HEATING SCHOOLS A BIG QUESTION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17831, 27 April 1926, Page 14

HEATING SCHOOLS A BIG QUESTION

PARENTS EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT. At nearlv every meeting of householders held last night to elect school committees, there was discussion on three subjects raised by the Cante.rburv School Committees’ Association. They dealt with heating, staffing, and the presentation of anntial reports by the inspectors to the householders’ meetings. The remits were as follows: (1) That the Education Department be asked to mstal. where necessary. up-to-date heating systems in schools, and to pay the whole cost. (2) That the Education Department be urged to institute a system of staffing schools according to the roll number, instead of the average attendance. (3) That inspectors should submit a report of the. results of the school’s work for the year, for presentation at the annual meeting of householders, such repoit to state what the school excels in, what it is lacking in, and any suggestions the inspector thinks wouiu effect improvement. The remits, among others, were forwarded by the association to the conference of the South Island School Committees’ Federation, held recently in Dunedin, and were unanimously adopted. It was explained at the meetings that in regard to the heating in old schools the Department paid only half the cost of installation. In the new schools the full cost was paid. The staffing question affected country schools mostly. At present a school of thirty-five pupils had to be taught by one teacher for all the standards: a school of thirty-six children could have two teachers. The new* plan would give the school first cited another teacher. It would also mean an additional capitation allowance of anything up to £BO a year. Arguments .in favour of remit No. 3 were that an inspector's report would bring the householders in closer touch with the schools’ working, and so create more interest in education.

The following schools approved of the three remits: West Christchurch, Woolston, Wharenui, Waltham, Templeton, Beckenham, North Brighton, Bromley, Sumner District High, Riccarton. West Lyttelton, Somerfield, Spreydon and Richmond.

Agreement with remits one and two, but disapproval of three, was carried by the following: Fendalton, Rangiora, Shirley, Waimairi, Lyttelton and Addington.

The second remit was agreed to at Elmwood, and the third was held over for consideration at the next annual meeting. In the case of Shirley it was decided to urge that capitation allowances also should be made on the roll number.

The circular was not mentioned in the cases of Svdenham, Linwood, Phillipstown, Belfast, Kaiapoi and East Christchurch.

Prebbleton referred the remits to the new committee.