SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 76, 20 May 1946, Page 4

SCHOOL AFFAIRS

' WHAKATANE COMMITTEE MEETS _ LOCAL EDUCATION A number of matters pertaining to the Whakatane District High School were discussed at the meeting of the Whakatane School Committee, which took place last Wednesday evening. Present were Messrs. J. W. Wilson (chair), G. H. Dainton, H. D. Paterson, G. E. Mahy, F. W. Lysaght, W. Whittaker, W. E. Armstrong and F. Clarke (treasurer). Accounts totalling £73 12s 5d which figure included £6 representing the emptying of the Infant School sand pit and refilling with fresh sand, were passed for payment. A letter from the Board ackledged receipt of a sketch plan of the land upon which it was hoped to build a new school at Ohope, and stated that it intended placing a recommendation before the Department that the land in question be purchased. The Boara, the letter continued, had also resolved to urge the Department to furnish a lcply to the application made for authority to estabish a side-school at Ohope in the building offered (the Presbyterian Church Hall). Staff

A new Grade B assistant master to the Whakatane School, in the person of-Mr H. B. H. Collins, had been appointed but owing to his having received a rehabilitation bursary, he would not be able to commence until probably the end of the second term. This informaton was contained in a letter from the Board. From the same source, a reply to a request for additional room at the Infant School was received to the effect that this was already in the hands of the architect and the results would be made known to the committee as soon as possible. Commenting on the matter, the chairman said that as far as he knew, it was the first time on record that the Board had ever beaten the committee in such a fashion! Notification was received that for the work at present being completed on the grounds at the Infant School, there would bo a grant of £2O.

The chairman stated that as the contract price was £37, the committee would have to find the additional £l7 itself.

A request was received from the Whakatane Basketball Association asking permission to use the new hard courts laid down at the school for club and representative games on Saturdays. The committee felt .that this was quite in order, and decided to reply, giving its permission provided players and spectators conducted themselves in an orderly manner.

New High School Site

A discussion concerning a suitable site for a new High School arose from a letter from the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce setting out the theme of the Headmaster’s (Mr I. B. Hubbard) talk on educational matters at the Chamber’s last meeting, in which he outlined an idea for the taking over of the present Domain, devoting it entirely to school purposes, gnd establishing a new Domain elsewhere in the town area.

Members of the committee discussing the address were not in favour of the proposal, the chairman stating that to hiis mind, the Headmaster had inferred that the committee had no plan of future work. Mr Lysaght said that he did not for one moment think the public would stand for the taking over of the Domain.

The chairman; The point is that it wouldn’t fit in at all with ouj plans. Many people do not understand exactly how the Headmaster and the committee are associated, and may think the proposal came from us. The discussion, continued on prospective sites for a new High School, which members agreed would have to be erected some time in the future. The chairman pointed out that it would be impossible to erect it on the present site as a minimum of 14 acres of ground was a condition insisted upon.

The letter from the Chamber also contained an invitation to the chairman to address the next meeting setting out his committee’s views, and it was decided to accept this. Reports Received A report was received from Mr A. O’Rourke, Instructor, on the progress made by the Technical Train-1

■ ing Apprentices at the regular week'ly mechanics’ classes. The report , was full, and covered in detail the : progress made during the past year. The committee decided to forward a ■ letter of appreciation to Mr O’Rourke for the work he was doing : in the district. The report of the Headmaster showed that the attendance rolls for primary and secondary schools stood at approximately 500 and 250 respectively. The report continued by outlining the manner in which the school was expected to grow, and the necessity for some plan of action as regards a new High School. The discussion concerning this matter was reopened and it whs finally decided that the committee ivestigate some of the sites which would be suitable for a new school in Whaka;ane.