SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8831, 18 January 1907, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the executive of the School Committees' Association was held on Monday evening : presentsMessrs Spiller (chairman), Cole, Butterfield, Weir, Lucas and the -honorary secretary. A letter was read from Mr D. J. Cooper, inspector of schools of New South Wales, regretting that as he would not be in Christchurch he could not avail himself of the invitation to be present at_the meeting. It was unanimously resolved to recommend to the Association at its next meeting that the honorary secretary (Mr D. Lumsden) be re-elected to represent the Association at the Board of Managers of the Seddon Technical College. It was decided to hold a special meeting of the Association on January 30, when the subjects of universal school books and the appointment of teachers will be brought up for discussion ; also, to advertise the meeting in the morning papers, and invite parents, teachers and others interested. The following resolutions w&re carried unanimously: — "That owing to the provisional programme (as published) for the Imperial/ conference on education not containing any referenceto the physical buildingup of the nation, the. Association write to the president and the High Commissioner and the Inspector-General .of Schools asking these gentlemen to introduce a resolution urging educationalists throughout the- Empire to regard ef- | ficient Gchool buildings and furniture as ! being of vital importance for the advancement of education." "That the Minister of Education be asked (1) if the departmental conference on education, to be held in Wellington next month, can explain why so few proficiency certificates are issued to scholars in the North Canterbury educational district as compared with Auckland, Wellington and Otago. (2) If the conference will devote a poz*tion of Its attention to the physical aspect of the i education system, it being obvious that pupils and teachers work under conditions in reepect to school buildings and furniture tnat are antagonistic to effective"; instruction, and positively injurious health (seating accommodation, ventilation and overcrowding especially).' ' * ' Will the .Hon Minister of Education give an opinion to the Aesoci- - ation on the suitableness of single-desk accommodation in the secondary schools when they are not thought necessary by the Department in the primary schools?" After passing accounts the meeting closed.