STRATFORD DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 96, 26 April 1915, Page 8

STRATFORD DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

COMMITTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT. Tile following report will be -nhmittod to householders at the meeting at 7.di) this evening: The committee elected lad- April lias remained unchanged throughout the vear, the attendance at meetings having been as follows: —-Mr Skoglund chairman i Id, Cramer Id, h ancoca Id, .Jackson 11, Lawson 1.(3, McDonald 14, McMillan 14, Sanderson 14, Smart 16. Tiie mini her of children alteiuh.ig 'the school has increased from 728 to 760. and it is plain that tao lime is approaching when there will again he need for more aecommod item in the buildings. The school lias. ho'.\c\ e:, reached the maximum size allowed by the Dejiartnieut for an individual school, and the question of d.visum iuis to he faced. The matter was introduced by the headmaster, Air Tyrer, and carefully considered by your committee. ft was unanimously decided that the t ime has come I'm a -opaiate High School, The question of .site inis received attention, and after exhaustive enquiry, the most suita de one is believed to he a 7-aere block between King Edward Parle and Porria Stieefc. This is at present a recreation reserve, hut it is believed teat it may he acquired. Tho‘ Domain Board is favourable, provided it receives proper compensation. It will he for the incoming committee to pursue (he matter further. The outstanding event of the year lias been the enlargement ol the playing grounds, made possible by the removal of the Headmaster’s residence. Half the new ground has been ploughed and sown, and arrangement made for the levelling of the other lull. The annual functions of the ehnstmas entertainment and the seaside picnic were this year as successful as ever. An important work of the year has been the formation of a drum and life hand. The children, under the tuition of .Mr O’Leary and Mr S. Bernard, have attained considerable proficinicy. During the year increased accommodation has been provided in the infant ■school by the flooring of the covered court yard. Bicycle sheds have also been provided. Strong protests wore made by your committee against the proposed oihnination of the I arauaki balneation I sstrict, and against an alteration in the present method of electing committees. The- latter proposal was definitely withdrawn, and the question of Education Districts is still in abeyance, and will have to he watched. By arrangement with the Homo Defence Corps, a miniature rifle inngc has been installed in the Gyinv.a.inni, and this is available for the use cl the Cadet Corps. In the Secondary Department of the School, senior rural work was taken for the first time last year. The course of work included advanced mamnl work, and precis writing, Hngli-h, mathematics, dairy science and agnculture up to the standard required for the Public Service Senior Examination. It is pleasing to state that this high standard was reached by many of the pupils in their third -c-linol year, and it may also be worthy of note that of the six who sat for examination, live passed in dairy science. Senior Rural Work was taken in very few schools in the Donnuon. in connection with the work of the School in Agriculture, a -visit to the Government farm at Moniouhaki was arranged, and 29 hoys in charge of Messrs Thomas (Ist assistant) and Ellis (Agricultural Expert), made the trip. The party remained for a week at the farm, and the hoys had n veiy pleasant and profitable outing. Your committee was successful in having set apart for the school agricultural purposes, two acres ol land > n Broadway south. This land is - p. a convenient position, and is to he utilised in carrying out the various i.vperiinents in collection with school hoys’ work. Later on, when central school classes an' working in Taranaki, this plot of land will he a valuable asset. The average attendance at the Reboot for the year 191 1 was; Primary Department 560.89, Secondary Department 161.86; total 662.72. The average number on the rolls of both departments for the year was 741. On 61st March of current year, there were j on the school registers the names of 760 pupils, and the average attendance up to that date was 697. During the year the School was twice visited by the inspectors of the I Education Board, and the reports re- j ecived by the Committee from these gentlemen, subsequent to their visits, •showed that the school was doing very i

iroutl work in all departments. Ihe Inspector id Secondary Schools also visited tile School, and his report was a very Haltering nature. In public and competitive examinations, mu- pupils have again maintained the reputation of the School. In the Junior (Tiivcrsity Scholarship Examination, Colin .). Campbell, succeeded in gaining the highest position among Taranaki candidates, and was awarded a -“Taranaki” scholarship. The number of pupils who gained Scholarships and Senior Eree Places, who passed Public Service and Matriculation, was equal to that of termer vears. Among those who passed matriculation was Albert Anderson, a hoy who was hut 16 years 8 months of age when the examination was held. Ibis hov also gained second position among the candidates for the Education Board’s Senior Scholarship, where competitors are admitted up to their Kith hirthdav. P. SKOGLEND. Chairman.

R ECEIPTS. £ s. d. Balance from 1913-11 ■IS 5 11 Capitation . ns 2 3 (J rants ... . 20 5 0 Entertainment, picnic, -ole 52 7 s Coverument subsidy . IS 1 1 School stationery fees 3f> IS 2 Hire of gymnasium . 16 1G 0 Swimming hath fees . G 1-1 9 Refund of deposit . is 1 1 . 11 n EXPEXOITTHK Cleaning school and huildin gs 9.1 10 G Fuel . 21 ir 10 Lighting G 11 1 Repairs . .15 11 ) Committee expenses . Hi 3 G School stationery . 39 2 O Expenditure of grant . 4. 0 0 («rounds . 53 1 0 Hatiis 22 G s Deposited with Education Hoard ... ... 39 7 10 Sundries 8 9 3 Drum and Fife Hand . 15 16 G Cash in Hank . 19 10 9 £335 11 11 T. HARRY HE XX, ' 'reasurer