EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14973, 20 April 1909, Page 9

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

THE DUTIES OF HOUSEHOLDERS. MEETING AT EAST CHRISTCHURCH. / There were about twenty householders of the East Christchurch school district present at a meeting held in the Gloucester Street School last evening. Mr John Jamieson, chairman of the School Committee, presided. The chairman said that tho meeting had been called at t,he suggestion of some of the members of tho cornniitteo, in order that householders might havo an opportunity of discussing beforehand matters that might be expected to come before the annual meeting. Dr C. J. Russell said that the committee felt that the condition of tho primary schools in tho dominion was not altogether satisfactory. He considered that the question of the health of children attending State schools was one of the greatest moment, and every effort should be made to ensure proper medical inspection periodically. The Education Board should be in close touch with the Board of Health so os to provide adequate inspection of children and attend to the hygienic requirements in all schools. It was the undoubted duty of the Government lo provide quite a number of radical improvements to the school buildings and their environments.' :

Mr D. Lumsden said that he heartily endorsed practically everything Dr Russell had said. As the dominion was advancing very fast, it was only logical that the education vote should increase year by year in a proper ratio, so a 6 to enable tho authorities to provide a number of the improvements indicated by Dr,Russell. . In reply to a householder from Phillipstown, the chairman said that tho committee was in favour of the Phil-

lipstown School being made a main school, but at present there were "C~ trictions which prevented its separation from tho East Christchurch district. He recommended tho householders f o ■prepare a motion hearing on the matter, to be put before the annual meetMr T. H. Davev, M.P., said that he had expected that some proposals would have been brought before the meeting and discussed, so that lie might have gathered information that would have been valuable when considering educational matters in tho House. Quite an erroneous opinion seemed to exist as to the powers of a member ot Parliament. On educational matters,, members individually bad no power to secure an increase of the annual vote. He was surprised, ho added, at some of the remarks Dr Russell had made, particularly when he took exception to the increased ratio, of expenditure in recent .years on technical eduoation as compared with that for primary education. Many of Dr lluasell’s suggestions were no doubt admirable, but almost impossible without an enormous increase in the educational vote. Mr Davey concluded by stating that lie was entirely at one with Dr llussell when lie said the health of tho children was of tho utmoeb importance, but he thought the suggestion of providing covered-in play grounds was \ut of all reason because of the cost. Dr Russell said that he did not mean to suggest that the entire school grounds should be covered, but only enough to provide shelter in wet weather for boys and girls who had to take lunch to school. ' . The chairman said that no doubt a number of subjects not touched on at the meeting would come up for discussion at the annual meeting, to bo held cn tho following hfenday night, and suggested that -anyone who had any matter to bring forward should present it in the form of a motion, so that those attending the annual meeting might be able to express a definite opinion on it. ,