SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 14635, 3 August 1911, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin and ’ Suburban School Committees’ Association ■was held last night. In the absence of Mr W. R. Brough (chairman), Mr R. Fer--1 guson (George Street School) presided. ‘ The balance-sheet, which showed a credit of £1 16s 6d. and the annual report [ I (previously published) were adopted, on the motion'of the chairman, who expressed satisfaction that every school in Puncdin ; had fallen into lino in connection with l the holidays in Coronation Week. When . the executive considered that a certain . day should be observed as a holiday for any purpose, it was the duty of the committees to fall into line with the executive, and he was very pleased that every committee had done so. I Mr G. Moir said that everything seemed to have been working satisfactorily, home surprise had been caused by the circular issued by teachers recommending that teachers should be appointed by the central authority, but ho was pleased to think that very little notice had been taken of j it. Certainly the adoption of tbe recom- | mendation would not be in the interests i of teachers themselves. i The following office;s were elected: ; President, Mr R. Ferguson (George .Street School) ; vice-president, Mr T. H. Dalton | {Kensington! : members of executive— j Messrs J. H. Wilkinson (Albany Street). 1 G. Moir (Kaikorai), F. G. Camming (Maori | Hill), R. Bentham (Morninglon), A. Miller \ (Moray Place) ; secretary, Mr M. Fraer I (re-elected). Messrs J. H. 'Wilkinson, G. j | Moir, and T. H. Todd were nominated life 1 (members. A discussion followed, in which ' | opinions were expressed against the priii- | j ciplo of giving life members a possible ■ I preponderance, and the motion was de- j i feated. the gentlemen nominated concur- j j ring with the opinions expressed. | j On the motion of Mr W. S. Pattison | j (Moray Place - ), seconded by Air J. Tor- | ! ranee (Wakaril. it was resolved not to ( j recommend school committees to comply j with the request of a deputation of re- I tailers that the day of the trades picnic | (second Wednesday in February) bo de- ! dared a holiday. j The levy for the current year was fixed j ; at 7s 6d. 1 j In answer to a question, it was stated I ! that a school committee could not legally ' j enforce, payment of pen and ink money, i On the other hand, a further question / I whether the committees were under any ■ [ obligation to supply pens and ink was left ( : unanswered. N’o one seemed able to de- j cido that point. ; ! Mr G. t . Israel spoke in favor of Arbor 1 Day being observed as a special school day ; not as a holiday, but as a day* for ! ' instruction in horticulture and for inculcat- ; ing a love of plants and tree-planting, the I work to be done under the supervision and I advice of (Mr Tannock. —The Chairman | said he thought that every school in Dun- j odin would fall in with the idea. j The Chairman said that a question worth | inquiring into was that in some sch.’-ois | teachers did not put up ail the pupils I in the Sixth Standard for the proficiency j certificate, examination. This was not fair ( to other teachers, as a better percentage | of pusses would be got by those teachers ! who selected pupils for the examination. ) He had hoard of two schools where this i practice was followed.—Mr Israel said that 1 it was a grossly improper thing to do, and he hesitated to believe it.—Tho Chairman \ said he did not wish to reflect on the j teachers, who, if they-did do it, probably I thought they were right. A letter was received from Gisborne asking for a copy of tho association's constitution, as it was proposed to form a school committees’ association in Gisborue. —The Secretary reported that the information had been sent.