SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18122, 11 July 1924, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

CONFERENCE AT TIMARU CONCLUDED. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS condemned. (special to "the fbess.") TIMARU, July 10. The conference of delegates of the School Commitees' Associations of the South Island continued its meetings in the Borough Council Chambers to-day, Mr A. F. Bi>ys presiding. Mr W. G. Chapman brought up the matter of establishing dentai clinics in the school districts.

Mr W. Gibb said there was a clinic at the Timaru hospital, where children were treated 011 production of a nurso s oertifiiicate. Mr W. Harvey spoke strongly in favour of the clin'cs, detailing!; _ th© work done at the Christchurch clinics. The Department had not too many den tail nurses at present, and the work was very essential. Mr G. W. Andrews thought there was more profiteering on the part of dentists than on the part of anyone el so.

Mr Chapman said that his committee had been asked to supply the necessary room and equipment. It was absurd to do this, as the Department should do all the supplying. His school's clinic was too busy dealing with their own children to take in the pupils of other schools.

Mr j. T. Calder said that nothing had been done so far in Oamaru. There should be a periodical inspection of children's teeth.

It was agreed that the conference express appreciation of what had already been done, and urge the Department to push forward the training of dental nurses and the establishment of clinics at suitable places. Transfer of Teachers. Speaking of the transfer of teachers, Mr W. T. Steele said that the way in which teachers were ta,ken away from schools in the middle of the year was nonsensical. He moved: That r-11 transfers of teachers should take place nt the end of the year, .and that vacancies in tlio meantime should bo filled by temporary teachers. Messrs J. T. Calder, Xj. Sanderson, and G. Benstead spoke in favour of the motion, which was carried. After the question of committee status had been discussed, it was decided that members of school committees should have their term of office extended to two years. Junior High Schools. Junior High Schools were mentioned by Mr J. .T. Calder, who said there was a proposal to establish one in Oamaru, which would lower the grade of two of the present three schools, while the third would be closed. It would involve the disorganisation of the present staffs, and the attendances at the schools would be reduced from 1205 to 905 bv taking the fifth and sixth standards away.

After Mr A. E. Lawrence of Timaru (who was present by invitation) had snoken at length on the ouestion, Mr W. Gibb moved: "That this representative gathering of delegates of school "ommittees strongly protests against the scheme of Junior S"hools, especially as projected at Oamaru, as it is calculated to the primary school system of tlie Dominion bv reducing the grade of teachers, robbing the nrimarv schools of all tradition (•rented by senior scholars, and of all Fnorts a.nd musical interests, that a ''""utttion, eono'stinqr of Messrs A. E. T givronce. O. W A"dre««, nrd J T* .S-wnr-r'-i' l ". u-itb the n''rlitjnn °f a rpnr**cpnfnrf.iro. on the Minister in this con-rir»-ion." T'Wi motion vas r-nrrlnd. This concluded th» conferenoe. The Trnmwav Football Club's annual ball, held in the Town Tlnll. Papanui, on Wednesday evening, proved very successful, so much so that the committee lias decided to liold other similar functions. The h;i)I and supper-room were decorated with streamers of the club's colours, red and black. The committee provided, and served a very dainty supper, and the music for the dancing was supplied by Miss Tilleyshort's orchestra. Amongst, the many present were Mesdames T. Dawson, L. Oft'ord, L. Evans, Treadwell, Boanas, L. Harding, P. B-'tty. Dougall, Calvill,' Dunn, J. E. Smith, W. Chapman, Connew, Pliillips, M. Mordv, T. Roskvist (Westport), Misses L. Phillips, M. Byrne, 11. Christie, M. Nee, V. Is'ec, S. Nee' M. Page, R. Maiden, M. Smith, d! Philip, A. Entwistle, L. Taylor, E. Keller, E. Rosser, A. Kellar, E. Loader, E. Hyland, A. Doyle, Paine, D. Doyle,' Bidwcll, McGlinehv, Cfarke, G. Foreman, M. Thomas, E. Dougall, C. Bradshaw, jr. Brndshaw. M. Thomas, Elleridge, D. Deibert, E. llinton, M. Taylor, E. Forward, A. Dent, A. Brvhan, D. Dawson. I. Cook, A. Dunn, F. Scott, E. Finlay, J. Mayer, R. Peddcr, L. Cor- ; - j.; .T'irman, K. Henry, E. Brocklcbank, C. Jarman.