, on the opening day was poor, many parents apparently being of opinion that school re-open-ed 0 on Tuesday, February 4th. “There has been a considerable drop in the rolls of both the primary school and side school, the former being principally due to the exceptionally large number leaving on account of having obtained proficiency and competency certificates at the end of last year, (51 in all) and the latter to the fact that two or three families have left the beach. The roll of the secondary <■ department is the largest on record.

“Staff. —The infant mistress, Miss .J. M. Mountfort is still absent on sick lea-ve and hopes to return, to duty on March Ist. In the meantime Miss G. M. Allen is act - ing infant mistress, while Miss Merchant is assisting in the infant department as relieving teacher. Mr. E. Bastion has been attached to the side school where ne will act as assist ant-in-charge. Miss Hazel Spring, an ex-pupil, has been appointed probationary assistant while Mr. A. J. Murphy and Miss M. Yodke, both ex-pupils of the secondary department, have joined the staff as probationers. “During the vacation the results of outside examinations came to hand and 1 am pleased to record the successes obtained by candidates from our school. A summarized list of school successes for 1929 is as follows:- —

“Teacher’s class ! B. —Olga Yorke, one subject; teacher’s class C.: Olga Yorke and Arthur Murphy, turn subjects; teacher’s class D., partial passes: A. Murphy, Theo. Perreau, Melva Yorke, Dorothy Edmondson, the last-named obtaining special mention in mathematics. University entrance (matriculation), 100 per cent, passes: Decciiia Brown, Patience Booth, Melva Yorke, Dorothy Edmondson, Donald Chrystall; public service entrance (8 candidates, 7 passed) : Frank jclnwlev, Alphonso Martin, Keith Alexander, Donald Chrystall, Ivy Tollison, Greta Coley, Hope Thy nne.

“In addition to the above a higher leaving certificate was obtained by Arthur Murphy, whilst Senior Free places were granted to: — Dcnzil Yorke, Leo Bloomfield, Laurence Davey, Meta Mason, Noelene Browne, Jessie Crowe, Greta Coley, Mona Moore, Hope Thynne, Ivy Tollison, Elsie- Henricksen. “The above results speak for themselves and reflect the greatest possible credit upon both pupils and teachers and will go far in the direction of establishing an even greater -and fuller confidence in the minds of parents regarding the efficiency of our secondary department.

“The time has come, however, when serious consideration should he given to two important matters, viz,j the extension of the curriculum of it ho department and the provision of some means of transport for qualified pupils from certain country schools north of Foxton.

“With regard to the first of these matters there seems to be a definite demand for full courses in domestic science, cookery, dress-ma-king and millinery as well as for the inclusion of type-writing in the commercial course.

“With respect to the second, something should he done to enable the school to serve a forger area. At present only two of the 50 pupils on the roll come from schools outside our own —one from jVloutoa. and one from Oroua ./Downs either cycles or rides on the requirements as regards Mou ton, hut the pupil from Oroua Downs either cycle or rides on horseback. Were some form of transport arranged for, I feel that pupils from both Bainesse and Oroua Downs schools would seek their secondary education in Foxton in preference to travelling to Palmerston North. At the same iime provision could be made for the coveyance of the native children from Motuiti.” The report was received and matters concerning the secondary department were discussed at length with Mr. Swanger. „ • ft was decided to complete the commercial course by including typewriting and to provide for dressmaking and millinery. It was a ] so decided to convene a public meeting at a later date in connection with the formation of adult classes in dressmaking, ©to.

Several routine matters were dealt with and the Board Secretary was accorded a vote of thanks for his attendance.