WESTOWN SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1933, Page 9

WESTOWN SCHOOL AFFAIRS

INSPECTORS’ REPORTS GOOD. ACTING-MASTER COMPLIMENTED. At a meeting of the Westown school committee last night there were present Messrs. L. T. Aylward, D. C. Potts, J. M. Paynter, V. C. Davies, F. W. Marsden, G. W. Turnbull, J. W. Darby’ (honoraty secretary), A, V. Gilbert (headmaster) and L. W. Hedges (scoutmaster). The Scoutmaster’s report stated that a very successful card evening had been held by Mrs. Hull at her home during the month, the proceeds being In aid of the troop tent fund. The nett proceeds were £3. Four Scout parades had been held, the usual work for Scouting badges having been proceeding. Two boys were almost ready for examination for their first class badges. The number, on the roll was 11 and the average attendance was 10 during the month. All parts of the grounds were in very good order, according to the i-ural science report sent by the Education Board’s instructor, Mr. D. Mackay. The hedges Kad all been well trimmed and the lawns and flower teds had been well tended. The general efficiency of the rural science work of the school was uniformly very good. There was a very pleasing response in all classes.

Mr. Gilbert announced that 20 entries had been received in a home garden competition and five pupils had entered in the Boys and Girls’ .Clubs calf-rearing competitions. The headmaster reported that the roll was 270, four admissions and four withdrawals having been made during the month. The average attendance had been 254, colds and other ailments affecting the figures somewhat more than usual. Since the last report the inspectors, Messrs. Griffin and Henry, had visited the school, as well as the agricultural instructor, Mr. Mackay, Dr. Champtalqup (Health Department) and Miss Valentine (backward children).

As a result of Mr. Gilbert’s complaint about the difficulty of moving the school piano Mr. Marsden was appointed to make inquiries about possible improvements. It was also decided at Mr. Gilbert’s request to renew the committee’s application for clocks for the classrooms. The ground supervisor, Mr. Davies, asked that the grass area on .the roadside outside the school be rolled. It was decided to apply to the Education Board to have the fittings of the sliding door replaced.

Messrs. Davies, Aylward and Darby, who had waited on the board with regard to the suggested inadequacy of the school staff, complimented the acting headmaster on the excellent reports given by the inspectors on the school’s progress. They wished it made plain that there was never any suggestion of the ability of Mr. Gilbert or any others of the staff. It was merely that they did not then think’.the staff large enough for the. school.