PARENTS AND THE SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 185, 3 May 1929, Page 11

PARENTS AND THE SCHOOL

KEENER INTEREST NEEDED MEETING AT MIRAMAR A meeting of the Worser Bay and Miramar Central Horae and Schools Association was held in the Miramar Central School last night, Mr. E. H. Head, presiding over an attendance of about fifty people. The principal object of the meeting was to hear Messrs. H. A. Ingram and C. D. Lennie (Island Bay) and H. M. Harris (Lyall Bay), all of whom are prominent in the Home and Schools’ Association work. Mr. Ingram said that for years there had been apparent throughout the Dominion, an apathy among parents; too great a number of people did.not show any concern regarding the conditions ; under which children were gaining their . learning. The Home and Schools’ Association movement began in Canada, and when it was decided to move on similar lines in Island Bay, it was agreed that the title of the association should be the same as that adopted in Canada. The title was decided upon because the object was tb act as a bridge between the school and the home. It was regrettable that the apathy mentioned was so pronounced, and it was shown at the elections held last month. In too many cases householders’ meetings were very poorly attended. Big interest was shown in general elections and municipal elections, but tlie same was not shown in regard to schools, and that was a deplorable state ' of affairs in view of the importance of school work. There were now in and ’ about Wellington many branches of the Home and Schools’ Association, and the , necessity of co-ordination had not been ‘ lost sight of. On June 5 a conference was to be held in Wellington with represen- I tatives from the kindergarten to the Universities. Education began in the kin- j dergarten, but did not end at the Uni- . versify. Probably 95 per cent, of the children of the Dominion were not able 1 to go to the University, and one of the objects of the association was to consider < the after care of pupils who had 1 gone through the public schools or the secondary schools. Mr. Ingram mentioned that he had been througjj the new Miramar School, and he contrasted * it with some of the older ones, such as J Te Aro and Brooklyn. He mentioned that in the latter suburb scholars were ( accommodated in the cottages which j were condemned ten years ago. From ( that it could be seen that the backing of , parents was necessary to secure good schools and grounds. It was only the apathy of the parents that could be t blpmed for such a state of affairs; the f teaching staffs were labouring under the same difficulties as the children. The ( association had been agitating for some j time for smaller classes, and the present r Minister of Education and past Ministers had expressed themselves as being in favour. At Island Bay there <1 were classes of 50, GO, and even 90, with < two teachers operating in one room. The s average number of pupils per teacher in f Canada was 33, in Victoria 20, in Africa

24, but in New Zealand there were 45.5 pupils per teacher. Classes would be reduced only when the people wake up to the fact that they were responsible for the state of affairs. No Government Department could be shifted unless there was a solid body of public opinion, and the Home and Schools’ Association were out to create the required interest among the parents. Mr. Ingram went on to refer to staff changes, and expressed the opinion that it should not be necessary for teachers to transfer to another school for an increase in status, and emolument. They should be allowed to remain at the one school and get the promotion due, for it could not be expected that children would look up to a teacher who was here to-day and way to-morrow. In Brooklyn there had been thirty-eight changes in three and a half years and at Kilbirnie seven iu the present year. The speaker also spoke in opposition to the system of full classes I being taken by probationary teachers, ! while at the same time there were many ! certificated teachers unable to secure posiI tions. It was the desire of the association i to make the people of Miramar believe I that their schools were the ideal. The i efforts at Island Bay had met with great ! success, and it was due to co-operation between the association, the school committee and the parents. The school committee must be recognised as the official body in dealing with the Department. Mr. Ingram concluded by suggesting that Mr. A. Sando be asked to address Miramar householders on matters dealing with the school syllabus, and he appealed to residents to realise the importance of the school. He himself would be quite willing to assist and be was sure others in the movement would also do so. Mr. Harris (Lyall Bay) said that the association in his district had raised £l5O for school improvements and had been the means of securing a piano, gramophone and duplicator, as well as providing a good sum for the playing area. Euchre tournaments, parties and concerts were organised, and two picture shows had been held. He emphasised that cooperation must be the foundation of the home and school association. Mr. Lennie (Island Bay) also spoke on the methods adopted for raising money. He mentioned that there were about 17 branches in and around Wellington. The speakers were accorded a vote of thanks for their addresses. The following office-bearers -were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr. E. 11. Head ; vice-president, Mr. F. Marshall ; honorary secretary, Mr. D. Ritchie; honorary treasurer, Mrs. Ludlow; honorary auditor, Mr. J. Cain; trustees, Messrs. 8. M. Stone and 11. Stewart; committee, Messrs. Allen, Hobbs, F. Stewart, Johnson, Chambers, McConchie, Lookman, Wilkinson, Marshall and Treinayne, Mesdames Stevens, Stewart, Gar-

diner, Kent, Francis, Ritchie and Head. It was decided to meet on the first Wednesday in each month. The chairman announced that through Mr. H. Stewart the Scott Timber Co. had made a gift of posts for football, hockey and basketball, and a motion of thanks was passed.