SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 28 April 1923, Page 10

SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION

At the last meeting of the' Nelson School Committees Association considerable discussion took place on the dental treatment of children in schools. The subject was introduced by the reading of a letter from the Secretary of the Nelson Education Hoard conveying the opinion of the Education Department that the payment of the transport of the school dentist and his assistant and for lunches was not a legitimate charge on the school committees capitation. It was pointed out during the discussion that such a charge would seriously deplete the school fund, which was barely sufficient for school purposes, and all speakers were unanimous that these charges should not he met from that. It meant then that, the committees must find these expenses from an outside source which necessitated a levy upon parents. Iho ditti- ; cultv of collecting such a levy was accentuated bv the fact that sonic parents obiected to their children being treated I bv the dentist at all and others are anI (agonistic on the ground that it- is only I the country parents who have to pay i whereas town parents get- off scot fret. I As an outcome of the discussion it was resolved to recommend committees to make a levy upon the parents of ! children treated for the present year land to continue the agitation to get I equal treatment for every child whethei I belonging to town or country. ' v ,'^ I resolved to seek the co-operation of the householders’ meetings and get expression of opinion from the householders throughout the district on the |lfc" C waa further decided to ask the Editor of the Evening Mail to call at- ) tention to the importance of parent, taking a live interest, in the management 8 of their schools and that the meeting of householders, on Monday next affords an opportunity for all to do 'their bit’ for the local school and for he good of education generally.