SCHOOL EXCURSION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 168, 30 April 1935, Page 3

SCHOOL EXCURSION

RETENTION STRONGLY URGED.

ASHBURTON EAST TO TIMARU.

Expressions of opinion on the question of continuing the annual school picnic to Timaru given at the meeting of householders in the Ashburton East School last evening indicated that parents were very anxious to retain this outing and were willing to organise special efforts to make its retention possible. Until recently the committee has provided a free picnic for pupils. The cost has, however, proved a heavy drain on its finances and the view has been expressed that more impo'tant requirements should receive greater consideration in these difficult days. The chairman (Mr W. S. Kerr) said that there had been some, concern among parents when it was stated last summer that there was a suggestion that the annual picnic to Timaru should be given up in favour of other things which, would be of greater permanent value to the children.

The headmaster (Mr S. G s Macfarlane) said the staff felt that the expenditure of between £2O and £3O on one day's fun was rather too great when there were so many other matters which needed attention and which would be of more permanent value. It was not intended to deprive the chil dren of their treat, but to give them an outing at less cost so that some money could be devoted to necessities at the school. The institution was deprived of many things and it was considered that the committee was hardly justified in spending so much on a picnic when it could not be expended on improvements. The speaker believed that about a third of the children did not attend the picnic, and some of those who pleaded for a picnic as the only outing they had each year did not go. It might be asked what the money could be spent on to better advantage. The walls were badly wanting for pictures and the grounds did not receive sufficient attention, and both of these.things had an important bearing on the education of the children. Environment meant much to the growing child. Books for* general reading in one school recently destroyed by fire were valued at £2OO, whereas the local school had a great paucity of reading matter. Asphalting could not be done before the winter because the committee had no funds. Playing areas were restricted and he only hoped that a park could be provided somewhere in the vicinity in the near future so that the children would have the facilities for games to which they were entitled. In reply to a question, it was stated that a free picnic would cost £27. Mesdames K. 8. McEachen and M Keeley said it would be a great pity to give up the excursion to Timaru. Both speakers advocated the raising of money by residents specifically for the picnic. An effort could be made just before the picnic and the money would then not come out of the committee's funds.

Other speakers supported the suggestion that a special effort should bo made to raise money to give the children their excursion and not allow the picnic to Timaru to bo replaced by another outing. Mr E. H. Childs said the reduction of grants by the Education Board left the responsibility on the committee to do a hundred-and-one things that should really be dealt with by the Board. The committee did not like to let important matters go unattended to'when the responsibility rested with it. It did not have the money to provide the ideal environment and it was on this account that some members of the staff felt diffident about making such a large expenditure on one day's outing. Mr Macfarlane . pointed out that money raised specially for the picnic would necessarily reduce the amount that could be raised by other school efforts. Replying to a suggestion that a big function would 1 produce sufficient money to pay for the picnic and other facilities at the school for some years, the speaker stated that such things greatly interfered with the work of the school. With regard to the amount provided for incidental expenses by the Education Board, Mr Macfarlane said that a primary school in the County received £BB, whereas a secondary school of the same size in this district was paid £450 and the needs of both institutions were practically the same. The chairman said the committee was pleased to have heard these expressions of parents' views. It was evident that parents were almost unanimous in their desire to see the excursion to Timaru continued and in their willingness to assist with efforts to provide the necessary funds so that they would not be such a drain on the committee's meagre finances. The committee would thus be guided by theae expressions when it came to a decision on the matter later in the year.