Feilding School Committees

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 81, 7 April 1937, Page 3

Feilding School Committees

MONTHLY MEETINGS. LYTTON STREET SCHOOL. Mr C. V. Jewell presided at the monthly meeting of the Lytton Street School committee held on Alonday evening, when there were also present Alesdames T. L. Donaldson and E. Scott (secretary), Alessrs C. V. Guy, L. Jenkins, T. L. Simmonds and the headmaster, Air W. H. Smith.

The Alanawatu-Oroua School Committees’ Association wrote accepting tho Lytton Street School’s resignf/ion from the association. —Received. The association invited the committee to send a delegate to a meeting of the association to be held to discuss the Atmore report. —Air J. S. Tingey was appointed as delegate. The Wanganui Education Board replied to representations made by the committee lor the provision of a headmaster’s residence. —It was decided to defer action until the results of the headmaster’s endeavours to secure a house known.

The Education Board, in reply to the committee’s letter regarding the necessity for extensive repairs and rwovations being done at the school, stated thut a report had been received from the board’s architect, to the effect that the school could not bo regarded as having fallen into a state of disrepair. There were, however, numerous minor repairs required, and certain interior decorations needing attention; also some of the furnishings required replacement and additional blackboard space was necessary. Continuing, the letter stated that the board had decided to authorise the architect to deal with the more urgent of the small repairs, in the meantime, and to make application to the department for a grant for providing better accommodation for tho teaching staff. “If the grant is approved,’’ continued the letter, “the interior decorations will be carried out when the men are making the structural alterations for the teachers’ room. Tli workmen will be shifted to Feilding at the earliest possible opportunity,” concluded tho letter.—The letter was received and it was left in the hands of the chairman to write to the board, stressing the fact that the school required more attention than was admitted by the board in its letter. A letter was received from Mr L. D. Alillar tendering his resignation from tho committee.—Accepted. The chairman said that he regretted the loss of Air Alillar, who had been a most energetic committeeman, and ho moved that a letter of appreciation bo sent to him.—Carried.

The chairman moved that the meeting record its appreciation of the services of gentlemen mentioned in the headmaster’s report (Messrs Jenkins, Keys and Somers) in connection with the laving down of a concrete cricket pitch.—Carried. The services of Messrs C. V. Guy, W. H. Smith, F. Thomas, Alaeguard and Lord for work done in connection with the pitch were also recorded.

Air Smith reported that the roll number stood at 293, and there wer C prospects of the number reaching over 300 before the end of the year. There were many infants who would be enrolling before the end of the year. Mr Smith suggested that a bell, of a gong alarm type, bo installed in the school.

It was decided that a bell be purchased.

It was decided to purchase a medical aid outfit for the school. The chairman reported that the new caretaker (Air Shorter) had commenced his duties and that necessary equipment lor his use had been provided.

Arising out of a letter received from a photographer in Wellington, asking permission to take photographs of the school children, it was decided that no action be taken meanwhile and that tho matter be referred to again at the October meeting of tho committee when, if the proposal is favourably considered, the work is to bo given to a local photographer. The appointment of a committeeman to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Afr Miller was held over. MANCHESTER STREET SCK DL. The committee of the Manchester Street School also met ou Monday evening, Mr G. J. Fitzpatrick presiding. There were also present Alesdames S. Me Do wall and P. G. Guy, Alessrs N. AicLcod, L. J. Carmine, R. Burn, J. Campbell (secretary) and Mr F. Gaze (headmaster). A letter from the Wanganui Education Board stated, with reference to the religious instruction in schools, that with the approval of the committee the school could give five minutes each day inside school hours to devotional exercises, and in addition thirty minutes on one day each week. The secretary of the Feilding bran of the Bible-in-’ScUools League forwarded a copy of a book of devotional exercises and also offered tho services of clergy for the purpose of giving religious instruction. The committee thanked the league for the book and decided that the present arrangement of five minutes daily of devotional exercises should continue. The chairman said he had attended the school recently and was impressed and delighted with the way in which the headmaster had conducted the devo tional service. The headmaster said tho present system was quite satisfactory and, he was sure, gave a reverent tone to the school The secretary of the Wanganui .Education Board wrote stating 12 feet of blackboard would be forwarded as requested. The chairman reported that he had met the chairman and secretary of the board with Air J. Batchelar, when they recently visited the school and had discussed the need for repairs to the basketball area. The chairman of thu board had explained that it was understood the Public Works Department would make these repairs, but there was a good deal of delay in starting, and he had suggested that the school committee should apply for a grant to have the work done.—lt was decitled to do this in the hope that tho committee might get on with tho repairs,

which were very necessary. The headmaster reported that Miss S. Lane had been appointed a relieving teacher on the staff, and applications had been invited for a permanent teacher. The present roll was 383, with an average attendance of 344.7. The, attendance was improving, parents apparently getting over the scare caused by the threat of infantile paralysis. It would be necessary to have heating for the room now being used for class work and which had not previously been occupied. On tho recommendation of'tho headmaster, the committee decided to purchase a moving picture machine, with film, at a cost of £l2. An application would be made to the Education Board for the necessary heating appliance and for the levelling of the raised floors in several classrooms. The secretary reported that the financial statement for tho past year was not yet available, but it would show that the general account had a credit of £53 and the special account a credit of £49, the latter including £45 in library funds.