WEST SCHOOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18817, 4 March 1931, Page 13

WEST SCHOOL.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the West School Committee was held last night. Present —Messrs W. H. Thompson (chairman), T. C. Palliser (hon. secretary), R. Cunningham, W. Marshall, J. A. Norrie, J. D. Washington, G. A. Hutt, and R. H. Ferguson. The headmaster (Mr S. W. Street) reported for the month ending February 28th, that the attendance had been as follows:—Boys, average 255; girls, average, 215; total 470; average roll 491, percentage of attendance 95.7; present roll, boys 265; girls 232. On March 17th the annual school swimming sports were held, when the events were closely contested. A sum of £2 was collected in connection with the sports, and this would be kept to pay Association fees, etc. The Schools swimming championships were held on Friday last, when South won the shield, West being runners-up. The winners scored points, West being half a point behind. The receipts from these sports were being donated to the earthquake fund. It had been mentioned at last meeting that the interest earned on money in the school bank was about £5. He found, however, that the amount was approximately £l4. He could not find a record of any interest money being withdrawn, so that £l4 was available for school purposes. Some of the class rooms were in need of supplementary reading matter, and he suggested that £5 or £6 from the interest fund should be used for the purchase of necessary readers. Miss Nichols, the new assistant, who had been appointed in place of Miss Ives, arrived at the School on Monday last. As Miss Ives was not to leave until March 31st, it was plain that someone had blundered. A telegram was sent to the Board’s secretary, explaining what had happened, and asking that one of the teachers be kept on as an additional assistant. The Board,, however, did not agree to the suggestion, but asked the headmaster to notify Miss Nichols that she was not required till April Ist. An application had gone forward to the Board for an additional assistant, as it was plain that there were congested classes. No notification of the Board’s intentions had been received, and it was suggested that the Committee should apply at once. In accordance with the Committee's direction, he had purchased a small supply of exercise and copy books, and most of these had been distributed. He found that the Board still made grants for necessitous cases, and he suggested that application be made for £3 to supply books for the rest of the year. All pupils now had text books. Since Mr Edwards last year received permission to proceed with a scheme of group music, a movement had sprung up in Timaru to extend the idea to all town schools. The headmasters were approached by the music teachers, and a conference had taken place that day to further the idea of giving cheap, yet efficient instruction to groups of children. Mr V. Griffiths, of Christchurch, was to visit Timaru shortly to give a lecture, and it was hoped that that would lead to several groups being started in Timaru. Mr Edwards had already a group of twelve at West School, and before long a start would be made with tuition.

The chairman congratulated the child. 2n on the fine performances at the swimming championships, stating that credit was due to the teachers for their interest. Referring to the attendance, he said he hoped that the time was not far distant when the school would be raised in status. It was agreed to write to the Education Board stressing the need for an additional assistant.

Referring to group teaching of music, the headmaster pointed out that the school heads were anxious that musical talent amongst the children should be developed. The idea was to discover the aptitudes of children, and it rested then with the parents if children were to carry on with private tuition. Messrs Cunningham and Hutt, visitors for the month, reported on their inspection, and it was agreed to give attention to several small matters which were brought under the Committee’s notice. A letter was received from the Education Board stating that the assist-ant-architect had received authority to proceed with minor repairs at the school. The Education Board wrote confirming the appointment of Miss H. Nichols as assistant mistress, the teacher to take up her duties on March 2nd. The Highfield Boy Scout Committee made application for the use of one or two rooms at the school, until such time as a hall was erected at Highfield.—lt Was decided that there were no rooms available at the school.

Accounts amounting to £l2/4/2, were passed for payment.