High School Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7803, 20 April 1905, Page 2

High School Board.

MONTHLY -\IEIOTI.\IJ. The New l'lyiiiouth School Uoard met on Wednesday afternoon at the oll'.Cv- of the secretary (Mr Or-iillthfy). Hn.ro were present Messrs N. K. | MaclMnrmid (chairman), J), lieny, .1. E. Wilson, S. Percy Smith, J. H. Ko.V, and 1.0. Dockrill. -State v. Companies' .Insurance.— A letter was received from the local agent of the State Kirc OMice (Mr il. V. Kussell), asking, by direction of the genera) manager) for insurance business in connection with the, High. School. He had tile more eonlidenc-.! in approaching the Hoard as they were engaged in managing the affairs of a puiilic institution which wi(h assisted to no small extent by the Stale, and It wan to the State they would look for assistance in the event of anv calami-

J'Ho Chairman : What is the meaning of the latter sentence ? iMr Hay : It is taken lor granted that the puU'ic bodies always turn to, the Government when any trouble arises.

The secretory produced the policies in force showing that the insurances totalled £1475 on (lie school, £6OO on the dwelling], £IOO on the furniture in the schodl, and £9O on the gymnasium. The business was Jivided among the following companies :—New Zealand, Manchester, Alliance, Norwich. Union, and Standard.

Mr licrry : I think wc should ,jive the Government a share. Mr Wilson : It is a case of cither the wholo tor iDottuiug. I understand the companies will not work side by side with the Government.

Mr Berry : We should never ha.vc got insurance for 6s had' il not been for the State Fire Oflicc. Wc have been charged excessive rates by the insurance companies for the last seven years.

After further discussion it was decided to place the policy for £9O on the K.vnrnuMiuui, which expires in a duy or two, with the Government. "It was thought there would bo no difficulties in- the way as the -gymnasium was a separate structure.

It was further agreed to consider the application when the other policies fall due in' November or December. Members generally were uverse to disturbing the existing policies, but appeared to bo agreed that the Government were entitled to u share, at least, of the business. —Scholarship Rogu!at.loH(i.

The Principal of the High School (Mr K. Pridham) wrote drawing attention to the case of two girls from Waitara, who were admitted to the school' Towards the end of lust term. When they pasued the Sixth Standard they were under 14 years of uge, but if they had waited till thq 'beginning of the present term they would huve 'been too old to enter under the Departmental regulations. Accondlngly, they at once came and claimed admission. "The objections 'to this," continued the princiiMil, "are twofold!. Firstly the Deportment refuses to pay for them for last term as they had not been long enough in the school to complete the amount of work required of Ihom. Secondly, the Department reckons their attendance from tho Hist, of January preceding' their admission. Consequently these pupils will only receive a little more than one year's free tuition, and the Department will only pay for one year. The remedy would be for the regulations to allow those passing the Sixth Standard under 14 years of aige during the last three months of the year to enter the school at the beginning of the next year, although they might then lie a month or two over 11 years of age. This would give such pupils two clear years at the secondary school, and make it possible for them to pass the continuation examination at the end of that time. It is highly unsatisfactory from every point of view, for new pupils (especially free tuition pupils) to be admitted' later in the year than September. They must either disorganise the work/ of tho school or be neglected themselves, as far, at any rate, as the purely secondary part of the work is concerned.^

It was decided to bring the matter under the notice of the Departs mont with a view to amendment. ■—Gymnasium.— A letter was received from Mr W«i. Lintz applying for the position of instructor to the gymnasium. Mr DocKrill mentioned that Mr Taylor also 'desired to put in an'application for the post. Consideration was deferred for two months, by which time the Board hope to secure a master who is also competent to (each gymnastics.

—Statutes.— A circular letter from the Minister for Justice, inviting the Boord'B views with" respect to the consolidasi tion of the Statutes affecting it, was received.

The matter was roferred to iho Hoard's solicitor. —SUIT.— Only one application, which" was unsuccessful, w«tf received for the vacant mastersnip at a salary of £125. It was decided to increase the salary to £ir>o, and advertise for fresh applications. —Levels.— The Principal waited on the Hoard with reference to lovcls, inj connection, with the municipal work proceeding adjacont to the High School. Messrs Smith l and Berry were empowered to deal with the question of lowering the gateways. —Bicycle Sheds.— A shod used for this purpose having bcon destroyed by fire since last mcetinff, it was agreed lo erect two separate structures, to be uso:l respectively by the mule and female pu-" pils for the storage of their bicycles and saddles'.

The Chairman and Mr Berry were empowered to arrange with the architect, tho cost not to exceed £2O.