GREY MAIN SCHOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1931, Page 12

GREY MAIN SCHOOL

HOUSEHOLDERS’ MEETING. The annual meeting of householders will be held this evening at the Grey Main School at 7.30 p.m. The outgoing Committee’s report for the year ended February 28,: 1931, is as follows: — (1) During the year the staff of the schools was affected by several changes but despite this the results obtained were most satisfactory as shown by the good reports received from the Inspector. For Proficiency certificates 66 pupils were presented, 59 gaining proficiency and 7 competency certificates. All of the girls gained proficiency certificates. This result was indeed pleasing and wo congratulate the teachers concerned. Throughout all the classes the percentage of passes was high and reflects great credit on the whole of the staff of both schools. (2) Attendances. During the year the roll number at both schools were practically stationary, the Main School’s average being 573 and the Blaketown School’s average 103. The average attendance for the year at the Main School was 536 and at Blaketown 94. The Committee wishes to. again impress upon the parents the necessity of sending their children to school regularly as the staffing of the school and the allowance for the upkeep both depend on the average attendance and not on the numbers on the rolls. , . (3) Honours. The Watkins Medal for the Dux of the school was won by Miss E Bignell, and the best boy pupil was D Allison. The Scott Memorial Essay competition, open to all schools in the district, was won by N. Bicheno. Junior National Scholarships were won by Masses N. Black, E. BigneL, and D. Lindsay. The Kitchingham Clip was won by the school for most points in the school section at the A. and P Show. The Girls’ swimming team won the Tennent Cup. The bovs’ swimming team won the Hutching’s Shield. The boys’ running team won the Perotti Cup. The cricket team were runners up for the Stenhouse Cup. xiie Rugby team (under 7 stone) won the Kyle Shield. (4) The dental service continues to be a boon and Miss Thomson has ac complished a great amount of good work during the year. Miss Gregory was assisting for 3 months and this brought the Main School pupils up to date. Many grateful parents have ex pressed their appreciation of the treatment received by their .children and several have given donations towards

the upkeep as recognition of the good work. . , (5) The start on the formation of a school library was made during the year, over £2O being spent o) books for same. (6) The grounds at both schools were improved during the year the approximate expenditure being Mam School £6, Blaketown £45, but the Committee is handicapped in this respect by the want of funds. The Com-

mittee paid £25 during the year for the heating system in the Blaketown School. In response to repeated requests in which we were latterly assisted by the Mayor, Mr Greenslade; Mr McLean, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Mr O’Brien, M.P., the Department authorised the Board to erect a class-room in the ground to house Std. VI boys, who had been accommodated in the Scouts’ Hall. This room is a. decided acquisition to the school. There is still overcrowding in the Main School in the Infant Department, where 83 new pupils were enrolled in the first week in February making the total number of infants 132, This number was under the care of only two teachers, and de-

spite repeated v requests we could not get another teacher as the Depariment stated they had to exercise the strictest economy. This was economising at the expense of the pupils. The overcrowding should be relieved when the sixth standard pupils are removed to the Technical College, but it is doubtful whether the shortage in our staffing will be remedied. (7) The funds of the Committee were not helped to any extent during the year and in consequence we hat. to borrow £25 to meet -some of our liabilities at the 28th February. This would not have been necessary had the Department granted our subsidies on money raised the previous [year, and which were applied for but turned down until after the 31st March on the grounds of economy. It is not very encouraging to school committees, endeavouring to improve their schools, to have to wait for their moneys when the Department could 1 easily effect economies in other directions. _ (8) In conclusion the Committee wishes to thank the Press foi theii assistance and interest taken in the Schools’ doing during the year, the Ministers’ Association for their work in looking after the spiritual welfare of the pupils, the Headmaster and staffs of both schools for their cooperation and good work at all times and the Caretakers of both schools tor i the manner in which they carried out , their duties during the year.

OVERCROWDED ROOMS. [TO THE EDITOR.] Si r> The information in “Parent’s” letter was disturbing. Why is it that children! are allowed to be overcrowded in rooms as they are at the Main School? In the event of an earthquake, how would the childien get out of the rooms, which must be crammed with desks or tables? I hope that at to-night’s meeting of householders parents of children who are in the primers, those who will soon have children attending this school, and all those others who have the true welfare of the litile ones at heart will be there in force to demand more rooms, safety and hygienic conditions and if these necessitate the transfer of senior pupils, then let them be transferred. —Yours, etc., CHILD WELFARE.