TEMUKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10976, 12 August 1926, Page 3

TEMUKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The usual monthly committee meeting of the Temuka District High School was held on Tuesday evening, there being present: Messrs A. E. Smith (chairman), M. Swap, J. Henry, R. Longson, L. G. Scrimshaw, A. W. Buzan, G. H. Clements (secretary) and the headmaster, Mr R. Malcolm. Arising but of the minutes, the chairman reported that Mr Hughes, of the Education Board, had rung him up and thanked him personally, and also the committee, for the support accorded him in his re-election to the Board. Mr Hughes’ majority had been about 200 votes. In reference to the tree planting ceremony at Winchester, owing to a very serious illness in the homo, Mr Hughes had been unable to be present. As far as their own tree planting was concerned, they had made a start last Thursday week. The Mayor, Mr G. B. Cartwright, Cr. Evans" and Messrs Clements, Fraser, Malcolm and himself had g(hie into the matter, and live or six days’ work in clearing the ground had been done, and they had to find two or three days more labour. Mr Cartwright had supervised the work, and the 19th of August had been fixed for the tree planting, when Messrs Steele and Ridley would be in attendance. It was decided to issue invitations to the Mayor and Councillors, and to the Winchester School, to attend the tree planting ceremony, and the marking out of the ground was left to Mr Malcolm and the scholars. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Canterbury Education Board wrote that they had agreed to the work of painting the shed and renovating the, glass house used in connection with the classes in agriculture carried out. The Board would be glad, therefore, if they would accept the lowest tender, £l2 17s 6d.

The chairman reported that, Mr Swap’s being the lowest tender, had been accepted and the work "had been carried out.

The Canterbury Education Board wrote that the attendance last quarter was considerably lower than the number requiring the present staff. Unfortunately, the roll number would make it difficult for the school to maintain the required average, and the Board asked whether there was likely to be an improvement in the near future. Mr Malcolm stated he had sent in a report re the sickness, and had received a reply that last quarter would not be counted in the year’s average on account of epidemic conditions. As far as the staffing of the school is concerned, if a reduction in the grading took place, none of the teachers would be reduced in salary except the headmaster, and they would'* lose one teacher. As a result of the appeal made to parents to send their children to school without waiting for the holidays, so far only two new pupils had been enrolled, and they would have to get the roll number in the vicinity of 400 in the Primary School to keep up the average

The secretary was instructed to acknowledge the letter, and point out that the committee considers that the grading should he done on the roll number, owing to Temuka being a country district.

The Winchester School Committee forwarded an invitation to the committee to attend the tree 'planting ceremony at Winchester. The chairman reported that the invitation had been accepted, and members of the committee had attended the tree planting ceremony at Winchester. ,

The Temuka Borough Council wrote re Reserve 1069 for forestry culture, that they are in full accordance with the committee’s suggestion that a sub-committee be set up to confer with the members of the committee, and that the Council had written to the Minister of Lands asking for permission to grant the committee security of tenure for twenty-one years with right of renewal. The secretary was instructed to reply thanking the Council for their support and assistance.

The Director of Education wrote that before any of, the Junior High Schools, on which favourable reports were given, are acted upon, the Government desired to take into account the whole cost of establishing the system throughout the Dominion. A report in that respect was now before the Government, and a decision regarding the whole policy would shortly be given. —Received.

DENTAL REPORT. Nurse Cato reported the following work done at the Clinic during the mouth:—3ls operations, 144 patients treated. Native School and Te Awa, 30 new patients treated. — Adopted. HEADMASTER’S REPORT. The headmaster, Mr R. Malcolm, reported as follbws; — Attendance summary: Roll No. Av. Per cent. July 16: P.S. . 383 316 83 p.c, July 16: H.S. . 53 4 6 July 23: P.S. . .381 356 94 p.c. July 23: H.S. . 52 50 July 30: P.S. . 381 364 96 p.c, July 30: H.S. . 52 50

The summary shows a much improved* attendance, but the roll number is still too low to be satisfactory. Only two new entrants were enrolled as the result of the appeal to parents to send children of school age along at once. Messrs Clemente and Buzan visited the School last Thursday. The ground for forestry extension is being prepared, and Mr Ridley has sent for trees required for Thursday, August 19. Arrangements should be made for the- open air class room when the school re-opens in September. The High School social i s beingheld on Friday next in the Parish Hall, and any assistance from the committee will be welcome. Mr M. McLeod has been good enough to present a cricket bat to the school for use during the coming season. The term examination is at present being held.

