SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18581, 30 May 1930, Page 9

SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the South Canterbury School Committees’ Association was held in the West School last night. The president (Mr G. Benstead) presided over a good attendance. The president remarked, following on the reading of the minutes, in which reference w r as made to a suggestion that the membership fee should be increased, that the matter came up for consideration at the halfyearly meeting, but nothing had been done. The funds of the Association were in a satisfactory position, and if the necessity arose, the incoming committee could again go into the matter. Exhibition of Work. Intimation was received from the secretary of the South Canterbury branch of the Teachers’ Institute that an exhibition of work done in the primary schools in Canterbury would be on view in Timaru during the next few days. Mr J. W. Preen stated that the work had been collected from all the schools throughout Canterbury, and was distinctly creditable. The display was really remarkable when it was remembered that it was the work of children in the primary schools. Mr T. C. Palliser said that the display was open to all parents, who would have an opportunity of viewing the work this evening. The chairman said that it was gratifying to know that this district had not been overlooked. On the motion of Mr W. Gibb, it was decided to express appreciation of the opportunity afforded parents and committeemen in the district of inspecting the display. Ti Maunga-Craigmore Schools. A letter was received from the Canterbury Education Board in regard to the Ti Maunga-Craigmore school district. It was stated that the decision to recommend the erection of a school at Craigmore, and the abandonment of the proposal to provide additions at Ti Maunga was reached after careful consideration had been given to a report submitted by members who had visited the district and investigated the whole position. The following facts were strongly stressed by the Committee appointed to inquire into the request for a school at Chaigmore: (a) That the children would attend the school if established; (b) of these, seven were now in attendance at Ti Maunga. some 6-- miles distant, and the remaining seven did not attend any school on account of the distance and lack of facilities for transport; (c) that within a year there would be twenty pupils available with a stable attendance. The members pointed out to the residents that to establish a school by depleting Ti Maunga appeared unjustifiable, but It was proved that several of the pupils had to travel or drive over a road that was in parts unsafe. In order in gauge the effect on Ti Maunga, this school was also visited, and it was found that there were 38 pupils on the roll, and with twelve square feet per child, there was accommodation for 48 scholars. These facts seemed to prove that no further space was needed, and that a loss of seven pupils would not handicap the school. Indeed, it appeared desirable, when the nature of the road was taken into account. The chairman said that he was not concerned with the feeling that existed between the committees, but he was concerned with the education of the children. He did not feel that it was going to be in the best interests of the Tt Maunga School that some of the children should be taken away. The matter had been further discussed by the Executive, who considered that the matter should not be allowed to rest where it was, and that the whole of the correspondence should be placed before the Minister of Education. Mr Gibb, speaking of the conditions that were observed when members of the Association visited Ti Maunga, said that he did not measure the main building, but in an outbuilding, ten ffeet by eight feet, there was accommodation for seventeen children. Mr Gibb added that the letter stated that Ti Maunga had been visited, but it was not stated whether members of the Ti Maunga Committee were interviewed. The action taken by the Executive in the matter was endorsed. Year’s Work Reviewed. In moving the adoption of the annual report (previously published) the president said that the past year had been an eventful one. The scope of the Association’s activities had been extended, and now the district embodied all schools from the Waitaki to the Rangitata. For the second time in the hifetory of the Association, the annual conference of the South Island Federation had been held in Timaru. Some good work was done, and* if effect was given to the remits carried, an improvement in the primary school system should come about. The Association had been instrumental in setting on foot a scheme for greater cooperation among school committees throughout the Dominion. Mr A. E, Lawrence (editor of the “Timaru Herald”), in an address to the Association. had stressed the necessity of organisation and co- peration among committees in the interests of the children. The principle underlying the scheme had been endorsed by the executive of the South Island Federation, and it had been left to the Dunedin members to formulate a scheme for the whole of the Dominion. The proposal came before the Association at its last annual meeting, and, h the exception of the financial part, was endorsed. Mr Benstead went on to say that something had been achieved, and he hoped in the near future that they would have a combination of men and women interested in the schools. Combinations were no new thing; generally they were for tfye benefit of a particular association or organisation, but in this case the combination was solely in the interests of the children. As school committeemen, they were interested in the education of the children. They were not merely interested in the education which was received in the school, but in the moral, physical and > mental welfare of the community. The tendency of late in New Zealand to separate or divorce local interest was a great mistake. They, as committeemen, sometimes spoke of more local control, but what was more necessary was more local co-operation. He would be more than satisfied if, in their own districts, they could successfully preach the gospel of combination, not in their own interests, but in the interests of the children whom they represented.

