SCHOOLS BREAK UP

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 6

SCHOOLS BREAK UP

PRIMARY EDUCATION CHANGES IN METHODS LAST FUNCTION AT WEST Primary schools in the Hamilton district ended the year today. In the majority of the schools breakingup functions have been held during the week. In education, 1939 has been an important year, marking in primary schools a transitionary period in which educational methods are taking on different values, with new theories of child development and greater attention to subjects which are likely to equip the child to take a useful place in society. In another respect the year was an important one at the Hamilton West School. There the school broke up for the last time in the present building, it being expected that the new school in the course of erection at Richmond will be ready for occupation some time next year. Founded in 1872, the West school is the oldest centre of primary education in Hamilton. Because today’s function at the school was the last of a series held regularly for 67 years, it was of considerable importance. Progressive methods have always been followed at the school, and with opportunities offered by fine playing fields it has attained a good sporting record. Prizes won during the year were presented to the pupils today. A standard 6 pupil, Jean Meldrum, has been successful in gaining a scholarship at the Marsden School for Girls, Wellington. Hamilton East School Changes in education, the greater attention being paid to training children for citizenship, and the emphasis placed on different subjects now, were described by Mr W. A. Curteis, headmaster of the Hamilton East School, at the breaking-up function this afternoon. Mr H. M. Baker, the chairman of the school committee, presented the prizes won during the year, the most important being that for the dux of the school, won by Ailsa Mcllraith, and the Speight Memorial Shield for scholastic ability, games and personality, which was awarded to Joyce Udy. The headmaster today paid a special tribute to the parents’ association, outlining the many ways in which it had assisted the school during the year. Arts and Crafts At Whitiora The contract for the erection of two new class-rooms at the Whitiora School has been let and the work will probably proceed during the holidays. It will relieve the accommodation ' problem. Excellent work has been done at the school during the year. When the annual end-of-the-year ceremony was held yesterday a display of arts and crafts, the work of pupils, was admired by a large number of parents. The display was the best the school has had. Mr C. Nisbet, chairman of the school committee, presented the prizes yesterday. The girl dux of the school was Sonia Lovell and the boy dux Bruce Gordon. All-round merit prizes were won by Sonia Lovell and Noel Johnston. During the year at Whitiora the grove of native trees has been completed, and is now most representative of New Zealand flora. Progress At Frankton The Frankton School has had a greater number of staff changes this year, and particularly this last term, than is usual. Despite this, steady progress was made during the year. The roll remained fairly steady at around 450 pupils. The new headmaster, Mr J. F. Potter, who replaced Mr A. S. Cliffe, is at present in camp as Major Potter, officer commanding the motorised division of the Mounted Rifles. He is an elder brother to Colonel Potter. Mr H. L. Tackle has been acting-headmaster. There was no official break-up ceremony at the school today, the acting-headmaster presenting the prizes won. The duxes of the school were: Boys, Ivan Hamilton; giris, Rosaline Roth well. The senior alnletic cups were won by R. Morrell and Nceline Tanner. There was no official ceremony to mark the close of the year for the pupils of the Hillcrest School, where another year of progress was recorded. Last Saturday the school held its annual fete and this embraced the usual closing of the year function. Accommodation Short Lack of accommodation at the Forest Lake School is becoming a serious concern of the school committee. The district is rapidly becoming one of Hamilton’s new suburbs and the number of pupils at the school is increasing and may be expected to expand more rapidly than most of the school rolls. Attention to the lack of accommodation and to the fact that a class of 40 pupils was held daily in the public hall was drawn by the headmaster, Mr E. T. Robinson, at the break-up ceremony yesterday, when many parents attended. The dux of the school was Ruth Stevenson. Other prizes won during the year were presented to the pupils. Fairfield Awards A break-up function was held at the Fairfield School yesterday, when a large number of parents saw the prizes presented by the chairman of the school committee, Mr C. V. Nicklin, and later heard a concert by the pupils, which had been organised by the headmaster, Mr R. E. Andrew, and the staff. The Audrey Ward Chapman Memorial Prize was won by Wray Knight. Awards were made for other honours won by pupils during the year. The honours board list of girls and boys who gained the highest marks in their respective classes was: Form 11., Maureen Lacy and F. Habberfield-Short; Form 1., Heather Chapman and Lois Pike (equal for girls’ honour) and D. Bishop; Standard 4, Peggy Hambling and T. Habberfield-Short; Standard 3, June Fowles and A. Hannah; Standard 2, Doris Mills and P. King; Standard 1, Patricia Dreyer and G._Waite. Body Identified A body found on Rangitoto Island, Auckland, on June 16 has been identified as that of Ravji Bhana, aged 22, an Indian, who had been missing from his home at Otahuhu since June 6.