STRATFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 74, 18 March 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

monthly MEETING. The monthly meeting of the School Committee was held last’night. Present: Messrs I*. JSkogluncl (chairman), (J; Smart, J. McMillan; J. W. Jones, and E.'W. Hancock. HEADMASTER’S REPORT. The Headmaster reported The work of the school is proceeding in a satisfactory manner. 1 have had considerable difficulty in organising this year’s work in our secondary department. . I have suggested for the consideration of the school inspectors a scheme 1 which will make advanced rural work possible. If the scheirte is adopted an additional assistant (junior) teacher will he appointed, and the rural course of work will be carried on to the standard requireed for the Civil Service Senior. Evening technical classes are to be opened next week in engineering, commercial work and dressmaking, and the Education Board’s special teachers will bo in charge. The class in mechanical engineering, drawing, and machine construction is to open on. Monday evening, 23rd inst., at 7 p.m., ad the first term will consist of twelve lessons. For the first four nights the study of oil engines will be tak-en—-principles of two and four cycle and Diesel oil engines, design and manufacture of modern oil engines, running and testing to get more econo, mieal results, carburettors and oil engine accessories. The other eight nights will be devoted to principles involved in the generation of steam — different kinds of boilers, reciprocating engines, their construction and operation. Drawings will he 'made each night from actual models, 1 Mr Kirkpatrick, the instructor, knows his subject well and is gaining ■ an enviable reputation. The class in commercial work will open on Wednesday, 25th inst., and embraces precis writing and shorthand (one hour), bookkeeping and commercial correspondence (one hour). The first term of this class also extends over twelve lessons, and the standard set for the first year is that required for the Public Service Entrance examination, Mr Duff, the instructor, is highly qualified in the subjects he deals with,; and is doing very good'work in the classes in his charge at New Ply-, month. For dressmaking the first term is also of twelve weeks! The work in this subject is to be taken on approved modern lines. The instructress, Miss Bell; has English !qmili 15cations,. and comes to the district with flattering from’ Auckland city. l The class.‘will he taken from 3.30 to 5.30 in the afternoon. I shall he glad to give full information to anyone desirous of joining a class. A part of the school ground, joining the asphalt, needs to ho covered with two or three inches of gravel. The report was received.

GENERAL. It was decided to write to the Education Board, requesting that all the stoves in the school he altered in the same manner (is the one in the High School room. The Chairman reported that the Minister for Education had been seen by members of the Committee regarding the headmaster’s residence and the playground space. The Minister had stated that the playground space was hardly sufficient, which seemed to promise that something would be done.—it was decided to write to the Education Board, asking them to request from the Minister his view on the position. ■

Regarding the work of asphalting the courtyard between the schools the chairman reported that the work of grading required would cost £7 11b. The rest should bo picked up and after pit gravel bad been put down and rolled in it should be tarred and sanded. . The cost of the whole job would be £62. The space would probably have to be re-tarred every two years, but it would bo more satisfactory than tho present paving. --It was decided' that tenders be called for the necessary grading, gravelling, and patching of tho present asphalt. Tho opinion was expressed that the work was a proper one to be considered by the in-com-ing committee.