SCHOOL AFFAIRS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 23 May 1922, Page 7

SCHOOL AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The first monthly meeting of the newly-elected School Cimmittee met last night. Present: Mr W. G. Paul (chairman), Mesdames Pitts, R. B. Hurst and Messrs P. Meyers, C. L. H. Gunn, J. Hayman, W. George, W. Tooley, R. B. Hurst, and the Rector (Mr J. McLeod) and J. Menzies (secret ary). Welcome to New Headmaster. The chairman referred to the appointment of Mr McLeod as Headmaster and said he wished to extend to him a hearty welcome to Waimate. Mr McLeod’s previous career spoke well for him and they were well satisfied, despite the fact that the Board had only submitted the one name. He hoped, however, that Mr McLeod would stay with them many years and not flit away to an inspectorship like so many of their headmasters had done. He hoped he had come to stay and to settle among them. (Applause). Mr McLeod expressed pleasure at the hearty welcome accorded him and said he looked forward to spending a pleasant time among them. He had heard good account of Waimate and his first impressions bore out the good reports he had heard and he had no doubt that he would enjoy his stay here. He did not intend to apply for an inspectorship from Waimate. He intended to stay here so long as he could help on the success of the school. (Applause). Rector’s Report. The Headmaster (Mr J. McLeod) reported as follows :--The attendance for the month ended 28th April is as follows: High School Department: roll number, boys 38, girls 50, total 88; average atendance, boys 35.3, girls 46.5, total 81.8. Primary Department: Roll, boys 297, girls 263, total 560; average attendance 508. I regret that owing to an attack of pleurisy following a previous indisposition, I have had to apply for a fortnight’s leave of absence. I expect to see a relieving teacher here to-morrow morning. The clocks in Miss Olliver’s and Miss Tait’s rooms are out of order and no doubt require cleaning. The taps in the boys’ ground also need attention. If funds permit I should like to get two or three pencil sharpeners costing about 18s each for the use of the various, classes. They save a great deal of the teacher’s time and they certainly increase the efficiency of the drawing lesson. Application should be made to the Board for a strip of hyloplate, 12 x 1J in the intermediate, High School room and for part ot the wall in the boys’ lavatory to be concreted in order that it can be properly flushed. The report/was adopted, the matters mentioned to receive attention.

The chairman said that at present Mr McLeod was not in very good health and he had been granted two weeks’ leave. He understood that Mr McLeod was not attending that night in his official capacity. Mr McLeod said he regretted that he was not enjoying his usual good health, and that he had been advised to keep away from school duties for a while. Mr Ford had been appointed as relieving teacher in the meantime. Dental Treatment. The Director of Dental Hygiene wrote regretting that the Committee’s suggestion that the dental officer at Timaru should visit Waimate was impracticable, as the service at present was very limited, and parents wer e expected to assume full responsibility in the matter. The chairman explained that the letter was the outcome of a. visit made by an inspecting nurse to the school, for the purpose of examining the teeth. The nurse had reported that out of 68 infants she had examined, 60 required immediate attention and that out of the 600 children attending the school 400 of them had defective teeth that needed treatment. The minister had said that the children should be sent to the Board’s dentist at Timaru, but seeing there were 400 of them, it was out of the question, with the present slow trains Th e nurse had suggested that the dentist m Timaru should be asked to come here, but th e minister had said it was impracticable. The Department had been proclaiming from the house tops that it was intended to examine and take care of the children’s teeth and now they were told that the responsibility rested with the parents. Mr Gunn said he did not see why the Board should not support the local dentist. What was the use of

sending a doctor at £6OO a year to examine the children’s teeth, if they were not going to receive attention. Mr McLeod said he thought the trouble was due to the fact that the Department had not sufficient dental officers. They had only been able to attend to the infants in Christchurch He had suggested that the Government should make use of the army dental equipment. Mrs Pitts suggested that the worst eases of those who could not afford to pay for attention should receive free treatment, and that those who could afford to pay should be sent notices similar to those sent concerning eyesight. Mr J. I. Hayman said he would not like the job of discriminating between those who could pay and those who could not. He thought the only way was to ask the Department to appoint a local dentist.

After further discussion it was resolved that a sub-committee consisting of the chairman, Mrs Pitts and Mr Hayman be appointed to get in ouch with the local dentists and to see what attitude they would be likely to take in the matter. Heating Apparatus. The assistant secretary of the Canterbury Education Board wrote re the question of heating apparatus, stating that the first intimation the Board had received, that the money had been raised for the central heating system, was contained in the Committee’s letter. In the first instance the Board’s officers had been asked to report on the most suitable way of heating the school and they had recommended the Arcola, or a similar system of heating which would cost between £750 and £950. The estimates for the single boiler, with the necessary boiler room would cost £l2OO. This estimate had been prepared by two different parties. In connection with, the Committee’s estimate at £B5O the Board wish ed to know whether that included the construction of boiler room, chimney and other building work. The matter was discussed at length and it was finally resolved that further inquiries should be made regarding the estimate for the central heating system.. General Correspondence. A letter was received from the Board in reply to a request for inkwells, stating that the Board did not supply same. —Received. The Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) wrote acknowledging receipt of letter with resolutions passed at the meeting of householders re appointments of teachers, stating that recent legislation had aimed at making the teaching service*a national rather than a parochial one. Teachers were carefully graded by the inspectors, who are the most competent, to form an opinion in such matters and preference must accordingly be given to men plated highest by the inspectors.—Received. An irate parent wrote complaining that a coat belonging to his child had been stolen from the school byIt was resolved that the secretary write expressing regret and stating that while the Committee would give what,, .assistance was possible they could not accept any liability. Correspondence was received from the Cantrebury College Board of Governors re the matter of election.

The chairman explained that they would receive voting papers for the election of the new Board in due course.

The question as to whether the school should be closed, owing to the urr valence of scarlet fever. Was eons drved * 4 '• . -

" ■ t. ... - r .-i and it was left to the chairman to consult the local medical authorities and take action accordingly.

Accounts amounting to £3O 16s 2d were passed for payment.