Page 85 - Volume 1

Headteacher’s July Report 1949 and discussions, and all oral work have been used. To
Wm Parsonage 14.7.49
Written Expression The general weakness noted in this
subject in the final survey of 1948 has not been overcome
in spite of my efforts. In most cases there has been some
improvement but further determined teaching is needed.
F2 Fair to Good. Mihi and John improved.
F1 Very Fair+ Both have shown improvements.
S4 Fair to Very Fair. Much work needed here
S3 Fair to Very Fair. Myra good. Others need
concentrated teaching.
S1&2 Very Fair to Good. S1 showing improvement. S2
fairly sound.
Formal Language As in Written Expression there is a
decided weakness here, particularly among the Maori
children, most of whom have very little idea of even the
rudiments of grammar.
F2 apart from Polly, good.
F1 approximately Very Fair.
S4 Fair to Very Fair. This class is weak on this subject
and concentrated teaching is needed to reach a pass
standard.
S3 Very Fair to Good. Queenie Fair. Remainder appear to
make good progress.
S1&2 Very Fair. Determined teaching is required in Std.1
Social Studies S3-F2 Good. Very pleasing progress has
been made. Children have displayed a great deal of
interest.
Reading F1-F2 approaching Good. Most of the children
are keen readers and have a good grasp of matter read.
Polly - Fair.
S3-S4 Very Fair. S3 better than S4 who are not nkeen
readers. Oral reading has shown improvement but there is
still a tendency to read too quickly.
S1-S2 Very pleasing progress made with these classes.
Mary has not progressed as rapidly as the others and her
comprehension is not up to the Standard.
Spelling In most cases survey results were something of
a disappointment. Children are not yet ‘spelling
conscious’ - introduce dictionaries for mistakes and a
graph for daily number of errors in an endeavour to
stimulate “spelling Conscience”.
Writing Here very pleasing progress has been made and
what was last year a decided weakness in all classes has
become a pleasing feature of the work in the school.
General estimate G-VG.
Arithmetic F2 Half-year survey results most
disappointing due mainly to careless mistakes and not to
ignorance of methods. However, progress has been slow
and hard work in this subject must be a feature of the
second half of the year.
S3-F1 Mainly good with such exceptions as Jimmie and
William Wilson who have no idea of number. Progress
has been good.
S2 Good to Very Good. A successful half-year’s work.
S1 Good progress made - approaching Very Good.
Speech Work No formal work taken. Verse speaking
advantage in attaining correct speech.
Infants Lack of interest at home is biggest bugbear.
Books always being lost. Reading seldom preferred.
Reading is Fair. Number work Very Fair. Oral work
is Weak. Some children are unwilling to speak. This
must be concentrated on during the second half of the
year.
Verse Speaking Children keen. Popular type of
songs has greater appeal and these have been given a
preference to school songs.
Handwork Very little has been taken due to a
shortage of materials. Boys do papier-mache work -
girls sewing with Mrs Parsonage.
Art New scheme of art work has proved most
popular and good results have been obtained.
General The children are keen on their work and in
all good progress has been made with the exceptions
mentioned. The children are friendly and appear to be
happy. New sports gear has been obtained and
though the playground is against sports activities
some results have been achieved.
A new tank and handbasin have been fitted, the
hedges have been cut, but the grounds are in a bad
state. I have improvements in mind but the
Committee is unable to find labour. Floor stain and
timber for shelves have been ordered. A fair supply of
library and reference books is in hand, but I am
reluctant to release them until shelves are procured
for them.
Consideration for Remainder of Year
1. Determined teaching in all English subjects
including Written Expression in all classes.
2. Development of a “spelling conscience”.
3. Speeding up for F2 Arithmetic.
4. Further concentration on oral work in all classes,
particularly infants.
5. Plenty of Table Drill and Mechanical Arithmetic in
Std 3 and all classes.
“The environment of the school leaves much
to be desired but it is understood that plans are
underway for long-overdue ground improvements.
The buildings too are badly in need of painting.
The new boys lavatory is a great improvement.
The interest of the school committee is
evident . . . in its efforts to obtain electric power
for the school.”
K H O’Halloran, 8 August 1949
Headteacher’s Final Report 1949
Wm Parsonage 14.12.49
Form 2
Written Expression Hihi and John showed
improvement and reached a good standard. Roy
remained Good. Polly Weak-Very Fair. Has little idea
of grammatical construction.