Kyleshill head teacher's reports 1973, 1974

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Kyleshill head teacher's reports 1973, 1974

Post by down south »

Here is the headmaster's end-of-session speech from Kyleshill Primary School in 1973.

' SCHOOL LIFE LIKE FAMILY LIFE '

The annual end-of-term concert was held in Kyleshill Primary School on Thursday. Over one hundred parents attended and appreciated the children's performances. Each class presented an item and the standard acieved reflected creditably the work of the teachers in preparing for the show.

The headmaster, Mr J Hunter, in his address to the parents thanked them for the interest they had shown in the work of the school. He also emphasised the importance of co-operation between parents and the school in assuring that the children received the utmost benefit fron the education provided.

He likened school life to family life and stressed the need to have all members of the family conform to a code based on the requirements of the whole group.

He was happy to report that this year there would be little change in staff as only one teacher was leaving. The difficulties experienced in the school over the last two years and consequent to the re-organisation of primary education in Saltcoats, he felt, had been largely overcome and the school could look forward to a more settled future. He urged parents to take an interest in the Parents' Association which had already done much to promote the welfare of the pupils.

The school closed on Friday and a short closing-day ceremony was held in the school.At this ceremony the head teacher addressed the pupils and handed over the sports trophies, the champion girl being Margaret Hall and the champion boy David Young.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 6th July 1973


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Re: Kyleshill head teacher's reports 1973, 1974

Post by down south »

Here now is the report for 1974.

KYLESHILL HEADMASTER'S APPEAL TO PARENTS

" The school is continuing to make progress and many of the difficulties which beset us in our first two years after re-organisation have been overcome. This is in no small measure due to the fact that we have enjoyed a stability of staff and, at a time when many schools throughout the country are suffering from a shortage of teachers and a rapid changeover of staff, we must consider ourselves most fortunate, " said the head teacher of Kyleshill School, Saltcoats, Mr J Hunter, in his annual report.

" The position at the beginning of next session, " said Mr Hunter, " looks quite hopeful and we anticipate starting off with a complete staff. The school roll continues to increase and has now reached the point where the present buildings are no longer capable of meeting the demands. This has been recognised by the Education Authority who have agreed to erect a two classroom pre-fabricated unit which, it is hoped, will be ready for the new session.

" During the past year we resuscitated the Kyleshill football team and although we lost most of our matches we did not lose all of them and there can be little doubt that this venture has been very much worthwhile as a social activity. We also started a netball team for the girls which has also proved to be a valuable asset. In addition our relay and swimming teams have competed with reasonable success against other schools in the area and 33 of our pupils gained swimming awards at the swimming class at Auchenharvie Academy. Further we have introduced the house system to our sports activities and we shall extend this in the future to include formal educational activities as well.

" The parents and teachers have also added to the laurels of the school through the Parent-Teachers' Association which won the Parent-Teacher Quiz Competition this year for schools in this area.

" However pleased and proud of these achievements though we may be and recognising the important and indeed integral part that social activities play in the present educational system we must not lose sight of the fact that schools must primarily exist for education. The new or modern methods employed in teaching have indeed made schools more attractive to pupils but it should never be assumed that learning is an easy and effortless activity.

No matter the method employed much hard work is required of pupil and teacher alike if the child is to reap maximum benefit from the education provided. And here I would emphasize the great need for co-operation from parents. We in the school, regardless of how hard we strive, must fail unless we have the backing of the home.

" No hard and fast rules can be laid down in this matter. Every child is an individual, every child has its own particular and peculiar problems and difficulties and it is only by maintaining liaison and consultation between parent and teacher that the most effective help can be given to the child. It is a source of great satisfaction to me to be able to report that at Kyleshill a growing number of parents come to discuss their children's problems and these discussions invariably lead to solutions.

" One of the greatest problems facing schools at the present time is that of indiscipline, " said Mr Hunter. " We hardly lift a daily paper these days but we read of the most extraordinary behaviour, particularly of secondary pupils. While it must be admitted that this problem is not so acute in the primary schools, nevertheless it is there and though on a lesser degree still gives cause for alarm.

" I have no doubt that many of the younger pupils are simply copying their elder brothers and sisters and I would appeal to parents with teenage sons and daughters ,' Please make every effort to prevent a bad example to the younger children. '

" Earlier I spoke of co-operation between pupils and teachers. There are many ways in which this can take place but the easiest way of all is for the parent to show the child that he or she is interested in what the child is doing at school, by simply asking it about its lessons, taking time to help with the child's homework, finding out about anything that is causing difficulty. After all, no teacher no matter how good can take the place of a parent, and there is no child who will not respond to the interest shown by someone so close to it as a mum or dad.

" I am fully convinced that the influence of a caring parent exerted with affection and understanding can be the very foundation on which a conscientious and efficient teacher can construct the edifice of a sound and liberal education. This is our aim at Kyleshill and with the continued support of the parents I am confident we will attain it. "

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 28th June 1974


Susan
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