SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21362, 16 June 1931, Page 14

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report of the School Committees’ Association of Otago, which will be presented at the annual meeting on Thursday evening, states, inter alia:— The number of school committees affiliated to the association is 50. During the year Moray Place and Leith Valley Schools were closed. The secretary has been endeavouring to interest several of the country schools in the association. An application for affiliation has been made by the Tainui School Committee. Shag Point and Ngapara Committees affiliated with the association last year. A conference was held last year with the Education Board and Head Masters’ Association in connection with a proposal to change the date of the annual school holidays, but after receiving data from the meteorological director, no further action ivas taken. We now feel that the present dates are suitable and working satisfactorily, and trust that the various bodies will continue to adhere to the list. The swimming events of the school sports have been held, and were very successful. Messrs Steele and Sanderson are the delegates to the School Sports Association. The school committee! elections were held during April, and with a few exceptions were poorly attended. This may possibly be a vote of confidence in the school committees, but it would be preferable to see much larger attendances and increased interest by householders in the annual meetings. The annual conference of the South Island Federation, which was to have been held in Dunedin in March of this year, was unavoidably postponed until June 24 and 25. . The delegates were elected in March, and are: Messrs J. C. H. Somerville, W. Ripley, and H. Begg. Messrs J. H. Wilkinson and W. R. Brough, who retired last year, were elected unopposed to the Education Board. Mr L. D. Ritchie is still the representative on the University Council, and Mr W. H. Steele on the King Edward Technical College board of managers. Both these members continue to take a live interest, in their wprk. The executive was requested to appoint a representative to the Vocational Guidance Committee, and Mr W. H. Steele (who takes an active interest in the work) and the secretary are the delegates. , ' The travelling library scheme of the Dunedin City Council- for schools in the Dunedin city area has again been extended this year by adding more schools to the'list. This scheme is very much appreciated by the teachers and scholars, and thanks are due to the City Council for this privilege, and to the librarian for the interest he takes in this excellent asset to our schools. During the year the association was fortunate in inducing the chief clerk in the Education Board’s office in Dunedin (Mr G. W. Boulton) to give an address on school committee finance. It proved very instructive and interesting. A copy of the Parliamentary Recess Committee’s report on educational reorganisation was forwarded to the executive by Sir Charles Statham, M.P., and is a very comprehensive document. The executive' has had discussions on various recommendations contained therein, but has deferred further discussions meanwhile. An attempt was made to induce the Minister of Education (Mr Harry Atmore) to visit Dunedin, but so far the attention to national business has prevented the Minister from doing so. During the year several of the schools in the Otago district held jubilee functions and re-unions. At the last annual meeting, Messrs L. D. Ritchie and W. H. Steele were elected life members of the association. In view of his long and valued services as a member of this association, Mr J. C. H. Somerville has been recommended for life membership, and the executive endorses the recommendation. The executive has been actively engaged with the Education Department ,on several matters of policy, particularly l in regard to country schools. Considerable assistance has been rendered to some of the country schools in their efforts to effect improvements for the welfare of the children.