NEW BODY FORMED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 57, 1 April 1946, Page 5

NEW BODY FORMED

A PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION

SCHOOL’S PROGRESSIVE STEP

Some thirty parents, teachers and others interested, attended a meeting held at the school on Tuesday evening, to form a Par-ent-Teacher Association in connection with the Whakatane District High School. Although, as the Chairman of the School Committee, Mr J. W. Wilson, stressed when speaking later in the evening, with the school roll standing at well over 700, there should have been a very much larger attendance, the number present was. indicative of the growing interest of parents in the educational activities of their children, and of the school generally.

Proposal Outlined

The Headmaster, Mr I. B. Hubbard, opened the meeting with a short explanation of the aims and objects of such an Association as it was hoped to form that evening. Briefly he outlined the changed methods of education, and the attitude adopted towards a child’s capabilities today, as compared with the time a pupil at the end of each year, either passed an examination, and moved into the next class, or failed, and remained in the class below. The old order no longer existed. Nowadays a student was kept with his age group, moving up from class to class automatically, and as long as he did the work to the best of his

ability, it was adjudged satisfactory. Some there were, who might always be dunces at certain school subjects, yet were outstanding at others. It was entirely wrong to continue holding them back on account of their weak subjects, until in the end they were forced to leave with but an elementary education. Continuing, he outlined the various other aspects of a child’s education including health and vocational guidance. They were, he said, not merely individually a teacher’s, a parent’s or a child’s problem. They were mutual problems, and for that reason, a Parent-Teacher Association was a necessary adjunct to any school. It was a means whereby parents and teachers, who formerly knew each other only through the medium of the children, could meet one another, and discuss the problems which arose from time to time.

Concluding, he said, that the purpose of the Association was mainly to assist in matters of education, organise and run school functions, discuss educational problems, and generally lend its assistance in school matters. Although this Association was connected only ‘ with the Whakatane School, once it was successfully established, he felt it would only be a matter of time before the country schools followed suit, and formed Associations of their own.

Objects of Association Speaking as Chairman of the School Committee, Mr J. W. Wilson said that some twelve months ago, the committee had discussed the matter of forming a Parent-Teacher Association, but had felt that with the war, and the many restrictions, it should not attempt the project until such time as it had more chance of succeeding. Now, however, the committee felt that that time had arived, and were backing the Association to the full. He concluded by reading the six main objects of a Parent-Teacher Association, as put forward by the Chairman of Federated Associations. These were:—

1. To organise gatherings for the purpose of bringing parents, teachers and residents together; 2. To increase interest among parents in the modernisation of education; 3. To make available through lectures and discussion the latest knowledge of health and nutrition; 4. To improve the chances of the children by selecting a suitable secondary school; 5. To assist parents in making the wisest choice of a career for their children; 6. To raise funds for the purchase of equipment.

Election of Officers It was decided to form a ParentTeacher Association with a committee consisting of six parents, the chairman and two other members of the School Committee, the Headmaster, and two other teachers. . The election of officers proceeded as under:— President: Rev. H. M. Bell. Vice-president: Miss M. Lawes.

Secretary-Treasurer: Mrs Petty. Hon. Auditor: Mr A. Seebeck. Committee: Mesdames Carr, Ward, Wilson, Chadwick and Messrs. Hannah and Mahy; Messrs. J. W. Wilson, W. Whittaker and F. Lysaght; Mr I. B. Hubbard, Miss White and Mr Breward. It was decided that the above executive committee meet immediately after the meeting to decide the constitution of the Association (to be later placed before a full meeting), and that the first general meeting of the Association take place a week prior to Easter.