SCHOOL COMMUTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 88, 12 March 1935, Page 5

SCHOOL COMMUTES

monthly meetings held. COLLEGE STREET SCHOOL. Tli e monthly meeting of the College Street School Committee was held last evening, Colonel J. H. Whyte being m the chair. Others present were Messrs H. G. Mills, C. L. Turnbull, H. Christmas, I>. G. Pearson. W. F. Cutler, E. A. Shakleton, A. D. Worboys, E. Pen-son (secretary) and W. A. Swrnbourn (headmaster). The Manawatu-Orona School Committees’ Association wrote asking the committee to express, through its delegate to the quarterly meeting, whether or not the committee was definitely in favour of the Religious Instruction in Schools Bill. The chairman said ministers of the Palmerston North Council of Christian Congregations now conducted Bible instruction periods. Personally he did not think any decision should' be made until members knew what the Bill set out.

The secretary read a precis of the Bill, forwarded by the association. Mr Cutler considered trouble would be created if religion and the usual school work were mixed. It was wrong to put the onus of teaching the Bible on the teachers. The Bill was not needed, as the Council of Christian Congregations had shown that adequate instruction could be given. Replying to a question, the headmaster said that four ministers, of different denominations, had visited the school and exemption had been sought for only one child. Answering Mr Cutler, Mr Swinbourn said the teacheis’ organisation was not in favour of the Bill, but was in favour of the Nelson system as it was in operation at the various schools in the city now.

A recognised minister could impress the children more on this subject than a teacher would, remarked Mr Christmas. «

Mr Cutler moved that the committee express itself as opposed to the Bill, but in favour of religious instruction in school as at present. The seconder was Mr Turnbull, who remarked that about six or seven years ago a similar proposal as that made in the Bill had come forward and it had created a great deal of ill-feeling at the School Committees’ Association. He though that opposition should always lie voiced against any effort by the Government or any religious body to tic the .schools down to any definite system.

The motion wa.s carried unanimously

The headmaster reported that the roll was 400 and the average attendance 412.2. There had been a good deal of sickness among the pupils. The swimming sports had been held on February 27 and proved most successful, the events being got'off in record time. The cold snap and the colds from which some children were suffering had affected the number of entries. The clergy had resumed their religious instruction on March 8. Half a dozen window panes had been broken, some evidently by an air-gun.—The report was received.

The Wanganui Education Board wrote in regard to several matters, the Easter holidays, auditing of committee accounts and ward boundaries. The letters were received Mr Cutler criticising the requirements set out for the auditing of accounts The committee accepted a tender for the supply of 10 cords of firewood. The committee endorsed the action of the chairman and Mr Cutler in forwarding a wreath on the occasion of the passing of Mrs Grant, widow of the late Mr G. Grant, a former headmaster. Mr Cutler suggested that a school picnic be held, but the committee did not entertain the proposal, it being stated that the number of children who attended earlier picnics was disappointing- , At the suggestion of Mr Cutler, the committee decided to write to the City Council asking that the roadway in front of the infant school be asphalted to the kerbing as at other city schools. Mr Cutler remarked that to have the road devoid of grass would be a big improvement. HOKOWHITUfSCHOOL.

The monthly meeting of the Hokowhitn School Committee was held last evening, Mr P. V. Burns presiding. Also present were Messrs J. C. Johnson, K. Jones, E. D. Tucker, G. S. Melville, W. M. Huntington, G. N. Ha when, and W. E. Cooper (secretary).

The headmaster (Mr L. J. Plank) reported that the average attendance had been affected bv sickness, being 260 out of a roll of 290. _ Miss M. Quirke, the additional assistant, had left at the end of February to occupy a similar position at Moawhango. He bad abandoned the lessons in swimming owing to the prevailing sickness and the change of weather. Most of the children in the standards could swim and the aim was 100 per cent. Tlie school had concentrated on tuition for non-swimmers since the reopening and had left the life-saving till next December. The inter-school cricket had commenced last week. Thanks were due to the Public Library for the loan of books for the upper standards. —The report was adopted, Mr Plank adding that Bible instruction liad commenced at the school.

The committee decided to record its appreciation of Miss Quirke’s services to the school and to convey these sentiments in a letter to her.

Mr H. A. Spencer (baths custodian) reported that the takings up to Sunday had aggregated £BO 11s 7d, an increase of £25 7s over the previous season. The attendances had decreased considerably during the past three weeks. The front main lawns were in fair order, but the six small lawns were quickly tramped out and it was questionable if these would be satisfactory. All the lawns required a suitable top-dressing and the weeping elm required a support. Mr W. V. Kingsbeer was to be thanked again for eight boxes of annuals, liis generosity having been consistent throughout the season.—The report was adopted, it being resolved to forward Mr Kingsbeer a letter of thanks.

