ROTORUA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5282, 19 December 1946, Page 2

ROTORUA PRIMARY SCHOOL

H'EADMASTER'S REPORT AGCOMMODATION DIFFIiCfUILTIES • iSTRESSED. ? t-. , The roll of the Rotorua Primary School now stood at 820 pupils, aai increase over last year's roll of approximately . 100 pupils, stated the headmaster, Mr. J. |5. McBean, when tendering his annual report at the school breaking-up ceremony yesterday. Although the number of pupils had increased, there had been no increase in classroom accommodation. The School -Committee and. the Home and School Association had done their utmost to try to secure extra rooms. These had now 'been granted. In fact. the Education Board had sent a sectional, tropical hut whidh awaited erection. When assembled it would provide two classrooms measuring abo-ut 30 feet by 20 feet, whidh would give much needed relief and would enable the teachers to mahe use -of their own common xoom, which had for the last year been used as a classroom. The shortage of accommodation had necessitated yery large classes iu a number of rooms. One class 'had- con-' sisted of 60 pupils for a part of the year, while at least four others were not far behind this figure. Practically all tihe other classes ranged from 41 tf. 47. Staff Changes. During the year there had been many changes on the teaching staff of the school, stated Mr. McBean. Miss Boleyn had left and Miss Andrew had ibeen transferred to Auckland. Miss Clark had also been transferred tc relieve the staff shortage at anothei school. There had been five or six* relieving teachers on tlhe staff during the year. In spite of difhculties of changes and influx of .pupils every term, the standard of work had been well maintained, both in the more formal and in the cultural subjeets. "In connection wtih one of the latter subjects — handwork — I should like tc point out the great diffieulties undei whic'h both teachers and children labour," said Mr. McBean. "There is no room specially fitted with benches no material supplied, no saw-s, hammers nor any other tools to accomplish the intricate work." Some day, he said, he hoped tha* facilities would be available — a large handwork room and smaller classes instead of the fifties and sixties. that one teacher had to manage at present. Field of SRort. Under Mr. -Carlton's expert tuition quite a number of young people froir the sc'hoo'l had gained their swimming beginners' certificate, while a numbei of others improved on. the distances for which certificates were given some even gaining the half-mile certificate which was reall/ an excellen'. performance for pupils of Standardt Three and Four. Other outside activities carried on were basketball, football, cricket, etc. In the first-named game, the lady teachers and especially Miss Davidson, in c'harge of tihe -giiis' activities should be congratulated on a yery successful years' training. The boys 'had also received good training from the men teachers undei Mr. Ludgate. "We have been reallj fortunate in having Mr. Laurence oi our staff this year. He is just as keer on cricket as football, and has .spen' a great deal of his time coaching tht. boys," -said Mr. McBean. Successful Fete. The flower show this year 'had beer very successful. The staff had worked hard and members of the Home and School Association had given grea assistance. Parents 'had been rnosi generous in sending goods for sa'le and the school had been fortunate in obtaining the services of such capable judges as Mrs. Gorbett and Messrs Bfoothby, Lindsay and Ho'skin. A total of £80 had been added to thc funds of the Home and School Association. Under Miss Paterson anc' members of the infant staff there had been an excellent display of cultural activities carried on in the infant school. "In conclusion," said the headmaster, "I should like to thank" the School Commitee and the Home and Schoo! Association for the assistance they have always been ready to give in anything that 'has as its object thc good of the school."