SCHOOLS’ NEEDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 118, 15 April 1930, Page 6

SCHOOLS’ NEEDS

RESPONSIBILITY OF\ DEPARTMENT. \ CANADIAN MOVEMENT SPREADING. The Home and School Association movement: —it originally Started m Ontario, Canada —was briefly outlined at the meeting of householders at Kussell Street last evening by Mr L. J. P. Whyte, former secretary po the Island Bav Association, and now residing in Palmerston North. ' P,

Mr Whyte stated that 95 per cent, of the parents who had children attending Dominion schools were not sufficiently interested in the working and staffing of the institutions. In most cases the children went off in the morning and the parents received them in the afternoon. The Home and School Association movement was started in Wellington by a lady teacher, Miss Aitchison, who had been t;> Canada under the system, the parent body for New Zealand being formed at Island Bay,, and there were two associations being formed every month. As secretary of the Island Bay Association the speaker had been brought to realise that the teachers were up against a great deal. The schools in Palmerston North were palaces compared with the schools in Wellington, and it was surprising how teachers and punils achieved in the citv so much under such indifferent conditions. At Island Bay the committee worked independently of the association, but the chairman and secretary were on the executive of the association, and there were also tw r o members of the school staff included. In two and a half years the association had raised £7OO for works pertaining to the school, by functions such as sales of work, all nations fair, fairy queen contest, and at the present time was trying to get part of the playground ta/'-sealed. The movement was really the watchdog of the parents, to see that money was granted by the Education Department for the proper upkeep of the schools.

The size of classes and the question of capitation were two outstanding matters, stated Mr Whyte, and exactly what would happen at the coming householders’ meetings at Wellington was difficult to imagine. The Te Aro School Committee had resigned on account of the insufficient capitation. The difference between the capitation granted secondary and primary schools was not fair. The capitation for the primary school per pupil was only a few shillings; whereas in the secondary school it was £2 IQs. The aim was to have as many associations as possible, and to have a federation formed. It was only by speaking as one body that the Government would grant their demands. It was a movement that could be commended. He would like to see the Parents’ Association of Russell Street renamed the Home and School Association.

Mr Whyte concluded by stating that Mr N. A. Ingram, chairman of the Wellington Federation of School Committees, was prepared to visit Palmerston North on June 27 and address a united meeting of committees and householders on the Home and School Association movement, while there was a probability of Mr H. A. Parkinson, secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute, coming to Palmerston 'North and giving an address from the teachers’ viewpoint. Mr D. Morrison stated that he was interested in the formation of one big union in connection with matters educational, and if such a union could be formed it would accomplish much. A vote of thanks for his address was accorded Mr Whyte. ADDRESS TO TERRACE END HOUSEHOLDERS.

The meeting of householders at Terrace End, last evening, was also attended by Mr Whyte, who spoke on the same lines as at Russell Street. The movement he said, did not overlap the school committees or the staff; the object, instead, was to work in conjunction with the committees and teaclieis. The movement took upon itself to raise necessary finance for the schools. Committees went into the requirements of their schools and reported them to the Home and Schools Association which devised ways and means to raise the money. The chairman (Mr W. B. Cameron) said the matter, perhaps, should be referred to the Combined School. Committees’ Association, and not discussed by the meeting that evening. The association was a live body and spoke with the force of unity. Mr T. A. Hastings endorsed the chairman’s view. Mr A. W. Thompson (headmaster) also expressed the view .that the matter should go before the Combined School Committees’ Association. It was, perhaps, unfortunate for Mr Whyte to come to Terrace End School as they had everything they wished for. The school had two live committees and it was hard to see how a home and school association could flourish alongside them. The Teachers’ Institute liaa the matter of reduced classes and floor space in hand, and to give the departlgent its due it was reducing the size of classes as far as finances allowed.

Mr Thompson seconded the motion which was carried, the chairman adding they did not want to pour cold water on the scheme, but the matter could be discussed by the combined committees.