GREY D.H.S.

Grey River Argus, 8 July 1922, Page 2

GREY D.H.S.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. Till- Greyniouth District High School Committee met lust evening. Present: Messis J. Tennant (Chairman) A. Sherrat, T. Collins, F. Pullen, It. Williams, . .1. Weaver, J. W. Whitburn (Secretary). An apology for absence was received from Mr T. B. Baty. The Canterbury Education Board forwarded £42/9/3, the quarterly donation Committee's funds. RECTOR’S REPORT. The Rector (Mr IL IL Allison) reported : — ‘‘Owing to sickness there has been a considerable falling off in the attendance. Averages are as follows: Secondary, 113 out of a total roll of 122; primary 499 out of 565; Blakeiown U'2 out of’ 112; total 714 out of 799. As a new pupil was admitted to-day, the roll has reached 800 —a record, I think, for the school. The reply received from the Minister of Education does not alter the fact that West Coast schools suffer in attendance owing to the heavy rainfall. Because our averages compare favourably with those of other districts only proves that parents are interested enough in the education of their children to send them in spite of the weather. No one could deny that the average would be considerably higher if pupils did not suffer under’ this disability. Nothing has yet been done with the bicycle shed or other minor repairs.” With regard to the repair work noIcossary at the school the Chairman said I the Board was experiencing great difficulty in securing the services of car- , pouters. I A communication was received from , the Minister for Education in which I’.o writer referred to the attendance of the school. He pointed out that the ■figures of South Island schools showed that the Coast schools did not suffer I any disability through the wet weather. The average of the Greymouth school in recent years had been 90 per emit and as the Dominion record was 90.3 per cent, the Minister contended that there was no cause for comjjJaint. 1 The (’hairman said he thought something should be done in an endeavour i to keep the teaching staff of the school lup to standard. The fact that the atitendance had reached 800 proved conclusively the necessity of further teachers. One teacher at present had 80 pupils to look after. The Committee should make representation to the Department in the matter with a view to having it rectified. There was no doubt the rain | i the Coast affected the children’s attendance to a certain extent. It was decided that the Rector be interviewed with the object of securing from him a detailed statement of how far the rain affects the attendance at the school, "rhe Chairman was deputed to interview the Rector. | ■ (JE.XEBAL. J Mr Pullen, on behalf of the Visiting Committee, reported that •• a vacuum (leaner was ‘ Heeded for the cleaning of the school. The water in connection with the sanitary arrangements of the school was still being wasted in large (quantities. The whole sanitary system , was in need of attention, and was not . giving satisfaction. I It was pointed out that the system had, for some time, been most unsalI isfactory. | It was decided to communicate with the Education Board's architect in the 'matter asking him to suggest a more

i suitable system. The financial /atement, presented by the Secretary, revealed a credit baljance of £7/7 . The Secretary pointed lout, however, that the liabilities of the Committee amounted to £149/3/5. Tin* prospective income showed that a sub- | sidy on £9O was expected from the Education Department, and £5O was expect I ed from the entertainment next week. A large amount of money had been spent I by the old committee on improvements to the school grounds, and they were entitled to a subsidy on this amount.