The president went on to say that the excursion to Christchurch had been successful, and those who had been closely associated with it were deserving of the best thanks. Referring to the dental clinic, the president said that they had had a fairly successful year. They had been shortstaffed, however, but it was hoped that this would be overcome shortly. The best thanks of the Association were due to the nurses who had done such fine work during the year. The president thanked members for the

work they had done during the year, and for the assistance they had given him. He hoped members would remember their slogan, and endeavour to bring more sheep into the fold. Mr A. F. Stocker seconded the adoption of the report. Mr Gibb congratulated the Association on the work done. The organisation had been good, and while the executive had not achieved all that it would have liked, still it was to be congratulated on what it had done. The report was adopted. Cancer Campaign. Reference was made by the president to the Cancer Campaign. He said that he understood that the staffs of the schools in Timaru had undertaken to raise a certain sum among themselves, because they did not consider it desirable to introduce the subject to the children. He did not know whether the Association should do something, or whether the matter should be left to individual committees. Mr Preen said that when it was realised that one in seven of the middle-aged people in the Dominion were suffering - from this dread disease, it could be seen how necessary it was for something to be done. In the South Island alone, the sum of £50,000 was aimed at, the quc*a for South Canterbury being £2OOO. He thought that committeemen could do something to help. It had been stated that an ounefe of radium cost £36,000, but the good which that ounce did was incalculable. It was desirable that the children should be kept out of the matter, and he suggested that each of the town schools should donate £2/10/- each. The chairman said that the Association could not carry a resolution in the matter, but it could throw out a suggestion to committees to do something to help suffering humanity. Election of Officers. The election officers resulted:— President, Mr T. C. Palliser; vicepresidents, Messrs W. J. Dickson (town), F. Squires and A. F. Stocker (country);' hon. secretary, Mr A. Carnegie; delegates to annual conference of South Island Federation, Messrs W. Gibb, T. C. Palliser and G. Benstead; representatives on Schools’ Sports Association, Messrs C. Lund and T. C. Palliser. On taking the chair, Mr Palliser said he hoped that *t the end of his term members would find that their confidence had not been misplaced. Mr Gibb returned thanks for the complimentary remarks made in the report concerning the efforts of Mr Preen and himself as officers of the Federation. Work in Technical School. Mr Preen also briefly returned thanks. He said that the Association’s representative on the Technical School Board (Mr A. Stead) was present, and probably he would have something to say. Mr Stead said that he greatly appreciated the interest which was being taken in the work of the school. At one time such was not the case, but now headmasters were ever willing to assist. Mr Stead made complimentary reference to the splendid work done by the late principal (Mr A. McFadyen). and expressed the opinion that his successor would continue the good work. The Board appreciated the visits paid by members from time to time. On some occasions it had been difficult to accommodate all who hed visited the school to inspect the classes at work. The Board had done everything possible to enable the public to see just what was being done at the school, and the steps taken in this direction had been very beneficial. As an instance of this, Mr Stead mentioned that the number requiring instruction in dressmaking had been so great that it had been found necessary to arrange for classes on three evenings. The present staff was a splendid one, and the Board hoped to place the school on a still higher plane. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Stead for his work on the Board.

A vote of thanks was passed also to the Press. Transport for Children. Reference was made by Mr Dickson to the efforts that had been made to secure improved transport facilities for children from St. Andrews, attending the secondary schools in Timaru, the speaker stating that the Railway Department had adviseci that no alteration in the existing train service was possible. Mr Benstead said that, following the last quarterly meeting, Mr Dash, of St. Andrews, and the speaker, had interviewed the Minister of Education, and had placed the matter before him fully, but so far no reply had been received. The Rev. J. Hay, or Mr Dash ; had undertaken to secure in- : formation regarding the transport of ; children from Ngapara to Oamaru, but so far that information had not i come to hand. Mr Gibb remarked that he had had a conversation with Mr Hay recently, and the information would probably come to hand in a few days. Some discussion took place regarding the curtailment of the lunch hour, so as to permit of the children having ample Ame for sports on one afternoon each week during the winter months, it being eventually decided to leave the matter in the hands of chairmen of committees and headl masters. At the invitation of the Glen-iti Committee, the Executive decided to hold its next quarterly meeting at Glen-iti, on Saturday, August 30.