BOROUGH SCHOOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 153, 10 April 1930, Page 4

BOROUGH SCHOOL.

PRIMARY EDUCATION. THE HEADMASTER'S REPORT. The Borough School Committee met last evening, when there were present: Messrs J. Watson (chairman), W. H. Amos, A. Prentice, E. M. Gabites, W. C. J. Osman, and F. J. E. Smallbbne. The headmaster (Mr S. H. Sullivan) was also in attendance. The Canterbury Education Board advised that the application for the formation of a concrete footpath between the main school and the new infant room had been referred to the assistant architect for .a report. In answer to the committee's inquiry the Education Board advised that a subsidy of £1 for £1 would be available from the Department on contributions raised by the committee for the purchase of certain books for the school. A letter was received from the Education Board stating that authority had been given to carry out improvements to the ventilation system at the school. A circular letter was received from the Canterbury School Committees' Association stating that the school committees' year now drawing to a close had been marked by an increased public interest in the primary school system in the Dominion. Indications that the Education Department in Wellington was definitely moving toward an elaboration of the. education system without the authority of Parliament or of the Minister of Education, the admission that the Department had in view the establishment of an intermediate grade of schools, and proofcontained in the report of the Canterbury Education Board that, in the pursuit of its unauthorised objective, the Department was "going t slow" in respect of the maintenance and equipment of existing primary schools, have help?d committeemen to lealise that their local needs have a national significance.

Continuing, the" letter stated that the refusal of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to receive its report on the necessities of existing primary schools enabled the Association to place before the Minister details from more than 100 schools in Canterbury and Westland, with the result that the Minister has undertaken the duty of visiting a number of primary schools in these districts.

A number of remits from the School Committees' Association was received to be presented at the annual meeting of householders.

The headmaster reported that the roll number was 450, the average attendance for the month being 430.4. The school would be represented in every event at the annual primary school sports pext Saturday. . The school had won the Milsom Cup for the most points at the primary' schools' swimming sports, and Barnett Cup for the relay race, whjle Roy Maybury and Jean Martin had each won Gala cups. The first term examinations would be hold this week, and would be completed before Easter. The Easter holidays would be held from Good Friday to the following Tuesday, inclusive. As this was the last meeting of the committee, he wished to thank members for their support. Everything he had su£<rosted had been given earnest consideration. He was confident the success the school had attained was due to the hearty co-operation of the staff and the committee. He honed the same support would be forthcoming next vear.

On "the motion of the chairman it was decided that the staff be congratulated for the success gained by the school in sports during the year. The headmaster's report was adopted. The purchase of a gramophone and records for school purposes was considered, and it was decided that the purchase be made. The chairman thanked members for their assistance during the year. The work of the committee working in conjunction with the staff had been smooth-running.