School Committee Affairs

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 211, 7 September 1938, Page 6

School Committee Affairs

Annual Meeting of Association RECORD OF PROGRESS The annual meeting of the Mana-watu-Oroua School Committees Association was held in Palmerston North last evening, Mr. W. G. Black presiding over delegates representing Central, Waituna West, Rust-ell Street, Terrace End, Rongotea, College Street, Foxton, Whakarongo, Glen Oroua, Cheltenham, Te Arakuru, Hokowliitu and Tokorangi. Apologies were received from Waitoki, Clydesdale, West End and Ashhurst. * * The results of the past year can be considered the most succeessful ones since tho establishment of this association. Our efforts and those of the federation have been rewarded by the practical attention ■which has been given to our representations by the Minister of Education,” said Mr. Black in his annual report. “The adjustments made and the reforms promised in our primary educational system clearly show that the Minister of Education is substantially in accord with the representations made through our federation on the majority of issues raised by us from time to time. I “Proposed education Bill dealing j with educational re-organisation: Durling the Parliamentaiy recess a committee of the House of Representatives was appointed to take evidence on matters contained in the Bill. Whilst agreeing with most of tho proposals contained in the Bill, your executive submitted several resolutions through the Dominion Federation to be included in the evidence. Copies of such evidence submitted by tho Parliamentary Committee of the Federation on April 6, 1938, are available if required. It is noteworthy that in the proxiosod adjustment of education board districts as outlined in the Bill, no provision was made for a separate education district for Manawatu. This matter was taken U P by your executive, who prepared and presented through mo in person lengtliy evidence to the Parliamentary committee. A copy of such evidence is attached to this report. Your executive had hoped that tho recommendations of tho Parliamentary committee on the proposed re-organisation Bill would have have. been available, but so far they have not come before the House of Representatives. ‘ ‘ Claims granted.—Amongst the many submissions made to the Minister, the following briefly outline those which have received favourable consideration: “1. School committee incidental expenses increased two years ago have Deen maintained at the increased level. “2. Primary schools have been graded on a 100 per cent, average roll for the first four weeks of the third term in 1938. *‘ 3. Pupils' board allowance has been increased to 7s (id per week. ”4. Conveyance of children is being steadily extended. “5. Consolidation of schools in suitable areas, where parents are favourable to tho proposal, has been encouraged. * l O. Tho substantial increase in grants for handwork materials has been maintained.

1 * 7. Special provision has been made for sewing instruction in small country schools with male teacher only. ‘* 8. The grant for school libraries has been increased from £I2OO to £SOOO for the current year. ”9. School buildings, furniture and equipment are being repaired, extended and modernised in order of relative urgency. This programme has been speeded up this year, as will be noted from the several statements made by the Minister on the matter.

“10. Ground improvement schemes are being promoted on a larger scale than previously. “11. School committees have been relieved of any contribution in tho installation of septic tanks. ”12. Provision for agricultural clubs has been increased.

“13. New grading scale for staffing and salaries of teachers in primary schools has recently come into opera*

”14. A commencement has been made with tho appointment of vocational guidance officers.

”15. The financial provision for kindergartens has been increased. ”16. Training college students have been increased from 428 in 1935 to 1187 in 1936 and 1360 last year. This increase will expedite reduction in size of classes.

”17. The whole question of text books is being considered by a special committee.

”18. The development of physical education is now being undertaken. The policy in regard to visual education will shortly be announced. ”19. Some women supervisors of infant departments have been appointed. “All the foregoing matters are ones in which this association has been keenly interested since its inception and it must bo gratifying to every primary school committeeman that so much necessary development has occurred. “Dental treatment: Every effort is being made by tho Health Department to speed up this service. Recently tho foundation stone was laid for a dental clinic in Wellington to accommodate 100 nurses at a time. The number of dental nurses now being trained will enable considerable extension of clinic service in subsequent years. “Milk in schools: The national scheme now includes over 100,000 children which is more than one-third of the school pupils of the Dominion. The local scheme is working very successfully. All the primary and secondary schools in this city are receiving milk daily. Plans for tho extension of the scheme to 16 country schools contiguous to Palmerston North are likely to be approved and come into operation within the next few weeks. I have been advised that tho supply from the Dairy Research Institute at Palmerston North can now be extended to the Feiiding schools and an invitation is extended to them now to accept the opportunity. “Intermediate school; Tenders have

been called for the construction of an intermediate school at Palmerston North, and it should not be long before construction commences.

“Bible in schools: Recently there was a good deal of controversy regarding a suggestion that the powers of school committees to conduct Bible readings in schools might be curtailed. On the occasion of the federation's annual conference at New Plymouth last year the following resolution was carried: ‘This Dominion Federation states its conviction that opening religious exercises in schools have proved helpful and beneficial and that the Bible in schools and a daily recognition of God is in tho best interests of the children of New Zealand.' Your executive has affirmed that decision. I have every reason to believe that the present powers of school committees in this regard will be maintained. “Wanganui Education Board: Two members of your association now hold seats on this board. This should strengthen the link between the association, the Education Board and the Department and should provide a permanent channel through which representations from the associated schools can be made from time to time. It should also provide our association with an opportunity of receiving prompt and useful information.

