PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 10 March 1932, Page 14

PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION. LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. A meeting of delegates of tlie Canter-, bury School Committees' Association ■was held last niglit, Mr -J. G. Browu presiding. The Kaikoura Town School Committee wrote stating that.it was in accord with the proposals to alter the arrangements under which school books were now produced, and viewed with satisfaction the economics which would thus be effected. Regarding the rationing of employment in the case of junior assistants and relieving teachers the letter stated that while tho question of unemployment was a serious one tho committee considered that the efficiency of the j'ear's work must bo the paramount consideration and it seemed that this must necessarily be impaired as the result of a change of teachers. The letter was received. Accidents in School Baths. The Canterbury Board of Education, replying to an enquiry concerning accidents in school baths, wrote stating that each case would have to be treated on its merits, but tho following general rules would, no doubt, hold good. (1) If children were being given instruction under tho direction and supervision of a teacher, as part of the physical instruction course, the Department; ■would, it was understood, meet any ap- j proved claims. (2) Children and adults using the bath out of school lioiirs should do so at their own risk. (3) There is, of course, a possibility of action under common law and committees would naturally be expected to see that the baths wore reasonably safe when open to the public. The letter was received. Dental Fees. The Waikato School Committee wrote stating that it had been advised by the Hamilton Committee that difficulties were experienced in collecting dental fees and requesting co-operation in bringing the position before the Department of Public Health with a view to having .the present cumbersome method replaced by a moro efficient system. 1 It was stated that the present system involved school committees and head teachers, and also the clinical committees in a considerable amount of clerical work. It was felt that ail concorned were being unnecessarily taxed i as the work could bo more satisfactorily carried out by dental nurses at the clinics. It was decided to endorse the action of the secretary in replying that the collection of fees by headmasters gave school committees tho means of know- 1 ing exactly what treatment was being given to children in their schools and that therefore the retention of such a procedure was favoured.