TE ARO SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 92, 18 April 1916, Page 3

TE ARO SCHOOLS

Mr. W. H. Hampton presided at the meeting of householders in Te Aro Schools District, about 50 people being present. The secretary (Mr. Doherty) reported that the receipts for the year amounted to £329 17s 4d. The balance to be handed to the incoming committee amounted to £132 17s 2cl, including £66 6s 3d balance in bank, £40 special capitation for Mitchelltown School, £38 last quarter's capitation, £3 account owing, £44 11s grant from board (loss refund of £15, unexpended). The chairman declared that t lie balance-sheet was too good altogether. No committee should have such a large sum to hand to its successors. Previous committees had found that the revenue was barely sufficient, to keep the schools properly equipped, and here was this committee actually telling the board by its balancesheet that it had given tho committee more money than it required for its .vnvk

The chairman of the committee (Mr. T). U. Lawlor) explained why the bal-

ance was so large. One item, the Mitchelltown capitation, had come as an agreeable surprise. The committee had been battling with tho board for some lime for this amount, which had only just been received. Reporting on the year's work, Mr. Lawlor said that it had been satisfactory, and the average attendance good. The school had been closed for a week during the infantile paralysis scare, and tho building had beon disinfected. Regarding the staffing of the schools, he thought the committee had a grievance with the board's method of appointing teachers. The committee was not consulted. The name, of the board's selected candidate was submitted to it, and it had no option but to accept that candidate. He maintained that the method was wrong, and that, the committees throughout the Dominion should protest against it. Who kne\v better the needs of the school than the committee? He also complained that a grave injustice was being done the students trained and being trained For the . teaching profession by the employment of married teachers from other parts. He also urged that something should be done to further urge upon the board the necessity of a- new site for Te Aro School. The present location was in a congested area, and in a street which was noisy from the traffic. Commenting on the number of teachers who had enlisted, Mr. Lawlor said that out of a staff of. 23 the schools had only two males (including the hoadmnster).

Subsequently it was decided that an endeavour should be made to hold a meeting of householders to -discuss the conditions of the schools, and^to arrange to urge on the Government the necessity for an investigation.

The following committee was elected: —H. A. W M'.Kenzie, chairman (30), J. Hyland (28), A. A. W. Curtis, secretary (25), J J. Flyser (23); P. M'Neill (22), H. E. Long '(21), Mrs. S. Evans (20), C. V. Dixon (18), R. Cook (15).