SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 1 May 1934, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

IN COUNTRY DISTRICTS APPLEBY For the first time in many years it was necessary to have an election for members of the school committee at Appleby. A record attendance of fifteen householders was present. After an election the former committee was declared re-elected, namely, Messrs R. O. Connor, Robinson, Shirtliff, Rogers and Hammond. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr R. O. Connor was re-elected chairman and Air M. Rogers secretary and treasurer. A motion was also carried that the committee endorse the action of the Education Board in its efforts to have children five years and over admitted to the schools.

WAIROA GORGE The meeting of householders at Wairoa Gorge was fairly well attended, about If) householders being present. Mr J. Hildyard was voted to the chair and Mr W. Parkes was elected minute secretary. The balance sheet, which showed a satisfactory credit balance, was unanimously adopted as read. Seven nominations were received for a committee of live, the following being elected: Mrs B. Parkes, Messrs H. Murcott, R. F. Andrews, B. Neal and C. L. Andrews.

At the subsequent meeting of the newly-formed committee Mr C. L. Andrews was elected chairman, and Mrs B. Parkes secretary and treasurer. RANZAU SCHOOL A well attended meeting was held for the purpose of electing a committee for the forthcoming two years. Mr F. W. O. Smith, who was visiting the district, was unanimously elected to the chair, and explained the purpose of the meeting. The report and balance sheet were presented and adopted, several of the electors, expressing appreciation of the work of the teaching staff and of the late committee, and a vote, of thanks was passed for their efforts. /Miss Worley thanked the committee for its work and expressed pleasure in the fact of having a separate committee for the school, the Hope and Ranzau schools having, prior to last year, functioned under a joint committee.

Nominations being called for, there were elected four members of the retiring committee, Messrs W. A. Jessop, G. H. Butters, 1L Mirfin and M. W. Smith, and also Mr A. Eden. A vote of thanks to the eliair concluded the meeting. Mr W. A. Jessup was later re-elected chairman of the committee, and Mr C. H. Butters secretary and treasurer. UPPER MOUTERE -• At the annual meeting of householders held last evening the following were re-elected a school committee foi the ensuing two years: Messrs U. Eg-<rei-s (chairman), T. Drogemuller (secretary), E. Drogemuller (treasurer), L. Eggcrs and F. Eggers.

TAHUNANUI SCHOOL

ANNUAL MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS At the annual meeting of householders at Tahunanui the committee reported as follows: — “The work during the past twelve months has been mainly of routine and maintenance. At the present time the immediate surrounds of the school building are in excellent order and the playing area has also roceived due attention, the latest in this connection being the acquisition of some 200 loads of filling, which has been' distributed over the western portion of the ground. Ihe parents and householders can gauge for themselves the splendid condition of the grounds generally by the certificate of merit held by the school and awarded for 1933. It obviously follows from this that as long as the grounds are kept in repair and not allowed to deteriorate, there cannot be a great deal which requires attention. And your committee have endeavoured to maintain this standard. “During the year the school work lulls progressed satisfactorily and the district are fortunate in having the services of the head master, Mr Sanders, and the present staff. The harmony of the school and the progress of the children testifies to the co-operation which is given by them. As you are probably aware the Education Board, or department, have this year endeavoured to place as many of their certified teachers as possible and have appointed extra assistants to most of the schools in the district. In order to facilitate the work and at the same time give the teacher and scholar every advantage of the additional assistant for their school the shelter shed has been commissioned as an extra class room.

“In the sports branch of the school, the instruction and coaching is well up to standard. An indication of this is given from the fact that at the annual sports held at Richmond, Tahunanui were able to secure fourth place in the aggregate points. “The school have been very fortunate in having the services of Mr Cole as instructor for the fife band, which lias attained remarkable efficiency under Mr Cole’s tuition, given voluntarily, and the school wish to express their tliauks and appreciation of his untiring and courteous efforts on their behalf. In conclusion, the committee wish to extend to the head master and staff their appreciation of the co-operation and willing assistance accorded them at all and any time during the past year.”

COMMITTEE ELECTED The followin' l - were elected for the ensuing two years:—Messrs A. De Pina (chairman), J. Nightingale (secretary), 11. Sharp (treasurer), V. G. Dee, R. G. MacLeod, J. Fleming, R. S. Knight. BIENNIAL ELECTION SYSTEM

OPPOSED BY FEDERATION (By Telegraph—Press Association) TIMARU, 28th April. In view of discussion on points of educational policy raised at annual meetings of householders for the election of school committees, the national executive of the Dominion Federation of the School Committees’ Associations, at a meeting at Timaru on Saturday, issued the following statement:—

The federation does not favour the biennial election of school committees. The conference held at Wellington last year decided to recommend the Minis-

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ter to amend the existing legislation in the direction of providing that the life of school committees be extended by providing for the annual retirement of half of the members or the nearest lesser number to one-half in the case of an uneven number, instead of a full committee as at present. _ On the much-discussed question of-the exclusion of five-year-olds, the Dominion conference urged that five-year-olds be readmitted as from the beginning of the 1934 school year, and that a suitable system of instruction be provided for them by the institution of a kindergarten department into the primary school system. The federation supports the demand for a limit of 35 pupils on file roll number of any one class, the staffing of primary schools to be on the roll number on Ist March each year, in preference to the average attendance for the year ending in August. The federation suggests the grading of teachers in broad groups in preference to the existing fundamentally unsound system, but urges that until shell a change in the grading system,is decided upon, the regulations be amended to give more elasticity in the choice of teachers by giving school committees the right to choose from the three highest graded applications, unless special qualifications are attached to the position to be filled.

The federation has appealed to the Minister to increase the maintenance grants to education boards, and to reinstate at the earliest possible opportunity subsidies on amounts raised locally for school purposes, and to assist South Island primary schools in the purchase of fuel by making a special grant for that purpose. The 1934 conference of the Dominion federation will be held at Timaru in August.