SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17452, 12 May 1922, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

DOMINION CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT MATTERS PO3 DISCUSSION.

The annual conference of the School Committees' Associations affiliated with the federated School Committees' Associations of New "Zealand, has been fixed to open in Wellington on August Ist ; remits are to be in by. June' 2<Jth. Mr A. Peverill, the president of the Federated Associations, who returned yesterday /from Wellington, where he attended a meeting of the executive, gatve a representative pf "The Press" some interesting information regarding the business transacted. It was decided to recommend the affiliated Associations, he said, to advocate that separate tables and chairs be provided in all new built schools; also to continue the agitation for additional playground accommodation where such is required. As to standard school books it was decided to suspend action until the result of the Department's proposals have been seen. Tlie Department has not overlooked the question of taking over the supply of school stationery and books, and the matter is at present receiving the Earnest consideration of the Minister. In respect of schools not connected with the sewer, it has been decided to urge the Department to pay sanitary expenses, or to install septic tanks. in the cases of reasonably big schools. A change' in the manner of electing school committees is being urged: it is asked that only one-half of tne members should retire annually: on a com--1 mittee of seven, four would retire the | first year and three the second: after I the first election every member would | hold office for two years. The adoption j of this alteration would enturs that there would be always on the committee members with experience of the work. A dear definition as to what accidents cm school grounds thei Department or the Boards are liable for in respect of claims for medical expenses or other claims arising out of accidents, is to be asked for. As to the request that j qualified dentists should accompany the medical inspector when visiting schools, 'tho Minister has stated that already a

great deal has been done in connexion with the dental inspection pf i school children, and he hopes, as soon as possible, to extend this service. Early next year he hopes to add 30 women (at present receiving training) to the dental corps. At present the Minister regrets that it is impossible for. the Education Department to undertake to provide free medical treatment for school children: the utmost that can be done is to advise parents as to what medical treatment -is necessary. Regarding the election pf representatives of school committees on the governing bodies of Technical Colleges, it is asked that they should be elected on the same basis as members are elected to Education Hoards. The Minister has expressed the. opinion that the request for the representation of school committees on the Council 'of Education is a reasonable one, and it will receive careful consideration when dealing with the constitution of the Council in the Amending Act. It is possible that provision will be made for one representative of North Island School Committees and one for South Island School Committees on the Cuncil. The request that the expenses should be paid of teachers whose transfers have been ordered by tho Department is looked upon as reasonable and will receive careful consideration when the regulations are next revised.

As to provision for instruction in science and for scientific research, the Minister has replied that the Cawtbron institute, Nelson, has been established for this purpose. It is not considered that this meets the position, as the Federated Associations desire provision, for the scientific study of problems affecting industry and for specific scientific research from the primary schools to the high schools. Regarding the question of providing for the more general gristing of whole wheatmeal, the Minister has stated that this is, more or less a question of supply and demand: personally he is anxious that people should. use whole wheatmeal bread. He has suggested that as a means of encouraging its more general use there should be legislation, or. a regulation, providing that white bread should be sold as bread which has "been deprived of some of its nourishment. .