JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17836, 8 October 1929, Page 11

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

MATAMATA COMMITTEE MEETING. INADEQUATE ALLOWANCE. The monthly meeting of the Matamata High School Committee was held oil Monday, October 7. Discussing a communication from flic Hoard of Education, pointing out Ihal, the Department refused to pay more than lOd per child per school day, members expressed themselves as strongly dissatisfied with the treatment moled out to the MatamaLa Junior High School, The chairman (Mr E. G. Banks) said Fir James Parr load promised 8d per day, and tills was supplemented by 2d from the board. This arrangement had been carried on for lour years. ' The board’s statement showed that for the two terms of the present year the actual cost of transport was £lO7 19s 2d above the allowance, and the position was intolerable. The teachers were to be commended for the way in which they had assisted the committee in getting necessary funds for the school, but it was absolutely unfair to the staff to ask them to use. their energies for this purpose. The examinations were coming on, when their pupils had to compete against those from other schools, and it was putting both teachers and scholars in an unfair position. The department paid all cost of transport at Pio l’io and Ruawal, and if people were to be encouraged to stay in country places the same should be done here. Mr Banks compared the cases of Matamata and Rotorua, stating that Hie amount for incidentals granted to the latter was twice that allowed Matamata. Both the Rotorua High and Primary Schools had headmasters, hut the local headmaster had to look after both schools, and was expected to maintain the same standard of efficiency.

Mr H. Rollctt thought the facts should be made public. The same class of work was expected, and Matarnala’s treatment would not stand comparison. The chairman was instructed to write to the Minister of Education putting the whole position before him. A copy is to he sent to Mr G. 11. Glinkard, M.P., with a request that it he placed before Parliament. A vote of thanks was passed to the teaching staff for their unwearied and successful efforts to raise funds for the school welfare. Headmaster’s Roport. The headmaster reported that the average roll for September was 256, the average attendance 232.1, and the percentage 90.7. A robbery had been committed at the school since last' meeting of the committee. Entrance had been gained by cutting out a piece of glass in the study window and £2 15s in silver belonging to the shop account had been abstracted from a drawer. The cookery department had also been entered and some bread, butter and eggs were taken. The police had made investigations without result.

DENTAL CLINIC. Silling as the Denial Clinic CommitIce tho members endorsed the action of’Hcv. Mr Hampton in engaging a caretaker for the clinic. The secretary whs instructed to write asking the Minister of Education to come to Matamata to officially open the dental clinic and the new wing of the primary school.