THE SCHOOLS FROM WITHIN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1210, 19 August 1911, Page 11

THE SCHOOLS FROM WITHIN.

VARIOUS NEWS ITEMS. Rongote/i School is making goGil progress this year. The average- attendance during tiio* month of July was 113, or 91 pel- cent, of tho roll number. The annual inspection of tiio school look place at tho end of July. The committee Las lieciik-d to ballot the sum of M for two duplicate prizes for the lest i;ept plot :n :ne s-?iool. gardens. It is hoped shortly to obtain a return visit from the concert party which so kindly came out with the jbjcit of augmenting the school funds. Tho Terrace End School Committee (Palmerston North) held its monthly meeting last week. Tho headmaster's report stated that tho average attendance was 372.1. Sickness following on some of tho cases of measles was si ill the cause of a number of absentees. Delegates were appointed to attend the meeting to discuss compulsory attendance at continuation classes. Much discussion arose over an application to allow lectures to the school 'children, and it was finally decided that, subject to a collection being taken, the lectures be allowed. Tho "social" held tit Te Pohuo in aid of the school committee's prize fund was very successful, and just over £a was netted. The timber for a new school (much larger than the present, one) is now being cut, and wil! bo on tho ground shortly. When this building is erected tho work of the school will be carried on under bettei conditions for both scholars and teacher than at present. The committee has a lot of work to do in levelling the ground, and this is to be put in hand shortly. The low attendance at Ekctalvuna. School (92.3 out of a roll of Ul) has seriously interfered with tho work. A fewfresh cases of measles have occurred, mainly among the elder children. Discussion on the proposal to establish a memorial from the money received as a remit of tho Coronation social has been deferred. The question has arisen as to what rate of pay the Education Boards in the South Island grant their teachers while on sick leave. The South Canterbury and

Southland Boards ])ay full rate for ono month, and the North Canterbury Hoard allows at the rate of half the usual salary, and the allowance may now l:c extended for u term of ten weeks instead of «ight weeks as previously. At Iho monthly meeting of the Lytton Street School t'ommittce (Feihling), Ihe head-teacher reported that (he avcraye atlendiince wna 253.3, thv highest recordeil finee tho opening of the scliool. Thf l oonimitlee accorded ;i voio of sympathy lo Jlr. Stewart, owinp; to the ilrath of his father, and a molion iu appreciation ov tho ellicient manner J[r. Trovciuv controlled, the work of tho scliool during the absence of 31r. Stewart. At tho last inciting of the Katapiko Schcol Committee n was pn~sed cniigralulatinir the teachers, Mrs. Wilson and Miss Wells, on die hoirnir achieved by their scholars in olitainiiii; at the Hawera show first, third, and highly commended for writing out of a large number of entries. The appeal of the Patea School Committeo tor funds to enable them to put the- grounds in order in readiness for tho laying of the foundation stone of the cew scliool has ir,ot with a ready response, something over .SCO being either promised or collected, amoucst the items being donations of ,£5 from"Messrs. W. Dcrrett, G. V. Pearce, M.P., and P. O'Dea respectively, besides a further donation of .£5 ss. from the Mayor conditionally upon the sum of ,l'lOU being subscribed.' The annual concert and dance in connection with the Newman School (Ekelahunn) was a great success, and financially exceeded the anticipations of the promoters. The School Committee aimed at realising ,£l2, a. sum sufficient to pay for the school prizes and to meet contingent liabilities in connection with the function. This amount was more than obtained. The night being fine, there was an exceptionally large attendance, tho floor, during dancing, being uncomfortably crowded. During tho first portion of the evening the children rendered Iho cantata "Tho White Garland" in a creditable manner. Some months ago the senior girls and boys in the Tallangatta district (Victoria) pledged their word that each early morning, in tho open air, they would take five (no more, no less) deep breaths, as taught in the exercises "forming part of ■the.school curriculum. Surprising re.suits were recorded at the end of the first quarter, lin.- to llin. being a common increase in' chest measurement.' Tho school inspector, addressing one large school, specially urged the system upon girls who, at home, aided in nursing younger children. Assiduous morning practice, he said, invigorated the whole system, strengthened the muscles, increased the' lung capacity, and did away with, tlie desire to stoop or lean against something—too often a characteristic of the young Australian. ■ Tho attendance at the Masterton District High School has now quite recovered after the epidemic, and is, for a winter period, in a very satisfactory state. In order to strengthen the infant room staff at the Main Scliool, the board has agreed to appoint an.assistant, and transfer one of'the pupil-teachers to another school. ■■■'.' A teachers' class for the study of agriculture and Nature study during the summer vacation is to bo held at Grey town this year. Measles, are' prevalent in Hamua just now, the local school having only 40 per cent..of the roll number present last week. : At the monthly, meeting of tho Weber School Committee, a statement of accounts of the school concert was read, which showed, after paring all expenses, a sum of £6 !)s. 3d. was cleared. The secretary was instructed to write and thank Jitr. Orrasby and those who helped him in making the concert h> success-fill. Tho headuiaster's report showed that the average attendance for the past fivo weeks was -17.7, 3G.5, 41, ■11.8,-«.8. The ■work of. the school.is progressing satisfactorily, but owing to irregular, attendance some, children will require to attend every day till the end of tho year in order to gain promotion. The committee and tho staff of the Danncvirko North School have held a. combined meeting to devise ways and means of providing prizes. It has been unanimously decided to hold an adults' and a children's ball at an early date, as was so successfully done in former years. A meeting of all interested and willing lo assist will bo held iu the Parish Hall next week on Wednesday afternoon.