HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 197, 18 February 1914, Page 6

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. At "'the monthly meeting of the Xew Plymouth High School Board on Monday there were present: Messrs J". Dockrill (in the chair), It. Eyre Kenny, W. X. Ewing, D. Ilutchen anil G. Grey. PRINCIPAL'S REPORT. ■

The principjil of the boys' school (M'\ W. 11. .Moves) reported tlmt tlic school had re-opened on February 10 with a roll number of l(il. Of those attending, 30 were in residence, and applications were still coming in. Seventeen new boarders had been enrolled. The increase in numbers naturally found the school under-stalled. He asked the Board to consider the following propositions:—That two new masters be appointed at salaries of £2OO, with board, and £IOO, with board, respectively. The former was needed for the preparatory, and the latter for the upper school. The preparatory school now comprised -11 pupils, and was too much for one man. In the upper school there were seven forms, and only six masters, and the headmaster was teaching the whole time, and had therefore no opportunity of seeing the work in the various forms, unless lie neglected liis own. An extra man for the preparatory department should be obtained with the least possible delay.

The headmaster also recommended that a marquee be hired to take the place of the gymnasium until the new building was ready. lie also asked that an extra room be added as a music room. There were now 10 boys in 'Jio house taking music lessons, and only One room was available for this purpose. lie also asked that a sum of £SO be spent on the grounds. Whereas the playing Held was large enough for 70 boys, it was no use for 100. -Mr. Hutchen was not in favor of the appointment of an additional master for the preparatory school. The trouble was, he said, that mere infants were being admitted to the school, There should be an age limit. 3lr. Grey agreed with this view. Mr. Ewing- said that the principal wis not to lilnme. The Board should have fixed the age limit. It was decided that no additional matter be appointed for the preparatory school at present. It was agreed to authorise the appointment of a master for the upper school as ed, so that the headmaster should be free to supervise the work 'of the school. This appointment was In »<l- - to the one 'authorised at last meeting of the Board, i fhe matter of providing a music room | was referred to the finance committee, and the other recommendations were I adopted. ' LADY PRINCIPAL'S REPORT.

•Miss Grunt, principal of the gins' school, reported that when the school ha 4 ro-opened, of the 11 girls on the roll at the end of the year 30 had left and -21 new pupils had been admitted, making a present roll of 68. She asked the Hoard to consider the question of introducing a commercial courso into the school, as a considerable number of girls expected to engage in clerical work when they left school. She also again suggested the advisability of forming a preparatory department, as there was now a room available;

Miss Grant will be requested to enquire fully into the matter of the establishment of a preparatory department and report to the Board before the end of the term. If the report is satisfactory, the Board will fall m -mth her request. Regarding the request for a commercial instructor, Miss Grant will be advised to send the girls to the Technic il College for this instruction, members pointing out that the College had now an expert commercial instructor. GENERAL. It was decided to call tenders immediately for the erection of a new gymnasium for the boys' school, alternate tenders for wood and concrete to be submitted. The chairman and Mr. Grev were appointed to arrange a programme for tinvisit of the Hon. Jas. Allen on Februarv