SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18551, 24 April 1930, Page 12

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

ANNUAL REPORTS.

The annual meetings of householders in the various school districts will be held on Monday night. TIMARU SOUTH. The annual report of the Timaru South School Committee states that twelve months ago the school roll was 495. but owing to a multiplicity of reasons, this number had not been maintained, and the roll number now stood at 475. This falling off. however, was not restricted to the district, as it was noticed that several schools showed a depleted roll number this .year. There had been several changes in the personnel *of the staff during the year—Mr D. E. Swinton left at the end of April, 1929. and his place was filled by Mr H. Beaumont; Miss J. Fyfe, who had )ied the position of infant mistres .wf 23 years, retired from the profession in May last, her position being filled by Miss V. Elder, who was doing good work in her department; Mr C. S. Gordon resigned his position as first assistant in July, on his being promoted to a higher position in the education service, and was succeeded by Mr E. R. Dally, who was proving a valuable member of the staff. It was with great regret that the Committee received the resignation of Miss L. A. Dunn, who in January last, for family reasons, found it necessary to leave South School. Owing to the decrease in the roll number, her place had not been permanently filled, although a relieving teacher was at present on the staff. Misses E. W. Bowie, J. Vucetich, P. Bowie, S. Morgan and Mr R. King, having completed their terms as junior teachers at the end of December, leit either for Training College or other positions. Mr Methven had filled the position of headmaster since December, 1922, and having decided to retire, would sever his connection with the school at the end of the present term, which concluded on May 9th. Advice had been received from the Canterbury Education Board that Mr F. J. Mottram had been appointed headmaster, and would take up his duties when the school re-opened on May 26th. The indoor life of the school had gone on as usual, and despite the several changes in teachers, the results in passes must be considered satisfactory and creditable to the staff; 42 pupils securing proficiency certificates and six competency. The outdoor life had been fully catered for, and successes attained were very satisfactory. Owing to the financial position, the Committee found itself unable to carry out the usual programme of prize-giving. This was a matter of sincere regret, but it was inevitable. However, thanks to the generosity of Messrs W. S. Young and R. McGlashan. medals were made available for presentation to the first pupils in each standard.

Early in the year a concert was held in the school by staff and pupils assisted by several friends and realised £l4 for the formation of a reference library. A lantern lecture assisted the general funds to a small amount. In November, a concert was organised by Mr Dickson, and given in the Scottish Hall, for general purposes; this effort realised £l2 13s 6d; the result, considering the very fine programme provided. was very disappointing to those responsible for the arrangements. At the end of the school year the staff organised the programme for a concert by the pupils of the school in aid of a general library; this was more generously patronised, and the result was £27. So far it had not been possible to proceed further with the library movement and until the building programme of the Department was announced, no accommodation was available to suitably house a school reading and reference library. A valuable donation was received from Mr A. Holst in the form of 31 copies of the ‘•National Geographical Magazine.” The parents were under a debt of g-ratitude to Mr Holst for his thoughtful gift. No progress hade been made so far in the effort to have the old school remodelled or replaced; the whole scheme being held in abeyance pending the presentation to Parliament of the report of the ‘‘Select Committee on Education.” The janitor (Mr H. Cordes) con- * tinued to carry out his duties faithfully. It had not been possible, owing to lack of funds, to do much to improve the school grounds, but a very material addition had been made to the basketball court in the erection of a 12-foot wire-netting protection at the southern side of the ground. The incidental allowance and „ contributions received by the Committee during the year have been barely sufficient to meet the expenditure; the surplus, as disclosed by the balance sheet, after deducting the amount belonging to the library fund being only £6 2s lOd; even this is non-existent when provision is made for existing liabilities at the balance date. In this connection, thanks were due to those good people of the district who contributed to the “Fuel” and other funds. I’he routine work of the committee has proceeded harmon-

iously during the year; the welfare ol the children being the first consideration of all. Mr Dickson has carried out the duties of hon. secretary in a capable manner, and Mr Houston had proved a faithful and painstaking treasurer.

Following representations made to us by Rev’s Dow and Monaghan, Bible classes were resumed, and the thanks of the parents were due to those who attend every week at these classes for their interest and their efforts for the welfare of the children of the school.

As the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the original, building would take place in January 1931. it would be desirable that adequate steps be taken to suitably celebrate the occasion, and with that object in view an appeal was made to all and .any who had any knowledge of the school’s early history to contribute of their knowledge for incornoration in the records necessarv for the occasion. We suggest that past pupils of the school might give much valuab'e assistance in the direction of supplying information. It will be noticed from the published list of nominations received, that four members of the 1929-30 committee hi not sought i e-election; their colleagues desired to place on record their appreciation of the work done bv those referred to. Mr A. W. McNeil, with four years’ service. Mr T. G. Jacobs, three years; Mr S. Houston, two years’ and Mr F. Matthews, one year.

