HEADMASTER'S REPORT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 66, 17 November 1915, Page 3

HEADMASTER'S REPORT.

! The Headmaster (Mr Tyrer) reported as follows:—Since last meeting, Inspectors Ballantyne and Whetter visited the school, and very thoroughly examined the work of the Primary Department. The Inspectors were three days in the school; the report of their visit is not yet to hand Reference was recently made in the "Stratford Evening Post," to the convenience of Stratford as an examining centre for students sitting at university examinations. Stratford is a centre also for examinations conduct-ed.-hy the Education Department (these begin on the 23rd inst.) and for Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarships, etc. There are not less than eighty-three candidates, many of whom are not living in this district. The examinations for the Junior National Scholarship and Bayly Memorial Scholarship are to be held on 2nd and 3rd December. In connection with the examination this year, every candidate who qualifies is to receive'a scholarship. Necessarily the pass standard will be raised considerably from that of former years. and in my opinion, those responsible for the Bayly Scholarship conditions should at once consider the advisability of accepting the standard somewhat lower than a pass in the literary part of the contest.—Adopted. Mr Skoglund moved and Mr McMillan seconded: That the sub-commit-tee consisting of the Chairman, and Messrs F. J. McDonald and T. C. Fookes, be reappointed to suggest a site for tbe proposed college, and to report to the committee, as to particulars and financial arrangements.— Carried. The Chairman, in reporting on the Minister of Education's visit to Stratford, said full particulars were published in the newspapers.

Mr Tyrer, who waited on the Committee. * said in regard to the granting j of scholarships, it was out of the question to give one each to all who qualified under the present conditions. The standard should be raised. It might not have been considered when drawing out the conditions that a boy had to "pass", to gain the Bayly Memorial Scholarship. It meant forfeiting a big scholarship for a small one. The Department would-not be able to face the expense if the present standard was adhered to in regard to the National Scholarship, the winner of which was entitled to free tuition, and £lO per year; and if compelled to leave home i another' £3O was. added. Last year twenty-seven pupils from Stratford qualified, and it-would..he dbifejd to grant all scholarships. Mr TviS suggested ■ that to qualify for the Bayly Scholarship a boy should bo allowed 4f)> pe,r cent of the total number of marks, and there, would still' - be plenty, of competition. ; The Chairman' suggested that the boy who just missed the National [should be granted the Bayly Memor : ial. Mr Tyrer said, if possible, he would like to see prizes presented to the Primary School'pupils this year. Mr McMillan said he'would rathei see certificates granted than books, as they would be more valuable in years to come.

I Mr Tyrer said the pupils of the High School did not expect'prizes. In the Primary School prizes and certificates should be presented if possible.

NEW SCHOOL BOOKS. Mr F.J. McDonald, said , that a change was made or about to be made in regard to th© children's ' vschool [books.. The Board was adopting the 'reader which was ■ discarded Jby the [Wanganui Board this year. I Mr Tyrer said the. question was fully discussed 18-months ago, and [they had been given that much notice 'of j the intended 'change. i The Educa'tion Hoard and(the Inspectors \vere in 'favour of ; the 'change' being 'affected, jln-his opinion, the new book,was. not a good one, but it was better than the one it was replacing. I Mr Ward instanced a case where a 'child only a few days ago was made Ito buy the reader and within a month it would be discarded. This, he considered, was not right. Mr Tyrer: It was not right. Mr F. J. McDonald said that a uniform book should be adopted. j Mr Tyrer said tbe Education Board had authorised the change. The Teacher's Institute recommended th* Education Department to put its foot down on the matter, but it merely replied that the bigger variety of book. the better it was for the children. He said that in the present reader, the lesson for Standard 4 was only fit for Standard 6. The book was not well graded.

I Mr F. J. McDonald said the tame I had arrived when the matter should be protested against. The booksellers were really forcing the matter on the Education Board's. I Mr Ward said the Government j should print the books and sell them to the children at bed-rock price. j | Mr F. .1. McDonald moved: That, this committee protests against the changes of the readers of the School, and urge the Board to lodge a recommendation with the Deparment to adopt a uniform system throughout I ' I

the Dominion. Seconded by Mr Hancock and carried. PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES. On the motion of Mr McMillan, seconded by Mr W. McDonald, it was decided that a sub-committee consisting of Messrs Skoglund and Ward I)' 1 appointed to confer with . the • Headmaster in the matter of selecting prizes and arranging the school concert, and that £lO be ' granted lor prizes. Mr McMillan moved, and Mr Ward seconded: That prices and samples be procured of certificates for the children. Mr Ward moved: "That the Chairman confer with the Headmaster on the matter of issuing pass cards to children of all standards, with power to act. Seconded by Mr Fookes, and carried.