NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1918, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The, ordinary meeting of the New Plylnoulli High -Schools Board was held last night, there -being present: Messra DHutchcn (chairman), ]I, Trimble, J. S. "Fox, L. C. Sladden, S. G. Smith, A. Morton, W- D. Robertson, and E- P. Webster. THE BOYS' SCHOOL. „ Mr. W. H. Moves, principal of tile Boys' School, reported that lie had filled the' position of the upper preparatory school, Miss K. Campbell having joined the staff at the -beginning of the present month. He enclosed Mr. Wynyard's resignation, and, arter consulting the chairman, had offered the position to Mr. N. Day (of the Central School), an old boy of the school, who had accepted, and would take up his residence at the 'beginning of August. Mr. Glover, anotlicr member of the staff, had enlisted, and fxpeeted to go into camp at .the end of the term. Tho matter of filling the vacancy was left in the hands of the chairman and principal. GIRLS' SCHOOL. Miss Barr, principal of the Girls' School, reported tliat two girls had left and two (both boarders) had entered. The number of girls in residence was now 48- Miss Barr also reported on matters connected with the heating, etc., which will be attended to. THE PREPARATORY SCHOOLS. Mr- W. H. Mores reported that there were now 3*l boys in the lower department of the preparatory school, and that it would be prejudicial to tho interest.3 of the sehpol'to interfere with it in any way. It must -be remembered that the majority of these boys remained until their secondary education was completed—a period of from eight to ten years—and that many of the best boys in the upper department had passed through the preparatory school. Most of the boys in this department would not, in any case, attend a State fchool, and if they were not sent here they would be sent to other schools and would nnturally pass into the upper department? of these schools. The school was at present showing a very good profit. Last year only one hoy failed to gain his proficiency, and this boy joined late. Five boys now in the upper school were the holders of National Scholarships gained while pupils of the preparatory derjartment, so that it would be seen that the school had met with a fair measure of success, and he could not see one single reason why the board should want to interfere in the organisation of this portion of tho school. To cut out the lower department would undoubtedly be unfair to the school, to tho public of Taranaki, to himself, and the staff- In the event of the board carrying out the tcrms'of its resolution, it was improbablo that' tho fees derived from the Fourth Standard -boys would be sufficient to pay the salary of a qualified teacher. It would be quite impossible to continue the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Standards, and it would bo necessary to drop Standard I\ r . In concluding, he thought that the time had come when the question of the preparatory school should be gone thoroughly into. If was, in the opinion of those teaching in tho school, the foundation upon which the rest of the school was built, and everything possible should bo done to foster it, and he suggested that when tho new buildings were completed the board should consider tho question of attracting private capital, with a view to running the preparatory school as a separate institution. Mh-s Barr, principal of the Girls' School, considered that girls should not he admitted to the preparatory department until they had reached Standard N., but it would bo a mistake to carry into effect the proposals with the idea that ultimately no pupil should be admitted who had not passed into Standard IV. Most of the girls in the preparatory school would go to a private school in any ease, and she did not think it likely that when they had been for two or three years at another private school that they would change so as to come to the High 'School at the Fourth Standard. Standards IV., V-, and YT. would iinder the new arrangement be so small as to make it not worth while continuing,the preparatory school, as very few girls joined the schools in those standards. On tho othc\ hand, many little girls were prepared at home for Standard 11., and then might begin their school life to continue it without change of schooT. The chairman stated that Mr. Atkinson's motion was that no pupil should bo admitted tn the preparatory school unless having passed into Standard 11., and (hat, after li)2l>, no pupil bo admitted unless having passed into Standard ITT.. and, after 1021, no pupil he taken unless having passed into Standard IV. There was no proposal to make any alteration, but only to obtain the principal's opinion. Mr- Morton thought the principal was quite justified, when a=ked for an opinion, in thinking that an alteration would be made. Mr- Madden slated that hi* views were in sympathy with (he principal's. It was resolved to hold the discussion over until next mSeting. THE CITIZENS' COMMITTEE. Messrs P. J- TT. White and ,T. M'Leod, representing the Citizens' Committee, waited on the board, and stated that the. committee, at its meeting, had passed a resolution that the board'be recommended to accept Boon Bros.' tender to erect two class rooms on the west wing, the Citizens' Committee undertaking to raise as much money as possible, estimated at £.500, towards the cost. He stated that when the Citizens' Commiec was first formed it was proposed tn raise £12".". in the hope of getting a subsidy of .ei2T."> towards the erection o? the Central Hall. Tho commit tee had been more successful than expected, ami had raised ££s(lo, giving a surplus of £•2(111, after paying the whole cost of the Central Hail, including the electric light installation and architect's fees. The committee felt confident that they conhl raise about another £"00. They felt that, it «'as imperative in J&» invests of (he school that .the room be gone on with. Tho committee, at the present juncture, did not intend to relax its efforts, and' it- was possible something more might he done, but the committee did not wish to lead the board to expect more than £SOO. Mr- M'f.cod stated that the Citizens' Committee hail dejidad to invito the Minister of Education to visit New Ply-

mouth, as they felt that the Government haa not done justice to tho scW„ and that now that it was not a case of a central hall, but of absolutely necessary class, room*, the Government would assist. Tho committee did not wish to lead tho board to expect more than £.)00. but if the Government did not assist the committee would endeavor to raise more money, which, ho thought, night ba done by entertainments. Considering, however, the way that the pubhe of New Plymouth had come to the assistance of the school, he thought that the Minister of Education would assist. The chairman said that after tho manner in which the £irls had raised £475 last week, it should be possible to raise' money' in this way. In reply to Mr. Morton, the deputation pointed out that the committee's circular provided that any surplus raised wouW be utilised in this way. Mr. Trimble asked if, supposing that the board entered into this liabilitv and were unable to find the money, did the committee think it would he aole to I raise the whole £1200? > j Mr. White said' that the committee had made the position quite clear but if the board were really up against the wall, he thought the monev could be found somehow or another, "though the committee did not give a guarantee to find even the £«00. Mr. Trimble said that if tho board entered into tho contract the Minister would probably refuse to give the subsidy. * Mr. White stated that the Citizens' Committee wished to assist the board to put up the fine school that they had planned. Mr. A. Morton stated' that the eom[mittce would he disappointed if the beard did not accent their offer, and no doubt would do all they could to assist. Mr- White .said that the committee and town as a whole would be disappointed if the school as a whole were not e™ipleted. Mr- M'Leod stated that, in the event of a Minister visiting New Plymouth, the .Citizens' Committee would like an estimate of the cost of completing the whole building .The board discussed tho matter in committee, and it was resolved in apply to the Minister of Education for Ms consent to erect the class Tooms recommended. GENERAL. Mr. .7. W. IT. Martin (F it kcj»ruh;-1 wrote thanking the hoard for baring re< bated the sum of £4, being allowance owing to his daughter, not having joined at the commencement of the term. 3?o also forwarded donations of £3 3s to be allotted in prizes at the Girls' High School swimming sports held nt the Public Paths, the allotment to be left in the hands of Miss Barr It was resolved to thank Mr, J. W. IT. Martin for his donatio!*