ASHHURST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 108, 7 April 1932, Page 10

ASHHURST

(From Our Own Correspondent). ASHHURST, April 6. The final meeting of the present School Committeo was held in the school on Tuesday evening. Mr W. N. Brewer occupied tho chair in the presence of Messrs Woodroofe, Sumner, Kilkin, Bristow and Davis. Mr Sumner reported that the accounts had been audited by Mr W. Trass, and had been found correct. All wero therefore reudy for tho householders meeting. Tho headmaster reported that the roll number was now 141, with an averago for tho month of 134.. Mr Blackio, the chief inspector, visited the school on March 2 and inspected Standards 1,2, 3 and 4. Tho headmaster’s room and tho infants’ room woro not inspected owing to lack of time. Miss Hills’s period of office at tho school would conclude with this term, and tho headmaster wished to put on record his appreciation of her work. She has shown enthusiasm and ability a'nd deserved tho committee s commendation. The proposed economies in education would affect tho school very seriously, especially the proposal to limit tho entrants to six-year-old children. About fifteen children would be leaving tho upper classes at tho end of the year, and with no primers coming in, this would alter the school roll to approximately 125 children —a number insufficient to hold tho school in Grade IV. If this happened, tho school would lose a teacher and tho salaries of the staff would bo seriously affected. Capitation. would bo heavily reduced and tho committee would bo unable to pay cleaner’s rates as at present. The worst injury would bo inflicted on the parents and tho little children, it was olaimed. In the towns private kindergartens would bo established and the wealthier parents would send their little ones there, but tho poorer parents would not be able to afford these advantages. A strong protest should go out therefore, from both committees and parents against this curtailment of the privileges of tho little children. Mi Brewer pointed out that a protest against this proposal had already gono. out from the Combined Committees’ Association and the question of reducing tho expenditure of the committee on school cleaning, etc., was left for the new committee to deal with. Mr Wilkin reported that he had interviewed Mr Foot regarding timber for sheltering the plants round the sum-mer-house; and Messrs Woodroofe and Bristow volunteered to erect tho shelter if the timber was available. Repairs to tho fence by tho side of the school would also bo effected. Tho chairman handed in £2 for rent from the Croquet Club and reported, that) the Tennis Club’s subscription was now ready. Mr Fenwick acknowledged the receipt of £5 Is 4d from the local Football Club—now defunct—and handed in as a contribution to the school library. Part of this had already been expended as suggested and tho rest would be spent as occasion aroso. Tho thanks of the school were due to the members of tho Football Club for their generous gift.