SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8942, 17 December 1907, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meetiug of tho Mastortou School Committee was hold yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs K. Brown (chairman), J. Carpenter, E. 11. Waddingtou, J. 0. Perry. G. Townsend, H. H. Cork, W. A. Feudall, and Rev. J. N. Buttle. Tho Secretary of the Education Board wrote stating, iv regard to the proposal to enlarge tho District High School buildings, the Board considered it advisable to postpone the matter for n while, as it was probable that a school wonld be established at Lansdowne before next winter, and if; would be desirable to wait anil see what effect the establishment of the school would have on the attendance of the High School. After a discussion, during which Mr Cork stated that a lady teacher in one of the overcrowded rooms had fainted yesterday afternoon through tho heat, it was decided to adopt tho advico of the Minister for Education on his rocent visit, to keep tlio requirements of the school in respect of enlargement prominently before tho authorities, and the Secretary was instructed to ■write to the Board again on the sub-

ject. It was also decided to ask Mr Plogg, M. P., to make representations on the subject, and to forward him a copy of the'resolution. The Education Board wrote, iv reference to the establishment of advanced sewing classes, that the Board was willing to have such classes established provided the work of instruction is undertaken by an instructor on the staff of the school, or by an independent instructor, who shall be paid out of the sewing capitation.—The matter was referred to a sub-Committee already appointed to ascertain the prospects for the success of such a class. Messrs Cork, Fendall and O'Letiry were appointed visiting members. It was resolved to record the Committee's satisfaction that Mr Humphrey F. O'Leary, a former pupil and scholarship holder of the school, passed his fiual L.L.B. examination. HEADMASTER'S REPORT. 3i ri —l have the honour to submit the following report for the past month:—Attendance at mam school r>97, average 51(>; side school 107, average 147; secondary classes 1 .)2, average 84. The attendance at the main'school has now nearly recovered from the effect of the measles epidemic. The side school attendance is suffering most at the present time, the percentage being only 7f>, as against 92 last mouth. lam glad to be able to report that the epidemic has practically run its course. The iufaut room attoudauce at the main school has made a wonderful recovery. Last mouth there were 71 children absent at the same time out of a roll of 172, on account of measles and influenza. Last week the total number of absences was 7.

One assistant and three pupil-teach-ers have been absent from duty during the mouth, the first-named on account of measles, and the others on leave to attend examinations. Miss Clark, pupil-teacher, has been promoted to the position of assistant at the Fernridge School. Owing to decreased accommodation in the primary department, in order to provide a third room for secondary work, two standard classes have to be crowded into one room much too small for the number of scholars. An additional room is urgently needed.

I .should be glad if the Committee will arrange with the Board as early as possible for the establishing of the proposed classes iv dressmaking and advanced sewing. The classes will be unable to qualify for capitation unless started fairly early next year.

The completion of the Borough Swimming Baths will now make it possible to establish classes in swimming aud life-saving in connection with our school. I would suggest that the Committee appoint a sub-Commit-tee to co-operate with me iv arranging wit!) the Borough Council regarding terms and hours for the use of tho Baths in connection with the swimming classes.—Messrs Buttle, Cork and Feudall were appointed to confer with the Borough Council on the matter.