SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 8 June 1923, Page 8

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

( The annual meeting of the Taranaki School Committees' Association was held at New Plymouth, yesterday. Present : Messrs S. G. Smith, M.P. (in the chair); .Rev. W. W. Avery (Waitara); Messrs W. H. Pinhey, W. J. Dilton (Stratford); Kemp (Huiakama); D. Spence (Hurford road); A. L. Roberts (Fitzroy); M. J. Roberts, W. H. Armstrong (Inglewood); Mrs Down, W. S. Cobham, F. A. Coleman (Central); J. Garcia (West End); F. Stanley (Hillsborough) ; W. K. Morris (Oakura); J. Hucker, Somers (Tariki); Brash (Lincoln) ; and T. M. Aveiy (Central) secretary. The anual report commented upon the, improved state of the finances of the association, which reflected tho growing interest of Bchool committees in the work of the association —sixtyfive committees haying forwarded their subscriptions during the year. Enquiries had been received from committees re the cost of installing dental clinics in different centres, and suggestions made as to the need of "visual" instruction for nature study, geography, etc. With regard to the former. Colonel Hunter, the Government officer in charge, stated that it was a, matter of time, as he was obliged to increase his staff by training them before enlarging his sphere of operations, and also a good deal depended upon the financial assistance the Department was able to extend to him. The subject of "visual" instruction had been engaging the attention of the department and the local board, the latter having arranged with the New Zea_ land Educational Film Co. to display approved subjects at different centres throughout the district, starting some time this month. The value of the lesson would be augmented by the subjects, due to be shown, being previously, studied by means of tke School Journal, and would be recapitulated after the showing of the picture. It was a matter that would require the co-operation of teachers and school committees. to get the best results. The report went on to refer to lectures given during the year. The executive visited Opunake during the year with the object of establishing a branch there. A meeting of representatives of local committees decided to establish such branch, and the Opunake committee undertook to take, the necessary steps to accomplish it. The Federal Association of School Committees was proving itself a live organisation, and its meetings were well attended by representatives of committees throughout the Dominion. The Minister also had shown an interest in v,nd sympathy with the aims of the association. To enable more effective york to be done the federation required increased financial assistance. In moving the adoption of the report, the president stated that in regard to visual instruction jt had,-been decided that each school saould be responsible for the payment of the admission money of the children to view the film, •instead of the individual children being responsible, as this would prevent any child being excluded on account of being unable to afford the prices of admission, which, though small, might come heavy in the case of families witli several children at school. The board intended to insist that the childrer should receive instruction in the subjeci matt*!' of the film prior to viewing it. so that afterwards they would be ablt to write or tell the story of what tliej had heard and seen. Referring to the dental treatment oi children, and the fact that a star I had been made in New Plymouth, Mr Smith said that both Mr. Masters .ant he had approached Colonel Hunter wit! the idea of havin»; the classes startet not only at Now Plymouth, but at Ha wera, Stratford,' and other centres Colonel Hunter expressed himself as satisfied that a start had been made pointing out that a limited amount o money was voted by the department and it was only passible to start a: a centre and work out. Mr. Smith said the nurses were wel qualified for the work. Tho schem< was only in its infancy, and 'he hopec thai, it would later be possible to ex tend it throughout Taranaki. At pres ent the nurses were treating childrei up to eight years of age and followim them through their school life- To -it tend to every school child throu^hou JNew Zealand would require the serviceot every qualified dentist in Nev Zea' land. However, he felt that once th< people-of other parts of Taranaki real is«d the advantages of the scheme the won d never rest until they had a elini. m their own centre. Mr. Pinhey said "that in the Strat ford school they was a room suitablt tor a chine and they honed one wouk be established there shortly M, r; P ilt(>n h°Ped that every can would be taken to see that the picture exhibited in connection with the usua instruction were above reproach 1-he chairman stated that the filnv wero carefully censored. The report was adopted Mr Kemp moved that manual in • struction be given to country schoo children during the summer "months months He pointed out that owing to the trains running so late it was dark when the children reached theii home station, and very often they hac a long distance to travel over rou«l roads u»»»

