THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 19, 13 April 1927, Page 11

THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS

COMMITTEES’ REPORTS MEETINGS TO-MORROW Further reports of Auckland provincial schools’ committees have been received. The reports will be presented to the annual meetings of householders to-morrow evening. AUCKLAND CITY SCHOOLS The total income of the committee of the above school for the year under review was £527 15s 6d, and the expenditure £620 3s sd. For the first time in many years the committee has no funds available for the supplying of free stationery for the use of the children. At the end of the financial year there was not sufficient income to meet liabilities/ This position is due to the fact that fewer grants have been received on acount of the great falling-off in the roll numbers of the schools, while the cost of maintaining the schools is as great as ever. The attendance at the schools has been good, but as already stated, the number on the rolls is much lower than it was, there being now not much more than two-thirds of the number a few years ago. The inspectors’ reports have been very satisfactory, showing that the teachers have done their best for the children under their care. During the year Mr. T. Turbolt was appointed headmaster of Nelson Street, and Mr. F. J. Septon at Napier Street. Beresford Street still remains under the control of Mr. W. Lloyd. The physical training of the children has not been neglected, and the city schools have been successful in various school games. Beresford Street this year won the cricket competition for schools in the city and western area. The committee trusts that the parents and all interested in education will continue vigorous protests until everything necessary for the use of the children in the schools is provided free. This, in the opinion of the committee, is the real meaning of free education, which is every child’s right. During the year the new school at Napier Street was completed and the children transferred. The committee hopes that no efforts will be spared to carry into effect the full design for a central school on this site, which is so far only partly completed. AVONDALE The roll number had increased from CBS to 728, states the annual report of the Avondale committee. Owing to a series of epidemics during the past six months of last year the average attendance of 648 was somewhat lower than it should have been. As a result of urgent representations two new classrooms accommodating 100 children had been added. Attached to these rooms were a dental clinic, a nurse’s room and teacher’s room. The sum of £BO was raised for the dental clinic by local voluntary contributions. The Suburbs Football Club had given

£25 towards its cost. There was a credit balance of £ 62 at the end of the year's working. Miss Newton, who for over 20 years had capably filled the position of infant mistress, had retired on superannuation. The inspectors had reported favourably on the tone and discipline of the school. There were 52 proficiency certificates and six competency. Two pupils. Nelson Body and Albert Turnley, had gained junior national scholarships, and three others had been awarded Bollard Memorial Scholarships. MOUNT ALBERT Last year the school began with a roll number of 573, which increased to 725. The number of pupils sent to the Kowhai Junior High School was 145. This year the school began with 538, and the number has now renched 630. The inspector’s report stated that as the roll number continued to grow, the organisation of the school had been a matter of considerable difficulty. and the lack of accommodation was emphasised. On April 4 the Education Board wrote stating that the architect had been instructed to call for tenders for alterations and improvements to the school, making provision for the children now being taught in corridors and crowded classrooms. In the primary department, extra seating had been provided in the grounds. The committee considered that the time had arrived when a dental clinic should be established. The cost of a one-chair clinic would be £260. and of this amount the committee would be required to provide onethird. The balance sheet disclosed n credit balance of £52, and the school improvement fund was £ 44 to the credit. MOUNT ROSKILL Satisfactory results had been obtained at the examinations, states the annual report. Sixty pupils sat for proficiency certificates, and all but a few, who obtained competency, were successful, none failing altogether. The side school was working satisfactorily under trying conditions. There was poor ventilation and light, and the building was not suitable for a school, but the committee had advised the parents that the children *voi Id be better served if they were brought to the main school by free conveyance. The committee had in view in tl e near future, a swimming bath for the district. A milestone in the history of the school was reached at the end of 1926, when the increase in the attendance placed the school in Grade 7. POINT CHEVALIER “Efficiency, excellent,” say the inspectors in their annual report on Point Chevalier School. At the. 1"26 examinations every scholar who sat for the proficiency certificate gained a complete pass. This is a highly commendable accomplishment, reflect - ing great credit on the staff cf the school. The financial position of the school was sound, there being a credit balance of £35 at the close of the year. Considerable improvements, involving the expenditure of £298, had been effected to the school grounds. These are now second to none in general lay-out. The attendance has arowr so rapidly that it has been necessary to secure the use of the Presbyterian

Church as an additional cl.iss-iooni. The erection of another building of three rooms in the school grounds would shortly be begun, as the nucleus of a separate infant school. The roll number had grown from 400 at the beginning of 192 6 to 528. whom 66 were accommodated in the church room. The average for the quarter ending in March was 489. and nearly 100 good attendance certificates were obtained by pupils during the year. TE PAPAPA In presenting its fUst annual report, the committee states that it is indebted to the head master, Mr. H. T. Gibson, and bis efficient stall of teachers, for their co-operation during the past year. The roll continues to show a steady increase, and t fairly good attendance average had been maintained during the period under review. The committee had acted conjointly with the Onehunga school committee in working to establish a dental clinic. A separate infants’ school was now being erected, and a good deal of work would be necessary in making a separate playground for the infants. NORTHCOTE The average attendance at this school for the year was 272, compared with 301 for the same period in 1926. There was a posisbility of the regrading of the school as the average attendance had fallen below the minimum of -SI. L nis could be avoided by an increase of oO pupils. Receipts had totalled £oo« ..s 9d, and expenditure £269 10s 4d. Receipts for ground improvements amounted to £?9 12s sd, and expenditure £lO. Donations had permitted the erection of 14 seats, 9ft. long, round the brick school. A comprehensive scheme of ground-im-provements had been formulated. i&itn the assistance of Mr. J. L- Hanna. -V start had been made with the assembly ground, and it was intended that the scheme should be continued as funds permitted. , . , The three inspectors who hart usiteo the school had reported favourably upon the teaching start and on the conduct of the school. Dr. Wilkie also reported favourably on the health of the childien. NEW LYNN The average attendance at the New Lynn School throughout the year has been 600 children. Over £BO had been spent on improvements to the school grounds, which are now suitable for children to play on during winter. The Education Board has promised to eiect two adidtional classrooms between tlie two existing buildings, and when completed they should substantially relieve the present overcrowding. ONEHUNGA The inspector’s report states that a good standard of efficiency lias been reached at this school. The school buildings were in good order and sufficient accommodation was provided. Improvements to the grounds had been carried out during the past year. The committee had been successful in purchasing stationery at low prices through the Primary Schools’ Association, and parents were getting the benefit of the low cost. PONSONBY SCHOOLS The committee’s report states that during the year under review the educational needs of the Ponsonby District have been kept well to the fore, and that the year’s results are in keeping with the steady 7 progress which has hitherto been maintained. The dental clinic which was started last May is giving every satisfaction. Receipts for the year

totalled £l.Oll 7s, and the expenditure £912 3s lid, leaving a balance of £99 3s Id against which are outstanding liabilities amounting to £96 10s. The inspectors’ reports of the four schools. Ponsonby, Richmond Road. Bayfield, and Curran Street show that the standard of efficiency is very high and much credit is due to the headmasters and their staffs. The number on the rolls of the four schools with average attendances in parentheses are: Ponsonby 56S (520), Richmond Road 674 (612), Bayfield 574 (516), Curran Street 527 (496). The schools are all well to the front in sport 3 having won hoonurs in all departments. The plans for the new school to replace the antiquated building at Richmond Road are now being prepared and there is every possibility of the building operations being commenced during the ensuing year.