TIMARU MAIN.

The annual report for the year ended February 28. 1930. reviews the work of the school, and congratulates the headmaster and his staff on the high standard of the school work during the year, and fpr the good results obtained. The Committee also place on record their appreciation of the staff's help in functions run in connection with the school in aid of funds.

The school had been fortunate in maintaining the staff throughout the year. Miss O. White, assistant infant mistress, resigned at the end of the year to take up a position in the Allenton School, and her place was filled by Miss Iris Methven. The probationer assistants to leave were Miss Dash and Mr Chapman, and were succeeded by Miss E. Hassell and Miss D. Johnson. The following probationers left for the Training College:—Misses Boucher, Sobb, Mouatt and R. White, their positions being filled by Messrs Koller and Marshall. Miss White and Miss Hutton; but Miss Hutton had since resigned to take up a Bursary at Otago University. The attendance was up to the usual standard, the average roll for the year being 598.7 and the average attendance 547.9. During the year 194 new pupils were admitted to the school, and 186 were struck off the roll. The pupils had taken a keen interest in all school games. In the football field the trophies donated by the Star Club were annexed by Eric Shewan and Leslie Maxwell, and in cricket, J. Hall and George Bracefield came out on top, and won the Satterthwaite Cups, presented for best average in batting and bowling in the school teams. The basketball teams did not come out on top in the competitions, but all the games were very keenly contested.

Referring to swimming, the report stated that this part of the school sport ought to be encouraged in every way, and every child taught to be a swimmer. The school competitions resulted as follows:—Champion boy, Eric Friburg; senior champion girl, Zena Gordiner, and junior girl champion, M. Crisp. In the inter-school swimming competitions, the Main School won the shiold. During the year 34 boys and 32 girls gained swimming certificates.

On April 23 and 24 a very successful school concert in aid of the Reference Library funds was held in the Scottish Hall, and netted a profit of £SO Os 4d. This concert was one of exceptional merit, and on both nights the Hall was filled to overflowing. The staff were to be complimented on the training and performance of the children. The books for the library will cost in the vicinity of £9O. It was proposed to partition off part of standard 6 room and equip it as a library and reading room, which should prove beneficial to the children of the school. A Queen Carnival and Gala Day in aid of funds for school improvement was run on 26th, 27th, and 28th of September, and proved to be a great success, the funds benefiting to the extent of £209 12s 9d. For the success of this function the Committee heartily thanked the school staff and Ladies’ Committee, who worked so energetically for the cause. Under the supervision of the School Committee’s Association a schools’ excursion was run to Christchurch during Show Week, and a number oL Main School pupils took advantage of the day out. Excursions of this nature should prove of educational value to the children. With a view of beautifying the school grounds, children’s flower gardens had been started, and for the short time they had been in hand were showing up well. To help the children to make a success of this scheme, the Committee had had water laid on to provide against dry weather. The filled

in ground requires a little levelling and top dressing to complete this part of the Committee’s improvement scheme. To drain storm water off this area, a concrete channel had been put down. During the year, two drums and four bugles had been purchased for the school. Towards this matter, the Main School Old Boys’ Association made a donation of £5, which went to show they had always the good and welfare of the school at heart, for which they deserved the best thanks of the committee. The usual services were held on Anzac Day, when the pupils attended and were addressed by the Rev. H. W. Monaghan and Mr Wallace. • The school broke up for Christmas recess on Deoember 19. Instead of distributing books to the infants, the Committee decided to hold a Christmas tree function for the infants and standards 1 and 2, which was appreciated very much. There was a fair attendance of parents. The prizes were distributed to the higher standards in the evening by the Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., a number of parents being present. Dux medals were presented to Joyce Islip (girls), and Arthur Green (boys). During winter months hot cocoa had been supplied to the children bringing their mid-day lunches. The committee specially thanked Mr and Mrs King, of Landsborough, for the milk supplied free for this purpose. The dental clinic was doing good work, and the children were deriving great benefit from the treatment to their teeth. The clinic staff were to be congratulated on the efficient manner in which they carried out their duties.

After a number of years of faithful service, Mr M. Borton resigned his position as janitor to the school. His place had been filled by Mr H. Wyatt, who was carrying out his duties in a capable manner. Mr R. Robinson resigned from the Committee about the end of the year owing to his transfer to Christchurch. The Committee were sorry to lose his services, as he proved a very energetic member. The balance sheet showed that the year commenced with a credit balance of £63 9s 4d. Receipts for the year were £332 14s 9d, making a total of £396 4s Id. Expenditure for the year was £394 14s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £1 9s 3d. The retiring Committee thanked all who in any way helped towards the good and welfare of the school, and the members of the Ministers’ Association. The Committee offered their special thanks to the latter for their time devoted to the spiritual welfare of the children.