SCHOOL COMMITTEES MEET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23558, 22 July 1938, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEES MEET

LENGTHY LIST OF REMITS MR W. D. SUTHERLAND REELECTED PRESIDENT Approximately 60 delegates attended the annual meeting last night of the School Committees’ Association of Otago. The president, Mr W. D. Sutherland, was in the chair. TRANSFER OF TEACHERS Mr D. A. Kemp, secretary of the Warrington School Committee, forwarded the following remit for the consideration of the meeting:—“ That all transfers take place so that all teachers take up their duties at the beginning of the term so as there will be less inconvenience in the work ol the school.” The grading system was responsible for a great deal of trouble in transfers, the secretary (Mr R. P. Vercoe) stated. The system was wrong. The position could be rectified if transfers were made through the Christmas holidays, a member stated. It was decided to forward the remit to the Dominion conference of the Federation of School Committees. SALARIES FOR JANITORS The St. Leonards School Committee wrote stating that it considered the salaries paid to school janitors were inadequate, and recommended that they be increased to comply with the basic wage. “I am afraid there are very few schools that can pay the basic wage to janitors,” remarked the chairman. The secretary mentioned that it was probable that the matter was being looked into by the Minister of Education (Mr P, Fraser), as school committees had been asked to supply certain particulars to the Department of Education.

After a brief discussion it was decided that the secretary write to the Education Department, Wellington, asking for some definite information on the subject. It was also decided to advise the department that the meeting was in favour of janitors being paid at an hourly basic wage rate. SERVICES OF SECRETARIES

The Waikouaiti School' Committee forwarded the following remit.-—“ That where a member of a school committee is acting as secretary, he be paid for his services.” —It was decided that the remit be forwarded to the annual conference of the Dominion Federation of School Committees. NEED FOR SWIMMING POOL

The Forbury School Committee submitted a remit to the effect that a swimming pool be built in the south end of the city. Considerable discussion followed the reading of the remit, several speakers referring to the necessity for the installation of swimming baths in the district. Every child should be taught to swim, a delegate stated, and he expressed the opinion that if the south end got a swimming pool it would be an incentive for the north end to have one constructed also.

Mr D./C. Cameron, jun., said that the school committees should be supported in their desire to obtain swimming pools in their districts, and he suggested that a deputation should wait on the first Cabinet Minister to visit Dunedin.

After further general discussion •-> motion that baths be constructed where required in districts under the jurisdiction of the Otago Association was carried. It was also agreed that a deputation wait on the first Cabinet Minister to visit Dunedin.

• GENERAL The Maori Hill School Committee forwarded the following remit:—-“That the School Committees’ Association approach the City Council asking for a concession in the rates charged to all schools.”—The remit was supported by the meeting. The , Tokomairiro District High School Committee wrote drawing attention to the difficulty some rural committees experienced in carrying out improvements to school grounds. It was agreed to approach the Department of Labour asking that the regulations be amended to allow men receiving the basic rate to concentrate on maintenance work and not new work. It was decided that an effort be made to have dental clinics established at all schools in Otago. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—President, Mr W. D. Sutherland: vice-president, Mr M. R. Robson; executive—Messrs J. Macandrew, H. Hunt, G. Warwick, G. T. Anderson, F. Tombs, G. Rutherford, J. D. Clyde, J. A. Paul, E. J. Cate; secretary, Mr J. Macilree. Messrs J. D. Clyde and J. Macilree were appointed delegates to the conference of the Dominion Federation of School Committees to be held in Christchurch. Mr W. Ripley was appointed representative on the Vocational Guidance Association.