SCHOOL WORK EXHIBITION

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 237, 22 December 1916, Page 4

SCHOOL WORK EXHIBITION

Pukekohe's Proficient Pupils. At the Pukekohe District High School on Wednesday morning an exhibition was given of work executed by the students attending the Technical Classes and the high standard of merit observable in the exhibits testified to the capabilities of the pupils and also reflected great credit on those imparting the instruction. There was a numerous attendance of parents, and children from some of the country schools were also present

All day on Tuesday busy bands of little " workmen" and ' workmaidens" had carried out. a scheme of decoration, and how well they performed their task could be judged by those who attended the reception. They organised themselves into groups, the big boys going away to the bush with axes and sans and returning laden with ferns and flowers, very soon transforming the school into a garden, where on bench and table they arranged the work they had been engaged on during the year. A short musical programme was gone through, Miss Edie Perkins contributing a soug and the Misses Linda Armstrong and Amy Woods giving a display of dancing. Light refreshments, made by the girl students, were handed round. Mr F Perkins (chairman of the School Committee), addressing the assembled company, pleaded for support from residents of the town and district towards the establishment of a Technical High School. He cl limed that the exhibition of work demonstrated the efficiency of the technical education that would be provided, and he urged parents to allow their children to attend the school rather than to send them away to Auckland. The present attendance of pupils was two short of the number required to secure a technical school, but he hoped that that deficiency would soon be overcome and the school brought into existence. Mr Perkins, in conclusion, congratulated Mr Johnson and Miss Barr, the teachers of the technical branch, on the highly gratifying result of their work. Speeches were also made by Messrs Qrabam (Tuakaul, McNaughton (Drury), Johnson and the Rev. 8. Nixon.

The work of Miss Rodgers in the evening classes was awarded first place, whilst Mr Hill, headmaster of the Harrisville school, obtained first honours in the schoolmaster's group, Mr Bellhouse acting as judge. During the year the pupils of the District High School have carried out some very useful work, making field gates, lockers, seats and alterations to the toolhouse, and next year they contemplate greater things. Manual Training and Technical Education in Pukekohe has come to stay.