Messrs Smith, Clements and Malcolm were appointed a committee to arrange the advertising and draw up a programme for the opening function of the Open Air School on the first Thursday after the school had been properly fitted up. Prizes for the school social were donated by Miss Kingston and Messrs Smith, Scrimshaw and McMillan. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr McLeod for the gift of a cricket bat.

The month’s accounts were passed for payment. VISITORS’ REPORT.

Mr Buzau reported that with Mr Clements, he had visited the School and they found the Dux board needed inscrolling since 1923. At Mr Malcolm’s suggestion the matter would he left to the end of the year, so as to include 1926. Three new blinds were required for standards four and five rooms, and the boundary fence between the garden and the outside section required five posts to protect the garden from stock. The headmaster wished to retain a piece of the old garden for the nature study classes for standards one. two, three and four Miss Manson reported that the ventilation in standard four room required attention. She had been agitating for gi x years about the matter, but so far nothing had been done. Would it not be possible, asked Mr Buzan, for the committee to do something in the matter. Mr Clements reported that the ventilation of the School was under consideration by the Department at the present time. They liad had no end of inspectors down, and Mr Caughley had said the ventilation was very bad, and that he would pul the matter in hand without delay. Mr Malcolm said the inspector had been down and had also gone to Waimate, and was to consider the erection of electric fans. Continuing, Mr Buzan reported that he and Mr Clements had planted six walnut trees on the east side of the school, and had handed the remainder to Mr Malcolm to plant. The secretary was instructed to arrange for repairs to the fence, and a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Buzan for his gift of trees and also for his assistance in planting them. The secretary was also instructed to write to the Department relative to the ventilation of the School, and it was decided that the useless blinds in the School be taken down and three new blinds be procured from Mr Scrimshaw.

BRAMWELL BOOTH BOYS’ HOME. Mr G. W. Armitage wrote that the Boys’ Home School being in the District High School district, it must be controlled by the School Committee. Since it has all the, standards, it must also be controlled separately for staffing and incidentals. If it were a side school, it would be different. The letter pointed out that if the Committee declined the management, the district school would be in a ‘ worse position, since another school district would be set up and a committee elected to whom would be given charge of the school. The Canterbury Education Board also wrote, saying that if the Temuka School becomes a Junior High School, the pupils of standards live and six will be required to attend the main school. In other respects the letter confirmed the subject matter of Mr Armitage’g letter.

The chairman stated that the position was that the, Boys’ Home School was in their district and under their jurisdiction, and they either had to take over the control of it or else the Board would set up a school district for that school and that would reduce the attendance of the Temuka* School. He thought there wa s nothing else for it but to take control of the school.

A discussion arose on the question, Mr Scrimshaw saying they were wanting attendance at the main school and were making another school right alongside. Mr Smith said it wag not the Board, but the Department that had taken over the school. Mr Buzan considered the Department was very unfair to the Temuka School. Mr Smith said Mr Armitage’s advice was that the best thing they could do would be to take over the management. If a district was set up it would certainly affect the attendance at the Temuka School. Mr Buzan asked about visiting the school while the Army was in charge,, Mr Smith replied that the Army was not in charge. The headmaster was solely in charge, and was working under the Education Department. Personally he thought they should accept the management*.

Mr Clements reported that the incidental payments , from the Board would be £37 per annum, and the chairman stated that arrangements for cleaning and heating the school had already been fixed. They would have no trouble about the finance of the school. He did not think It would entail a great deal of work. They had nothing to do with finding school books, but had only stationery, pens, pencils, etc., to provide.

It was decided to accept the management of the Home School to the end of the year. The Education Board forwarded for the committee’s consideration the application of Miss Doris K. Methven, the teacher whom the Board considers best fitted for appointment as assistant mistress in the Watt-Lawry Boys’ School. The name of Mr Charles Joseph Roseveare was also forwarded as the best teacher in the opinion of the Board for headmaster in the same school. The secretary was instructed to notify the Board that the committee was q'uite satisfied with the Board’s choice of teachers. Messrs J. Henry and C. L. Fraser were notified they were appointed visitors for the ensuing mouth. . This terminated the business of the meeting.