SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 65, 20 December 1946, Page 5

SCHOOL AFFAIRS

WHAKATANE COMMITTEE MEETS

PAPER MILL APPRENTICES

The December meeting of the Whakatane School Committee took place at the High School last Wednesday evening. Present were Messrs. J. W. Wilson (chair), J. H. Duthie, F. Clarke, G. E. Mahy, F. W. Lysaght, W. E. Armstrong, D. Paterson, W. Whittaker and G. H. Dainton.

Accounts totalling £l7 13s lid were passed for payment. A letter was received from the Whakatane Paper Mills, outlining details of a new proposal to accept apprentices and train them in various trades and professions connected with the Mill. Irrespective of the Department to which the lads were posted, the letter stated, the apprentices would receive a comprehensive training in all aspects of the Mill’s functions, and they would come in contact with all manufacturing problems, both technical and mechanical. Every assistance would be afforded them to- advance, and in time a reserve pool of trained personnel upon which the Mill could draw, would be created.

The committee expressed the opinion that the proposal was one which should prove attractive, and should encourage the youth of the district.

The Chairman intimated that the Headmaster (Mr I. B. Hubbard) had received a copy of the letter, and had recommended certain pupils who had been interviewed and engaged to fill the five positions offered for a start.

Use of Tennis Courts

A communication from the Whakatane Tennis Club, intimated that it had been observed that the Education Board’s rule regarding the playing of tennis on Sunday was to be relaxed, and requested that if possible the committee make the school courts available to the club on Sundays.

This matter was dealt with by the committee in conjunction with the matter of children using the courts during holidays when the supervision of a teacher was not available. A reply from the Board on this matter stated that it could not take any responsibility, but suggested that parents might undertake supervision at suitable times.

Realising that the children might wish to play when such supervision was not available, and that it could not take any responsibility for accidents etc., the committee decided to erect a»notice near the courts to the effect that children using the courts without supervision, did so at their own risk, and neither the Board nor the Committee would accept any responsibility for accidents which might occur. Additional Buildings

Acting on a suggestion contained in the Headmaster’s report, that as the Opouriao School was to be consolidated on Taneatua, an effort should be made to secure if possible a building from the Opouriao site, the committee decided to write the Board asking if any spare buildings could be directed to the Whakatane school site, for use either as classrooms, or for night classes. Deputy at Meetings

Observing that the Headmaster had made his decision to attend no more meetings of the committee, Mr Lysaght suggested that the Board be asked if it would appoint a substitute.

The Chairman pointed out that actually the Headmaster was the only member of the staff who should be present. He attended meetings at the invitation of the committee, and it was very convenient, for all concerned if he was present. It was decided to notify the Board concerning the Headmaster’s decision to attend no further meetings of the committee.