“Many important and progressive changes have occurred during the past year, which are of vital interest to this association. The results obtained and the progress made have been due in no small measure to the organised efforts of primary schools through their association and their federation.

I said last year that there was a tendency on the part of many school committees to relinquish membership of their association, as they felt that their more important claims have been satisfied. I repeat that statement to-night. In doing so I suggest that such an attiude on the part of any school committee is a poor compliment to tho association which has accomplished so much. We are on the threshhold of some radical changes in the whole educational system, details of which will be disclosed when the Bill comes before the House of Representatives. There is a good deal of work ahead of the association and I say deliberately that there is greater need than ever for our organisation. The results accomplished ana the work still to be done should stimulate all primary schools to link up with their associations, in the interests of an primary school children and committeemen everywhere. It would be a more worthy and national minded attitude that school committees should endeavour to extend the membership of the association rather than sit back or withdraw support from that body which perhaps has enabled them to satisfy the majority of their personal claims.

“Our thanks are due to the Minister of Education for his sympathy and the favourable consideration shown us at all times; to the chairman, officers and members of the Wanganui Education Board, to the officers of tho Federation of School Committee Associations for their courtesy and assistance throughout tho year. My personal thanks are also due to the members of your executive and to our secretary-treasurer, Mr. F. G. Murphy, for their complete cooperation at all times.” Reporting on the membership of the association, Mr. F. G. Murphy, secretary, said that 34 committees were represented last year. The report was seconded by Mr. W. J. Amies and adopted without discussion. Mr. Black read a number of requests made by the Dominion Federation of School Committee Associations to the Minister of Education and the replies that had been received. The system of capitation in use in Taranaki was explained and details made available to delegates. Tho resignation. tho Rangiotu School was received with regret. It was decided to suggest to the R.fcj.A. and the Council of Christian Churches that they combine to secure a rota of speakers for Auzuc Day ceremonies at schools whicn, at the instance of Central School committee, it was recommended be held on Anzac Day. rhe secretary of the Wanganui Education Board wrote cxx>laming the method of paying incidental allowances. Mr. Black explained that it was now the practice of the board to pay the ordinary capitation and ‘ incidental allowances monthly in the case of most schools. A remit to the annual conference from Waitohi, that all small schools should be provided with a first-aid outfit, was adopted, members emphasising the need lor such equijmient, Tho election of officers resulted:— President, Mr. W. G. Black; vicepresident, Mr. W. B. Tennont; executive, Messrs. E. W. Barnett, W. J. Amies, J. W. Batchelar, H. W. Cox, I. W. Mudford, W. R. Taylor; secre- | tary-treasurer, Mr. P. E. Orowther. j The annual conference of the federaj tion is to be held in Christchurch from September 20 to 22, and Mr. W. R. ! Taylor was elected delegate. The fact that a teacher from a city school had volunteered for relieving duties in a country school was raised by Mr. Crowther, who said that such a change would bo unfair to the city schcc), although they sympathised wilh the country schools in their difficulties. He moved that objection be taken to teachers leaving city schools during the year. Mr. Tennent said he was definitely

against tho motion. He thought it. was a chance for the cities to show a hewing hand to tho country schools The thing should be looked at from a bigger point of view, as tho country schoori were short of teachers. Other deiegates expressed opposition. The motion -was defeated and Mr Crowther then moved that it be a recommendation to the board that any teacher, before applying for a relieving position in a country scho<4 acquaint the committee with the posi tion. This was carried. RUSSELL STREET SCHOOL At the monthly meeting of the Russell Street School Committee last evening Mr. J. Grant jiresidcd and others present were Messrs. R. Williams, C. S. Trask, E. A. Christiansen, W. A. Boniface, M. N. Doig, M. Laurenson, D. McDowell and A. Haines. The headmaster, Mr. J. Connor, reported that the second term commenced with a roll of 293 and closed with a roll of 307 on August 19 for tho second term holidays. The average weekly roll was 304 and the average attendance only 276, representing an averago percentage of 87.7, this being due, as pointed out in previous reports, mainly to epidemics of severe colds or measles, the latter still affecting tho attendances. Those who had previously suffered from measles were debarred from attending, and this was responsible for many of the absentees. Through the co-operation of tho Labour Department, it had been possible to carry out some much-needed ground improvement. It would be neecssary to arrange for labour for tho usual work in the school grounds, probably until the end of the current year. At present 280 half-pint bottles of milk were being consumed in the school daily. With an improvement in average attendance, it was hoped that it would be possible to increase this number to 300. The present spell of fine weather had enabled cricket to be started earlier than in previous years and practices commenced yesterday. Master Bob Grant was chosen for the Manawatu primary schools representative team in the recent quadrangular tournament. Both senior and junior inter-school teams acquitted themselves creditably in the season's competitions. It was decided to order 20 flowering gums and the necessary number of hedgo shrubs from a city florist. Tho committee received with pleasure the inspector’s report of the school and congratulated Mr. Connor on its excellence.

Mr. Connor said that tho staff had decided to hold a concert at the end of the year.

It was decided to thank the sports committee for the work they did in connection with the primary schools quadrangular Rugby football tournament.