HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13429, 17 April 1944, Page 2

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

FORMATION IN TAURANGA

Decision of Householders

Co-operation With

Committee

As a result of a decision of householders of the Tauranga District High School at the biennial meeting on Wednesday evening, a Home and School Association is to be formed in Tauranga.

The subject was brought to the notice of the meeting in a circular from the Federation of ParentTeacher Associations, Auckland, which stated that the biennial election of school committees presented a favourable opportunity for bringing to the notice of school committees and householders the value of associations of parents, teachers and residents.

According to the circular, the

association would work in conjunction with the school committees, and its objects were to organise gatherings for the purpose of bringing parents, teachers and residents together, to increase interest among parents in the modernisation of education, to make available through lectures and discussion the latest knowledge on health and nutrition, to improve the children's chances of selecting the right secondary school, that is, the school most suited to the child's needs, interests and capacities, to assist parents in making the wisest choice of a career for their children and to raise ' funds for the purchase of

equipment, etc. The circular added that after a recent meeting of members of the Auckland Education Board and the Auckland Headmasters' Association with the Director of Education to discuss delinquency, the board resolved to recommend that ParentTeacher Associations be formed v at all schools. Similar resolutions had been passed by the Canterbury Education Board, the National Council of Women and the Inter-Church Council. All of these bodies had shown an appreciation of the value to both teachers and parents of friendly discussion of children's' health, behaviour and scholastic problems. The Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations had been formed for the purpose of assisting individual associations and of securing reforms in education through the co-opera-tion of such associations. "If it be decided to form a Parent-Teacher Association in your district, the federation would be pleased to receive any information regarding such action," the circular concluded.

Attached to the circular was a message from the chairman of the Auckland Education Board (Mr W. J. Campbell, which read as follows: "The board approves of the setting up of Parent-Teacher Associations with schools under its control. The board appreciates the assistance and co-operation which Parent-Teacher Associations have been able to afford to school committees in all matters pertaining to the interests of schools." Mr C. Brockway said that the formation of an association in Tauranga was most desirable and he moved that an association be formed.

This was seconded by Mr M. B Clark.

Mr H. Read thought that the title gave the wrong impression, it appearing that the association's membership was limited to parents and teachers. He suggested a title such as Home and Country Association, which would give a wider scope for membership.

It was explained by the Mayor (Mr L. R. Wilkinson), who presided at the meeting, that the circular clearly said that parents, teachers and residents were all eligible for membership.

At this stage, Mr Brockway intimated that he wished to amend his motion to read that a Home and School Association be formed. This would embody all sections.

Mr F. Hodgman seconded the amended motion.

One speaker was of the opinion that the title was of little importance and as long as the public understood who was eligible that was all that was needed.

On being put to the meeting, the motion was carried.

Mr Wilkinson suggested that a convenor be elected, to call a meeting at a later date to form a committee.

".. that tw el «' Mr Brockway said tt» tion should be done at- . as the enthusiasm was / It was decided that p holders be elected to «"■ p necessary arrangements mation of a Home and £ ciation and those Hyl ton ac Messrs. H. Read, E- • Mrs C: F.\ Buchanan.