EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9521, 20 April 1909, Page 1

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

THE DUTIES. OF HOUSEHOLDERSMEETING AT EAST CHRIST- ■ CHURCH. There were about twenty householdens of the East Christphurch school district present at a meeting- held in the Gloucester Street School last evening. Mr John Jamieson., chairman or the School Committee, presided. The chairman said that the meeting had been called at the suggestion of some of the members of the committee, in order that householders might have an opportunity of discussing beforehand matters that might be expected to come before the annual meeting. Dr C. J. Russell said that the committee felt. that the condition of the primary schools in the dominion was not altogether satisfactory. He considered that the question of the health of children attending State schools was one of the greatest moment, and every effort should be i mad©, to ensure proper medical inspection periodically. ihe Education Board snould be m close touch with the Board of Health so ac to provide adequate inspection of coiildren and attend to the hygienic requirements in all schools. It ,was the undoubted duty of. the Government to provide quite a number of radical improvements to the school buildings and their environments. , .. JilrD. Lumsdefi said that he heartily endorsed practically everything /Dr Ruesell had said. As the dominion was advancing very fast, it was only logical that the education vote. should increase year by year in & proper ratio, so as to enable; the authorities to provide a number of, the. improvements indicated by Dr RusSell. , \ f „*, In reply to.a householder from Phfllipsto\m, the chairman said thab bh& committee was in favour of the Phillipstown School being made a mam school, but at present there were ;■«- trictions which prevented its separation from the East Christohurch district. He recommended the householders +o prepare a motion bearing on tlie matter, to be put before the annual meeting. ■ Mr T. H. Davey, M.P., said that he had expected that some proposals would have been brought before the meeting and Hiseussed, so that he might have gathered information that wouid have Been valuable when considering educational matters in the House. Quite an erroneous opinion seemed to exist as to the powers of a member or Parliament. On educational matters, members individually had no power to secure an increase of the annual vote. He was surprised, ho added, at some of the remarks Dr Russell had made, particularly when he took exception tw the increased ratio of expenditure in recent years on technical education as compared with that for primary education. Many of Dr Russell's suggestions were no doubt admirable, but almost impossible without an enormous increase in the educational vote.' Mr Davey concluded by stating that he was entirely at one with Dr Russell when he said the health of the children was of the utmost importance, but he thought the suggestion of providing oovered-in play grounds was -»ut of all reason because of the cost. Dr Russell said that hhpe p did not mean to suggest that the entire school grounds should # ba covered,, 'but only enough to provide shelter in wet weather for boy 3 and girls who had to take kmoh to school. The ohairman said that no doubt a number of subjects not touched on at tho meeting would come un 'for discussion at the annual meeting, to be held on thss following Monday night, and suggested that anyone who had any matter" to bring forward should present it in the form of a motion, so thajfc those attending the annual meeting might be able to express a doftuita opinion on it v •