PUKEKOHE DISTRICT SCHOOL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 166, 18 April 1916, Page 2

PUKEKOHE DISTRICT SCHOOL

Householders' Meeting.

The annual meeting ot householders of the Pjktkohe School District was field last night, Mr V Perkins presiding, and the attendance numbering just over 20 persons

ANNUAL RUPOKT The annu.l report stated that the Kev P H Dobson, chairman ot the Committee, resigned in November last owing to his renmel t> Paeroaand in being deprived of his service the Committee lost a genial c lleague and a sound adviser. Past and present members acknowledged his valuable services in a suitable tSßiimonial presented at a luge gathering in the Premi r Hall. In the early part ot the year the additional class-room was fini hed and furnished and consideably relieved tin overcrowded rooms in the infants' department. However, owing t) increased attendance congestion again became appar nt and the Committee reported the matter to the Education board, requ sting that immediate steps be taken to remedy the state of things the result being that a rearrangement ot classes was made and U» Heid Teacher relieved of certain duties enabling him to give a closer oversight to the whole school. A considerable improvement was effected and ample room fecjred. Cjnsiderable attention had been paid by t.e Committ.e to the sanitary arrangements and t e Board hat agreed ti make improve nenta which, it wsb hoped, would assure perlVt ratutary conditions. The school yard had been further asphalted by the Board and put in excellent orr'e", a sbelter-ihed also being provide I. Efforts had been muds to scure an increased attenjance in the Sjciiulary Departmeont in order to obtain the number ot pupils necessary to support the claim fji the establishment of a Techiicul High School and tip result had been that there were 33 pupils now on the roll as against an average attendance last year of only 21. Tha increased attendance tell short of the number required, 40 pupils being necessary ti enable the Committee to claim a schuji of the kind referred to. Toe Committee 1 It that it wrs seriously handicapped in its endeavours by pupils b.ing sent t> the city, a practice which militated against the progress ot ejucation locally. It was unnecessary to enlarge upon the advantage] ot a I'cchnical High School educition and of its value to tie district and pmnts of pupils now in the Sixth Standard were asked to bear the aim rt' the Committee in mind when making arrangements tor the further education of their Loys and girls niter taking their proficiency certificates so as to support the Committee in every possible manner. Excellent results followed upon the instruction given in the school last year, three pupils gaining certificates of competency and 14 certificates cf proficiency, whilst in the Secondary D partnunt eight pupils passed the intermediate examination, one boy gained a junior national scholarship and another a. senior national scholarship. The average attendance last year was 276 and the number of pupils now on the roll was 335 The balance sheet showed tint the receipts, including a credit balance brought forward of £2 lis Id and grants £6B 13>, had amounted to £9B 13s lOd, the expenditure just totalling that ligure and including £39 7s 9J paid for cleaning school, etc., ind £l2 7s 7d for fencing the grounds.— Mr J Pilkington, treasurer, reported that £8 9s as lodged with the Board lor subsidy figured in the expenditure, but that amount, together with a further £8 9i subsidy, would come from tho Board to be devoted to (he library and grounds improvements' outlay The report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted ELECTION OK COMMITTEE

A ballot for the election of Committee resulted in the appointment of Messrs 1'" Perkins, J Filkington, C K Lawns, E Smith, A F Brown, H G Lysnar, F Jackson, J Patterson and J Bellhouse.— With '.he exception of Messrs Lawrie and Lysnar all ot those elected were members of the retiring Committee CONTINUAIION CLASSES

A discussion took place in regard to tba advisability of enforcing attendance at the continuation classes of boys and girls, who were engaged id business in the daytime and whose occupations farmed instruction in advance of that afforded by tbe continuation classes. A resolution was eventually passed authorising the Committee to confer with the Supervisor in tbe matter ot granting exemption from attendance in advisable instance VOIE UF THANKS

A vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring Committee for their past services, Mr H F Webster in proposing tbe resolution remarking that tbe meeting had shown appre* nation of the Committee's efforts by re electing all those who offered themselves tor re-appointment COMMITTED MEEIJNG

At a subsequent meeting of tliu Committee Messrs F Perkins and J Pilkington ware re-elected chairman and secretary respectively