THE WELLINGTON SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 246, 12 July 1921, Page 6

THE WELLINGTON SCHOOLS

DELEGATES OF COMMITTEES MEET THE SUPPLY OF SCHOOL BOOKS TRANSFERS OF TEACHERS Various matters connected with the work of tho schools in Wellington were discussed at a meeting of the ..School Committees’ Association hist night. Mr. A. J. White, president of the association, was in the chair, and about forty delegates were present. It was decided that school committees should be requested to send their colours to the association, with a view to a record lieing placed with the Education Board. School colours may be registered with the Department, but a fee has to be paid, and no primary school in Wellington has registered.

Mr, A. Saudo moved, in accordance with notice. “That, to avoid dislocating the school teaching staffs and thus impairing the efficiency of the work, it is necessary that provision be made for a greater range of salaries without the necessity for transfer; salaries should be based on efficiency, academic attainments service, and domestic responsibility.” He contended that frequent removals of teachers were opposed to tile interests of both teacher and pupil. Ho suggested that a deputation representing the association should place the matter before the Minister of Education. Frequent changes of teachers in the schools ought not to lie necessary. Teachers should be able to secure promotion without going to a new school. The motion was carried unanimously. The chairman referred to the question of school books. The booksellers had been agitating against .the issue of school books at cost price by tho Education boards, and he thought that the school committees should give support to the scheme. He had authority for saying that booksellers’ profits averaged from 30 to 35 per cent. The Canterbury Edu«stion Board had been able to save 20 Jlir cent, on the cost of books and stationery by supplying the articles through the committees. The scheme was a good one, and it had been supported by committees and houssholdei-s' meetings throughout the Dominion. Forty-five members of the present House jof Representatives were pledged to support the issue of school books free of charge. The chairman stated that the issue of free books would not cost tho Government more than Is. per head of the population annually. He - moved: “That this association, representing the school committees of Wellington city and suburbs, heartily congratulates the Minister of Education on his definite statement that he is prepared io do all in his power to help reduce the cost of education in the schools of this Dominion.” Several delegates spoke in support of Ihe motion. They, stated that the cost of school books was a very serious matter for parents. Education was not free under present conditions, and the burden fell most heavily on the people with large families.

Mrs. Snow mentioned that the Social Welfare Committee iu Wellington had sometimes to supply books to parents, particularly widows, who could not afford to buv them. Another delegate pointed out that parents who were unable to buy books could get ihem without charge by applying to headmasters. The motion was carried. The Northland Committee had forwarded ihe following remit: “That the Education Board be approached with a view to providing for a periodical inspection of all schools, to see that fences, _ drains, latrines, and grounds are kept in good order nnd condition.” Mr. Sando thought the motion conveyed an undeserved reflection on the board s officers. His experience had been that ihe board gave reasonably prompt attention to necessary repairs when attention was called to the matters. After brief discussion, the meeting referred the remit back to the Northland committee. Delegates stated that the works mentioned in the remit were supposed to be covered by the incidental allowance, and were under the control of the committees. I The following remit from the _ laita Committee was adopted by a majority: "That this association strongly disapproves of the custom of different sets of cards being used for the arithmetic proficiency examination, and. requests that uniform papers and cards be used in each school for such examination. It was stated that in one small school three cards had been used among nine children, and one card was considered the teacher to be more difficult than tne others.