OPUNAKE NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 July 1929, Page 11

OPUNAKE NEWS.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE. (From Our Own Correspondent). A meeting was held on Thursday evening, the members present being Messrs. G. Hutton (chairman), A. Hindi, S. W. Beere, H. Gilshnan, Rev. J. G. Wheatley, 11. Davey and the headmaster (Mr. W. H. Burgess). The headmaster (Mr. W. IT. Burgess) reported the roll number as follows: Secondary 52, average attendance 42.3, primary roll 183, average attendance IGI. The attendance has been somewhat seriously affected by influenza. He recommended that some form of rubbish destructor be provided for the secondary department. The heating arrangements in the secondary building are still useless, nothing having been done since his report last month. Mr. Grover had promised a donation of £5 for tree planting, and Mr. Burgess had secured a price of £lO from Mr. J. De Castro for digging the 300 holes and 12} chains of trenching required for the trees to be planted as set out in the plan submitted to the board. If the subsidy were applied for on this amount the work could be done very soon. It was necessary to have the ground prepared some time before the planting season. The chairman reported that the complaint regarding heaters was in the bands of the power board engineer and the board’s architect. Mr. Burgess was empowered to obtain the rubbish destructor. Mr. Wilkinson, M.P., wrote that he would attend to the matter of typewriters required for the secondary department. Accounts amounting to £l3 Os were passed fur payment. Rev. J. G. Wheatley suggested introducing the Nelson system of Bible teaching in the Opunake schools. He said it was already taught in several schools in Taranaki. He suggested that the lessons should be on character building and undenominational. Air. Deere moved that the matter bo referred to the parents. He thought Mr. Davey favoured the question being put to the parents at an annual meeting. It was a controversial question and should not be left to the committee to decide. The chairman said nothing should a ( done without the consent of the parents. He did not see any serious objection to the giving of Bible lessons providing the teachers Lad no objection. The headmaster (Mr. Burgess) had no objection. On Bible precepts our moral law was based. Mr. Hinch objected, as Bible reading created a deal of Double. The Sunday schools were the place in which it should be taught, and it might prove the thin edge of the wedge. After further discussion it was decided that the question be brought up at next meeting, when a full meeting was anticipated. The Rev. Wheatley also suggested, providing there was no objection, that temperance chart lessons should be introduced into the schools. Mr, Davey reported he had unofficially ' visited the school after the earthquake ' and made an inspection. No definite damage was noticeable, although a slight crack was noticeable in one corner, but it could not be said it was duo to the earthquake. He suggested that fire drill, or drill suitable for control of children under extraordinary circumstances, be given to the children. The committee and headmaster conidered tho suggestion a valuable one, and adopted it.