GREY MAIN SCHOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 July 1934, Page 5

GREY MAIN SCHOOL

COMMITTEE MEETING. The Greyniouth Main School met last evening, there being present: Messrs. R. A. Ba.rrowman (chairman), J. Tennent, T. Morgan, A. J. Fairmaid, G. Herring, H. Herring, R. J. 'Williams, A. V. Oliver, and the secretary, Mr. W. G. Scott. Th© Canterbury Education Board advised that the enamelling of the interior of the dental clinic was now to be done, and that a grant had been ap-J proved for making asphalt paths at the school, the amount of asphalt to be decided by Mr. Bignell and the Board’s Greymouth foreman. —It was decided to thank the Board for acceding to the Committee’s request. The Secretary of the Blaketown and Preston Road Ratepayers’ Association wrote stating that a meeting of residents in May had decided to urge that the Blaketown school be raised in status from a second to a fourth or sixth standard school, and that the committee be asked to support the representations. The attendance at the school had greatly increased, and it was unfair to expect young children to come up to the Main School in wet and cold weather in the winter. The Chairman said the Association wanted the committee’s recomm'endation to the Education Board. There had been a good deal of discussion on the question in Blaketown and Preston Road.

Mr. Tennent said the request seemed reasonable, for, after all, a child in the third standard was onlv an infant, and it was a long way for them to come. As the status of the Main School was taken on the combined attendance, there should be no effect on the grading of the Main. The* committee should point out the necessity of the alteration to the Board. Replying to Mr. Tennent, Mr. Fairmaid said there were about 300 houses in Blaketown.

The Chairman mentioned that the Blaketow’n school would have to be remodelled if the proposal were carried out.

It. was decided, on the motion of Messrs. Williams and Tennent, that the request be forwarded to the Board, with a favourable recommendation. The Headmaster’s report, as follows, was read and approved:—Average attendance: Grev Main, boys 260, girls 228; total 488; Blaketown, boys 45, girls 34; total 79. Roll numbers: Grey Main, boys 293, girls 249; total 542. Blaketown, boys 49, girls 37;' total 86. During the past two weeks the attendances both at the Main and Blaketown schools have suffered considerably through influenza and severe colds. Commenting on the report, the Chairman said the school had had a bad run with measles, and later 'with colds and influenza.

The Secretary agreed that the school had had a bad run, and said they Should receive some consideration in their allowances on account of the high rainfall, which had an adverse effect on the attendance. Ten pounds were now being taken from the committee, and it would make tilings very difficult.

The Chairman, said the Board's capitation, fixed by the Department, was also affected by the attendance.

The Secretary moved, and Mr. Morgan seconded, that, the West. Coast School Committee’s Association be asked to urge that the capitation allowances of West Coast schools be increased, on account of the weather conditions.

A letter was received from the Education Board regarding the observance of Arbor Dav on August 1, and it was referred to the Headmaster.

It was resolved that the Education Board be asked to have the school heating equipment overhauled during tho second term holidays, and also to have 100 loads of gravel supplied for the school ground. It was decided that the question of staffing at the Blaketown School be discussed with the Headmaster.