ANNUAL MEETING OF

ASSOCIATION

Mr. Pinehy seconded pro forma Air. Insull (manual supervisor) said WMlo >WaS V l.*"*/- of organisation. While it was desirable it was not compulsory for parents to send their chiiUien lor manual instruction. He pointed out that m order to earn capitation, out of which the salaries were paid, the cmldren had to attend classes for 20 weeks and jt was considered desirable to continue the lessons throughout the •\ car; ,Last y«ar the classes had been «art«l in March, but this year It Ta" Wecl to start in February and contume them until Decembeiilie remit was carried ftc"; ii> XT lip - tben .moved that hefctei' lac-ht:e.s be given to country children Mr. Somers seconded Mr Smith said that where these were vuLTf f° + r, thGm out of 'Special fund, laised for the purpose.- The rlpnarf ment did not provide funds 'U' lhe remit was lost, tion Scho(>! 9 ommit tee's Assocla- + h F u 1 f l °"}' arded a mnit suggesting SfLnl f 1"' 6" -1," a district mittetl to use the trains free, when available, to travel to the 'neareTt

The chairman, in moving the remit stated that tins applied to children on the lower end of the Durham Koad, who attended the Norfolk school. Those under 10 years of age could travel free whereas children over 10 years, of age had to pay. This did not seem fair Mr. Somprs seconded the remit, whieli wn.s carried.

Mr. A very (Wnitara) moved, on 1)e----fcnlf of jAliititi. that it be a recommendation that th« school holidays be

i-hanged so that the dairy farmers are anM to take their children for a holiday about the middle of June. Air. A. L. itoijsrt.s (iutzroy; .seconded. ilie president, pointed out lli.t me holidays had hcen ananged no that the primary school holidays could he coincided with the technical and secondary vacations. Mr. Stanley thought that the difficulty might be overcome if the May holiday was altered to the last week in May or the first week in June. On behalf of Ahititi, Mr. Brash moved that all education boards throughout the Dominion should use uniform books in school. Mrs. Down seconded, and the remit was carried. Mr. Kenin (Huiakama) moved a remit from Aniuti that no homework be set to children under Standard IV. He considered that homework should be given to consolidate the day's work. The president stated that the Education Board's instructions provided that homework should ha given within rea r sonable limits, and that it should consolidate the day's work. The remit was lost. Mr. Smith (Central) moved that the Education Department be urged to allocate the scale of allowances in respect of incidental expenses of school committees on the roll number of the school, in place of the present system of paying on average attendance. Mr. Pinhey seconded the remit, which was carried. Mr. A very moved that, in view of the difficulty experienced by committees in charge of the larger schools in providing sufficient funds to pa}' the actual cost of cleaning their schools, the Education Department be urged to increase the present capitation rate to all schools of grade VI. A (401-140) and upwards. This was seconded by Mr. Pinhey. Mr. Hueker suggested that the department should lie asked to pay the salaries of all permanent caretakers. Various delegates for the larger j schools pointed out "that if it were not for the money raised by entertainments and other functions it would be impossible for the committees to carry on. Mr. Pinhey considered that while self-help should be encouraged as far as ! possible, the capitation should be sufficient to pay for all essentials. Mr. Stamey advised members to be careful, lest the department increase ( the capitation for the larger schools at i the expense of the smaller country schools. The remit was adopted. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr. A. L. Roberts (Fitzroy); vice-presidents, Rev. W. "VV. Avery (Waitara), and Messrs. Jas. Garcia ! (West End), J. Hueker (Inglewood), j W. H. Pinhey (Stratford), W. K. Mor- . iis (Oakura), W. J. Williams (Hawera), and T. H. H. Sinclair (Opunake), Eltham and Manaia appointments to be referred to the iu.omins executive; executive, Messrs F. Stanley (Hillsborough), S. G. Smith, M.P. '(Central), •; F. A. Lee (Frankley Koad), W. Healy ' (Vogeltowh), W. W. Thomson (MotuI roa); secretary and treasurer, Mr. T. ,M. Avery (re-elected); auditor, Mr. F. 1 A. Coleman. Mr. Ridling (agricultural instructor) ■ | briefly addressed the conference, asking ' . for the co-operation of committees in ' , connection with the work of agricul- ■ ; tural instruction in schools.—lt was de_ ' j cided to iir. ite Mr. Eidling to deliver •j an address to members or' school com- ■ j mittees at one of the monthly meet- '■ ings. l Votes of thanks were accorded th« ' press, Messrs. W. H. Insull (secretary i to the Taranaki Education Board), and ■ E. G. Ridling (agricultural instructor). • A special vote was accorded Mr. Avery i (the secretary) in appreciation of hfs • splendid work during the year.' At a subsequent meeting of the execiaf i live it was resolved to meet on the b j third Wednesday in each month, and . j that the quarterly meetings be held in I ' February, May. August and November. j The next meeting will be he!-d afc Ha--1 i wera on Saturday. .July 7. —Xews f fc 1 i i T ■> t s f I 1 1 I I