PAEROA HIGH SCHOOL.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2780, 21 April 1911, Page 3

PAEROA HIGH SCHOOL.

THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT

The following is the report of the Paeroa District High School Committee to be placed before the annual meeting of householders on Monday evening next :—ln submitting its report for the year ended March 31st last the Paeroa District High School Committee has

pleasure in reporting that the work ot the school has been conducted most satisfactorily during the past year notwithstanding the disadvantages under which the teachers and scholars have been working. The relations between the teaching staff-and the committee have been entirely satisfactory, and it is pleasing to note that there has been an entire absence of friction. Thanks in a

great measure to the attention of the headmaster (Mr F. Murphy) the school work has been carried out in a highly efficient manner, and it gives the committee pleasure in placing on record their appreciation of Mr Murphy's good work. Finances.—lt is pleasing to note that the finances are in a very healthy condition, notwithstanding the fact that there were several extraordinary calls on the funds consequent on the recent fire at the school. Commencing with a credit balance of os iod, the balance to the credit of the school fund at the end of the committee's term of office is^io 4s, and the liabilities are

about the same as in previous years.

The Committee. —During the year the committee held fourteen meetings, the attendance of members being as follows :—Mr W. Niccol, 14; Mr W. McWatters, 14 ; Mr E. C. Morgan, 14 ; Mr W. C. Dixon, 12 ; Mr C. M. Brunskill, 12; MrW. J. Ellis, 11 ; Mr T. Dean, 10 ; Rev. A. C. Randerso'n, q ; Mr G. Buchanan, 8. Owing to his removal, trom the district, the Rev. A. C. Randerson resigned from the committee during the year, and his resignation was accepted with much regret.

The School Fire.—As householders are aware, the main school building was destroyed by fire on the morning of August 10th last. The members of the Paeroa Fire Brigade did tbeir best to extinguish the flames, but with an inadequate supply of water this was utterly impossible to accomplish. After the

fire temporary arrangements were at once made for carrying out the school work, and owing to the courtesy ot Captain Dean in placing the drill shed at the disposal of the committee, school was resumed within three days without the loss of a single scholar. The work of re-erecting the school building was delayed in an altogether unsatisfactory manner. The

committee made representations to the Education Department that it was necessary that a new school in brick should be erected at once, and in this

matter received the support of the Auckland Education Board and the member for the district (Mr H. Poland.) After many irritating and vexatious delays, the Education Department made a grant for the erection ol three class rooms, lobbies, etc., in brick, and for the re-instatement of the partially destroyed wing in wood. The renovating of the wing in wood was carried out by the Education Board's workmen, and it is now occupied by the pupils ot the first and second standards. A contract for the erection of the brick portion of the new school was let in the early part of this year, and the work is now in progress. It is hoped that the new building will be ready ioi occupation at the end of the current quaiter. In the meantime the scholars in the standard classes and in the secondary department are being taught in the drill shed, and although this building is suitable as a temporary school, it is to be hoped that very soon the school work will be able to be carried on in the new premises.

Attendance. — The average attendance at the whole school tor the past year was %12'g out of an average roll number of 325*9, or a little over 96 per cent, and this must be accounted highly satisfactory. With regard to attendance the school has for many years occupied an enviable position, and its record in this respect is very gratifying to the headmaster and his staff, to the committee, and to the householders. The parents and scholars are to be complimented on their loyalty to the school in maintaining the high standard of attendance, and the fact that in spite of all drawbacks there has been very little felling away is a matter for congrat-

ulation to all concerned/ As in former

years, a very large number of attend-

ance prizes and certificates were presented to the successful scholars at the

end ot the year

High School. —The number of scholars on the High School roll is now 51, this being the highest recorded m the secondary department since its establishment, and is now the largest roll of any of the district high schools under the Board of Education. For the quarter just ended there was the excellent average attendance ot 486 out of an average roll of 49"8, this being equal

to 9£ '6 per cent,

Examinations.—Eight pupils in the secondary department obtained passes during the year for the junior Civil Service and senior free places examinations, and one passed the national scholarship examination. Two pupils in the primary department gained passes at the junior free place examination. All of the four candidates presented for the pupil teachers' examination were successful in passing, and these all subsequently passed for the junior Civil Service and were appointed to schools in the district. Twenty out of the 22 presented for Standard VI were successful in gaining certificates of proficiency. All but 10 ot 179 children in the standard classes secured promotion in their various standards. Changes in Staff.—ln the secondary department Miss N. Gibbons, the second assistant, resigned in February last, and the position was filled by the appointment ot Miss E. Tooman, 8.A., who is ably carrying out her duties. Ihe pupil teachers, Misses C. Gibb and L. Thorp and Mr T. Black, were re-

moved at the completion of their term of service, and were replaced by Misses I. Robson, H. Bicker, and V. Croft.

Inspectors' Reports. —The reports of the inspectors this year show that the high standard ot excellence obtained in the past has been maintained, and that the methods ot instruction, discipline, and moral tone of the school are all that could be desired.

Additional School Reserve. —During the year Block XX, Paeroa Township, has been set apart as an additional school reserve. This land is close handy to the present boys' playground. It is intended that it shall be cleared and fenced, part of the reserve being used as a shooting range for the cadets, and the remaining portion it is proposed to set apart for instruction in agriculture, which is now compulsory for standards V and VI. The Education Board's instructor in practical agriculture will visit the school from time to time and direct the course of instruction. The

fencing and clearing of this ground should be one of the first matters to engage the attention of the incoming committee. Cadets.—There are 75 members in the school cadet company, under the able command of Captain Pocock. The boys take a keen and intelligent

interest in the corps, and their commander is an enthusiast in his work.

Annual Picnic. —The annual school picnic was held on the racecourse just prior to the Christmas holidays, and it was most successiul and enjoyable. An

interesting programme of events was gone through, and at the close of the afternoon the attendance prizes won during the year were presented to the successful scholars.

Continuation Classes. —The question of continuation classes engaged the attention of the committee during the

year, but a decision on the matter was postponed until further information is obtained. The chairman of the Board of Education (Mr C. J. Parr) during his recent visit to Paeroa promised to forward to the committee a copy of the regulations dealing with this subject, but so far these have not come to hand.

Thanks. —The members of the committee desire to compliment the headmaster (Mr Murphy) and the members of his staff on the efficient manner in which the school has been conducted during, the past year. Thanks are also due to the honorary secretary to the committee (Mr C. M. Brunskill) for the able manner in which he has carried out his manifold duties; to Captain Dean for placing at the disposal of the committee the drill shed for a temporary school; to the Ohinemuri Jockey Club for the use of the racecourse ior the school picnic; and to Mr W. McWatters for the use of his office for committee meetings.