GREY MAIN SCHOOL

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1936, Page 2

GREY MAIN SCHOOL

MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Grey Alain School Committee last evening there were jircsent Alessrs. A. E. Alorgan (chairman), G. Herring, AV. AV illiams, H. Herring, 1,. Patterson, and the acting-secretary, Mr E. Ellery. An apology gor his absence was received from Air G. Batty. The headmaster, Air J. Graham, in his report stated: Roll number, Alain School, boys 338, 274; total 612; Blaketown, boys 66, girls 67; total 133. Average attendances: Main School, boys 312. girls 249; total 561; Blaketown, boys SS, girls 59; total 117; An epidemic of colds has affected the attendance of both schools during the past fortnight. Staff changes: Air D. Cutler is relieving Air Rollinson, who took up his duties as head teacher of Annat School on October 1. Air F. J. Tempero relinquishes his duties of first assistant at the end of this month, having been appointed head teacher of the Sefton School. Concert: I have to report that arrangements for the school jubilee concert are well in hand, and that the sale of tickets is very promising. Requirements —Blaketown: Owing to a leaking roof a good deal of water is entering the middle room of the Blaketown School; the folding doors will not close properly, causing considerable inconvenience; a door in the boys’ lavatory has been blown off its hinges during the recent gale. 1 have to report that three padlocks have been removed from the outbuildings of the Blaketown School. The Canterbury Education Board advised that the capitation and incidental allowance to the committee had been increased by 44 per cent, as from April 1, and the retrospective payment i was £49 19s.

As the only applicant recommended Airs Labes, had withdrawn! from the position of assistant mistress at the Blaketown School, it was decided to write to the Canterbury Education Board asking that fresh applications be called for the position. The Canterbury Education Board advised that Air AVilliam N. Allison (Nelson) was recommended for the position of assistant master at the Grey Alain School and Aliss AL U. Callaghan (Waimate) as mistress at Blaketown School, these appointments to be confirmed at this month s meeting. The recommendations were approved. The chairman said that the increased capitation allowance would be appreciated by all committees and was the result of a change in Government, and the efforts of a sympathetic and capable Alinister. It was decided to write to the Director-General of Education thanking the Department for the increase. STAFF CHANGES DEBATE. The chairman said that regarding Air Tempero’s resignation it was a pitv that the school was losing such a good teacher. However, it was a step in the right direction for Air Tempero, who was to be headmaster at Sefton. He (the chairman) had registered a protest with the Canterbury Education Board regarding the continuous staff changes. Air G. Herring asked what was w’rong with the school. The chairman said that it would not be so bad if they could full the vacancies.

Air AVilliams said that he was sorry to sec Mr Tempero going, and his position would be hard to fill. He did not know what was wrong. He thought that there was a feeling somewhere. . The chairman: Your think the staff are not happv amongst themselves. Mr AVilliams: 1 don’t say that, but there is a feeling somewhere. The chairman said that if there was trouble between the teachers the committee should get to the bottom of it. The school hail been losing good teachers for years. Mr AVilliams said that no doubt they were all bettering themselves. Mr Herring said that if the teachers were unhappy, it was not satisfactory and they should get to the bottom of it. The chairman said that if the teachers were unhappy it must be in the administration somewhere. Teachers were very adverse to making complaints and would not feel inclined to tell one the trouble, as to whether it was the head, or the committee, or whatever was the trouble. Air G. Herring said that there seemed to be something wrong somewhere. The chairman: AVhat is it? There are no complaints. It might be, however, that teachers desired to better themselves. The action of the chairman in writing to the Canterbury Education Board and attempting to have Air Tempero’s transfer held up until the end of the term was approved.