THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1921, Page 5

THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEET. REPORTS ON SCHOOL WORK. The monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of the New Plymouth High! Schools was held last night. Present? Messrs. J. S. Fox (chairman), L. Siadden, A. Morton, F. W. Atkinson, A. E. Washer, H. Trimble, L. A. Nolan, E. P. Webster and Dr. E. F. Fookes. Leave' of absence was granted to Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., from whom an apology was received. The principal of the boys’ -school reported that the new sick-room had been completed and was now in use. The principal of the girls’ school (Mis? E. M. Macintosh) reported that the roll number was now 144 and 42 in the preparatory department. In regard to a commercial teacher, she suggested that the department be again approached and be asked for a teacher for 3 hours a week for the coming year to enable the completion of what had been.' done, and thus keep faith with those pupils who had entered upon the course. She recommended that Miss Ruth Day be appointed as assistant in the preparatory department in succession to Miss Million, resigned. —It was decided to give effect to the principal’s recommendations.

LAUNDERING SYSTEM. The question of laundering at thd boys’ school occupied the board’s attend tion. It was thought that it would bq cheaper to arrange a contract for the laundering instead of having it done af thte school. Mr. Moyes submitted a re< port on the laundering work done for the month of October, pointing out that they were laboring under some difficult ties owing to inadequate aceommodaK tion. On the motion of Mr. Webstcu it was resolved* to make enquiries of other similar schools as to how thej dealt with this matter, and also to obtain a quotation from a steam laundry, for a three-monthly and a yearly con? tract. PHYSICAL INSTRUCTION. Mr. H. E. Longworth (chief physical instructor under the Education Department) reported that he had visited thd High Schools on the 2nd inst. Regarding the physical training of the he was struck by the uniformly good! work shown. The physique of thei boys in particular impressed him. Her suggested that a further improvement! might be effected if the boys were taken; in small aquads, each in charge of a teacheZ He vyould also like to see thiaf phase of the school work taken every} day, instead of two days a week. Tha( boarders were fortunate in comparison! to the other bqys, as they got haJf-aiW hour each morning. He regretted than tliere was no provision, for t-he practice of gymnastics, as he considered this a| necessary part of the physical educa-r tion of boye qf secondary school age. At the girls' school good work was being done and he was pleased to notd that 15 minutes was given to this highly! important subject every day. A greatt deal, however, could be done as far a» variety was concerned if the teachers themselves received, training under the Education Department. If this were done he was sure even better results would be obtained. It is understood that the boys are invariably given physical instruction ill small squads. PRIZE MONEY GRANT. 1 A circular was received from the Education Department stating that a thorough investigation of all Governmentexpenditure was being made, with the result that economies were being effected amounting to very large sums. At present there was no necessity for the expenditure out of boards’ funds fori prizes, the money for which should be, raised by entertainments or subscriptions. It was pointed out that expenditure! for prizas to the value of £4O had been.J made IJKore the circular was and it was hoped in these circumstanced that the Government grant would her forthcoming this year. GENERAL. The Otago High Schools Board for-j warded a copy of a resolution to the ef-4 feet that the system of medical inspect tion in vogue in primary schools be ex-' tended to secondary schools. The principal furnished reports on this suggestion, and eventually the matter was left in the hands of Dr. Fookes to confer with Mr.> Moyes to see if some scheme could be formulated. In regard to the appointment of a commercial instructor at the girls’ school, the department pointed out that it was necessary to place a restriction, on the employment of part-time instructors. Book-keeping was a subject which could very well be undertaken byy a member of the permanent staff, whilst! shorthand was not recognised as a necessary subject In secondary schools*, though if it could be arranged for with* out the employment of an extra in* structor no objection would be raised.