HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 233, 20 February 1913, Page 7

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The UMinl monthly :.' cling of the New Plymouth High School Hoard was held at the secretary's olliee yesterday afternoon, when there wen; present: .Messrs. E. Jlockril! (chairman). D. Hntehen. W. X-. Ewing. M. Frascr and Dr. Fookes. The chairman, oil behalf of the Board, welcomed Mr. Y\". X. Ewing, who was taking hi> scat on the I'.oard for the first time. PBIST'I PAL'S JtEPORT. 'Mr. W. 11. Moves, primipal. reported ilia I the boys' school opened on February 4 with a roll of 1114. The roll number at the end of 1!)12 was 72. It was satisfactory to note that the space occupied by' the girls last year was 72. r Twenty-six boys had been entered from the lower school, and seven of these were who, under last year's regulations could not have entered the school. The staff had been strengthened by the addition of Mr. Hall, of Auckland, and of Mr. Fonton, who had charge of the preparatory school. There were now 31 boys in residence, and several more were booked for the, second term. There were al<o thirty day boarders. The results of the annual examinations were, on the whole, satisfactory. One boy gained a Taranaki scholarship, 14 pupils passed matriculation, 21 the junior civil service, and 30 the examination for free places. This year three courses wctc open, viz.. classical, commercial and agricultural. The commercial course included English, mathematics, history, treogniphy. science, drawing, woodwork, book-keeping, shorthand, type- , writing and commercial correspon- j dence. Arrangements had neen made with Mr. Grey, director of the Technical School, for the book-keeping and shorthand clashes to be taken by his instructors. An agricultural laboratory had been fitted up, and was now ready for use. Tn view of the fact that the numbers had increased to such an extent, he urged the Board to endeavor to provide ,' ' a suitable gymnasium. The present building was altogether inadequate, and the want of a suitable recreation ground for the boarders in wet weather was a j serious handicap to the school. I

I Miss Grant reported that there were \ now 81 girls attending school in the tcm- ' porary building, 3S of whom were new J pupils'. The number at the end of 1012 ' was 07. These girls were arranged in | four forms. In Form 111. there were 31, j I in Form IV. 2C, in Form V. 14. and in , I Form VT. 10. To do justice to these j I girls and prepare them for the various > j public examinations, at least four teaehi ers were ncce«ary. The principal had | arranged for Mr. Ryder to teach science j in the two upper forms meanwhile, and ! Mr. J. R. Sinclair had also been appointed temporarily, and had commenced , work on Thursday last. lu addition to the ordinary secondary classes, there was a domestic seien.ee class, of three pupils, who had necessarily received very little attention this term, as far as that blanch of their work was concerned. Two of the new girls had expressed a wish to take "omestic science.

In discussing the question of the gymnasium, members were of ;• the opinion that the old boys intended taking this matter in hand." The Board at present could'not undertake the erection of one.

Members expressed gratification at the great strides made in the school attendance, and as it was evident that with the further anticipated increase it would lie necessary to provide additional accommodation in the near future, it was resolved that the chairman and Messrs. Hutchen and Fraser should be a deputation to visit Wellington and interview the Minister of Education about the financial position of the school. THE DEFENTE REGULATIONS.

Tin' Assistant Tuspeetor-tiencial of) Schoolr wrote that among the large num- j 1»T of hoys who ohlain free places and I scholarships granted Trom l,u ' fumls nf ] the State'(here were prohahly some to be found who declined or failed to carry out the obligations imposed upon them under the Defence Act. Tic had, by direction of the Minister of Education, to intimate that in the opinion of the Department, the conduct of a free pupil should not be held to he satisfactory if the requirements of the defence regulations were not observed, and to request, accordingly, that in future, in the periodical reports upon the holders of free places and scholarships, this matter should received the necessary consideration amoiii: the conditions of tenure to be fulfilled. To he referred to the principal. THE TARAXAKf SCHOLARSHIP. Mr. Little wrote, stating that his son had received intimation that he had been granted the Taranaki Scholarship for New Plymouth, and he had pleasure in recording his appreciation of the training that his- hoys bad had at the school. He pointed out that the purpose of the scholarship was stated to he "the bringin;.' of higher education within the reach of deserving scholars within the district," hut since the provision fixing the value at £OO for three years had been passed, conditions of living bad altered, and the cost of attending a university college, had advanced, lie considered that the Board should endeavor to secure an amendment so that it might read £BO per annum. The chairman mentioned that the < Hoard had moved in this direction. Tt i was resolved to inform Mr. Little that the "Wellington deputation would bring . this matter before the Minister of Edit- ' cation.

CEXERAL. Tt was resolved to instal a telephone at. tdie fiirls" School. The chairman's action in appointing Mr. J. It. Sinclair as temporary master ai the fiirls' School was approved. The Education Department notified lliat Messrs. D. ITutchen and W. N. E\vim_ r had been appointed members of the Hoard. The Treasvirv Department forwarded n voucher for £'254 fis Oil, being capitalion Tor the (bird term of 1!112. and also -e-2RR 0- Hid. being rent derived from reserve; and endowments set apart, for secomlarv education for the ipiartor ending December 31. 1912. Jt was resolved to offer Miss Cross, M.A.. H.S.C.. the position of science mistress'„t the school. Accounts amounting to £202 17s fid \v, vc pas-i d for payment.