SCHOOL AFFAIRS.

Pahiatua Herald, 29 September 1936, Page 4

SCHOOL AFFAIRS.

PAHIATUA COMMITTEE MEETS. LAST NIGHT’S BUSINESS The monthly meeting of the Pahiatua District High School Committee was held last night in the office of the Pahiatua Trust and Agency Co., there being present Messrs G. Godfrey Taylor (chairman), W. H. Murch, E. H. Lett, G. L. Chatwrn, P. J. Matthews, E. Stevens, W. J. Mills and the headmaster (Mr T. Clarke). Apologies were received from Messrs T. Burr and W. ItRichardson. Mr T. Clarke (headmaster) reported as under: “The school reopened after the term holidays on Monday, September 7, with a roll of 330—271 in the primary and 32 in the secondary department. There were nine enrolments during the present term, the roll now being 312—278 in the primary and 34 in th i secondary. Mr A. J. Calder has been attached to the staff of the school as relieving secondary assistant to fill the position formerly held by Mr G. L. Stafford. An entertainment in aid of the school library funds will be given by Mr Davies, of Christchurch, in the King's Theatre on Friday, October 16. Mr H. W. Hesse, supervisor ot Agriculture and Science, and Mr Wild, of the Education Depart, ment, visited the school last week. The Education Board notified me that the Department is now prepared , under certain conditions, to make a grant to aid the conveyance and board of post-primary pupils and to recognise commercial classes in District High Schools. The part-time teacher engaged in instructing approved classes ill commercial instruction will be paid at an hourly rate. The Minister of Education has also reinstated the provision of free text books for pupils in District High Schools, whose parents or guardians are not in a position to provide books. The Board will regard 95 per of the roll for the period from September 7 to Friday, October 2, as the average attendance on which the grade of the school will be based as fro n the beginning of 1937. As a result of this the grade of the school should advance to IV. next year. The school was visited during the month bv Messrs J. TV. Mills and E. H. Lett.”

Accounts amounting to £l3 lOs 2d were passed for payment. The chairman said he was pleas'd to see the roll of the school had gone up, and that) there was no doubt but what the grade would go up. He was sorry, however, that the secondary roll was decreasing, and said there w-as danger of it becoming a sole teacher school. The headmaster pointed out that The matter would right itself next year as there were many children coming on. The chairman said they had not heard any further of the latrines and although the Department had prr mised to build additional shelter for the bicycles so far nothing had been done about the matter. Mr Taylor undertook to write to the Board asking that these matters be expedited. Messrs Mills and Lett (the visiting committee) reported that repairs had been effected, the fence at the entrance was now in order and looked quite tidy. Hemlock was in evidence and they wore of the opinion that a man could be put on a day a week to clean it up. The spouting wanted renewing on the secondary building (.a- responsibility for the Uoard). It was agreed to employ a man to eradicate the hemlock and clear up and other rough underscrub. Messrs Lett and Matthews were appointed a visiting committee for the ensuing month, and were deputed to engage a suitable man for the work who will be under the control of the headmaster.