Laudatory comment was passed by members on the excellent appearance of the grounds under Mr Spencer’s care, despite the. unsatisfactory season.

Accounts amounting to £2 15s 6d were passed for payment. Mr Tucker, reporting as visitor for the month, drew attention to several requirements. The committee decided that Mr J. B. Fleck be elected to the committeo to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr G. Richardson.

A rough balance-sheet of the recent picnic showed a debit balance of £3 15s Bd. Mr Tucker was accorded a vote of thanks for providing transport for materials, and thanks were also accorded a number of donors.

Following an extensive discussion, it was decided to hold a householders’ meeting to consider general matters for the welfare of the school on a date to be arranged. The object of the committee is to maintain interest in the school. SWIMMING SPORTS. Recently the pupils of the school hekl their annual swimming sports in the baths under the direction of the staff, a very full programme being conducted. The senior championship

for the Trevor Burns Cup was won l>y lan Taylor anil the Molly Franke Cup (for girls) by Beverly Stevens. Detailed results of the finals are as follow:

Beginners (girls and boys).—June Hughes 1, Billy Blackwell 2. Standard 2 championship : Boys, David ltichard- . son 1, Ken Mitchell 2; girls, Margaret Alderson 1, Beulah Anderson 2. Standard 3: hoys, Dick Spencer 1, Peter Tiddy 2, Henry Harrod 3; girls, Marjorie Elogdell 1, Esme Dixon 2. Standard 4: Boys. Arthur Hughes 1, Douglas Shipton 2, John Stevens 3; girls, Dorothy Drake 1, Lorna Rattle 2, Elsie Davidson 3. Standard o: Boys, lan Taylor 1. Jce Alderson _2, Harold Smith 3; girls, Francis Davidson 1, Jean Robin 2. Irons Fenwick 3. Standard 6: Boys, Joe Smith 1, John Thompson 2, Ivan Bennett 3; girls. Beverly Stevens 1, Enid Richardson 2, Doreen Hateley 3. Boys’ junior championship dive: Dick Spencer 1, David | Richardson 2, Austin Cox 3. Girls’! junior championship frea-style, 33 1-3 yards: Enid Richardson 1. Jean Robin 2, Pat Cummins 3. Boys’ senior] championship free-stylo. 33 1-3 yards: j John Thompson 1, lan Taylor 2, Joe; Smith 3. Girls’ senior championship] .free style, 33 1-3 yards: Beverly Stevens 1, Dorothy Drake 2, Doreen. Hateley 31 Boys’ junior championship., 33 1-3 yards: Ken Archibald 1, Lyall | Simmons 2, Bob Se'nelin 3. Girls’ junior j championship dive : Enid Richardson | 1, Lorna Pattlc 2. Gwen Sankey 3. j Boys’ senior breaststroke champion-j ship, 33 1-3 yards: Joo Smith 1, lan ; Taylor 2, John Thompson 3. Girls’] senior breaststroke championship: j Beverly Stevens 1. Dorothy Drake 2, j Eileen Scott 3. Boys’ junior breast-j stroke championship: Lyall Simmons] 1. Bob Sebelin 2, Ken Archibald 3. Girls’ junior breaststroke championship: Jean Robin 1. Enid Richardson 2. Gwen Bloomfield 3. Boys’ senior championship dive: lan Taylor 1, Joe Smith 2, Jo-e Alderson 3. Girls’ senior backstroke championship: Beverly Stevens 1, Dorothy Drake 2, Doreen Hateley 3. Boys’ junior backstroke championship: Ken Archibald 1, Lyall Simmons 2. Girls’ junior backstroke championship: Pat Cummins 1, Gwen Bloomfield' 2, Gwen Sankey 3. Boys’ senior backstroke championship: lan Taylor 1, Ray Smith 2, Joe Alderson 3. Girls’ senior dive: Beverly Stevens 1, Enid Richardson 2, Francis Davidson 3. Boys’ life-saving: John Thompson and Lyall Simmons 1, Ray Smith and Joe Smith 2. Joe Alderson and Herbert Fairclough 3. Girls’ life-saving: Lorna Cocks and Doreen Hateley 1, Jean Robin and Rene Fenwick 2, Enid Richardson and Beverly Stevens 3. Old pupils’ race : Bovs, Dick Richardson I, Maurice Ivjar 2. John Fairclough 3. Girls. Molly Franke 1, Margaret Ekstedt 2, Joyce Stevens 3.