Small Attendance Hears Of School Affairs

Chronicle (Levin), 2 May 1946, Page 8

Small Attendance Hears Of School Affairs

The bi-ennial meeting of householders in connection with the election of a committee for the Levin school took place on Tuesday evening. There was a vpry poor attendance, the majprity of: those present ' being membei^ of. :the new schooh committee. Mr. F. H. .Hudson was ap-' pointed to act a£ ehairftian for the meeting-.- ; . .

Activities Reyiewed The report of the previous school committee was read by its chairman (Mr. A. C. Kennerley). It was as follows: — « . "Roll number: The roll number has remained fairly constant round che 600 mark, and the attendance oji the whole has been good. "Stafflng: ' The staff has been increased by the appointment of two more men teachers. Mr. C. E. Wiseley also takes up his duties at the beginning of next term. These additions will reduce the size of classes, although many classes are still too big. Sympathy is extended to Mrs. R. V. Haggerty, who has been on sick leave since the beginning of the year. Owing to the scarcity of domestic science instructors, the girls of Forms I and II are not having instruction in cooking. "Grounds: These have been kept in. good order. The experimental plot, with its compost bins, spraying apparatus and crop rotation is a valuable adjunct to the school curriculum. The native flora plantation is in good order, and is well patronised by both children and adults. The lawns and borders are allotted to various classes, who are deserving of high praise for the work done. The caretaker keeps the hedges in good order. "Buildings: The committee realises that the preSent buildings should be remodelled, and thematter has already been brought to the notice of those in authority. "Bus routes: The committee has given, a great deal of attention to the conveyance of children to school by bus. An. application has been . made for another bus along the Roslyn Road area, and another has been made for the Hokio supplementary run to be extended. Requests from Hokio Beach parents and those from Heatherlea are also receiving attention. Over 100 children are conveyed by bus. "Educational attainments: The school maintains its high standard of work ahd behaviour, and -the committee, on' behalf of parents, expresses its thanks hnd appreciation to the headmaster (Mr. H. F. McClune) , -staff and pupils for the Work' done. Of the seventy pupils in Form II last year, more than 90 per cent. continued their education at a secohdary school. All children must npw attend school until they reach Jhe age of 15 years. "ScliiMl activities: The Junior Native Flora Club is in a flourishing state, aiid much valuable work is being done. - At' a recent show in Wellington ' its members collectfed five out of the six prizes' available. The parents body, under the presidency of Mr. I. D. Parsons, takes- a keen interest iri the work of tne juniors. Thanks are also due to Mr. Wynne-Hesse and Mr. J. J. Stevenson, of the' Wellington Education Board, for their expert and financial aid.

"Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Club: A keen interest is taken in this activity by both parents and pupils. Calves, home-gardens, lambs, pigs and root crops are all catered for, and the children #receive a valuable training in carry*ing out the duties necessary to compete successfully. There was a record attendance of the public at the final calf judging, held at the school in December. "Financial aid by teachers and pupils: The committee appreciates the aid given .by - the teachers and pupils ' ihvraising? funds' for the school, . .The capitatfdn is' so inade# quate- that after paying the caretaker, less than £2 per month is left to cater for the needs of 600 children, Paper, chalk, fuel, lightingy repairs and supplementary readers are just a few of the items that have to be provided for by the committee, and had it not been for the school's raising over £150 by means of the school fete and annual concert, the committee would have been hard pressed to make ends meet. It is hoped to secure increased grants to schools in the near future.

"Physical education and sports: Physical education is an important feature of the school syllabus. A special instructor is available periodically and does excellent work in this direction. Football is still the favourite winter sport for the boys. Friendly matches are arranged with Otaki, Shannon, Convent and Poroutawhao. The quadrangular tournament was held in Levin last year, and was a great success. Thanks are due to Mr. H. Bull, who collected sufficient money to equip the Levin School seniors with a set of jerseys. The committee also contributed to the Primary Schools' Rugby Union Appeal for funds for a new set of Horowhenua representative jerseys for primary boys.f Tlie cric.ket material of the school is 'in a poor state, apd something will have to be done about this before next season. Basketball, baseball, longball, tennis and swimming are all popular, and provide useful training. The learners' pool at the school is a decided asset, and although the season just completed was not an ideal one for swimming, some 50 children learned to swim. Levin Boys' Band: Through the initiative and industry of Mr. W. Boyce a boys' drum and fife band las been pstablished and promises fco be a great success. . "School patrols: School patrols have been in operation for over a year,yand have proved both useful and histi'Uctive.'The school appreciates the CQ-operation of motorists

and cyclists, the .majori'ty of whoni realise the importance and " the value of the movement, and act accordingly. "General:, The committee regrets that Mrs. C.-R. Hosie, who has been a member of the committee for a number of years, ;has had to retire through ill-health. . , She has been the committee's representative an the Dental Clinic Committee f.or a long time, and has- given Useful and valuable service- thereon. . We all wish her a speedy-recovery. I also cake this opportunity of extending a welcome to Mr:- A. Witherow, the new member on the committee. In conclusion I wish to place on record the committee's appreciation of the happy relations that/exist between the committee. and the -teachers and tkg. pupils of the schooh jm moving that - the report be accepted, the chairman (Mr. Hudr son) expressed his ..regret at' the' •apparent lack of interest ' on the part of the parents and public generally in school affairs, and' congratulated Mr. Kennerley on the manner in which the report had been presented. - . v Financial Report. . The'secretary (Mr. D. P. ToddL presented the financial statement for the bi-ennial period ending February 28 last." The ' committee must fir'st pa,y tribute to the - public of the Levin School district for again contributing so handsqmely' towards the funds," he said. "The committee has been advised oy the Education Board that the method of payment of capitation is to be amended, with a view to makmg increased grants available to .chools, and recent reports state that the new scheme of payments will be operative as from. April 1, 1946. It is, therefore, anticipated that the grant to Levin School will in future be increased, the amount of i'ncrease being -a matter of conjecture only at present, but the committee looks forward to a- period when its finances will bean a.much more stable^pdsition;" •• . The report' was adopted on th'e motion of Mr. Kennerley., • who congratulated Mr. Todd on- his work for the school. For the year ended February 28„ 1945, the amounts raised - locally totalled *£231{ -15s 3d. and for :1946 £213 18s "7d; in these. two years the Education Department has: .contributed " £356 12s- ;and £369 6s 8d respectivejy, while the total payments made-gon ..behalf of the committee amois*ted4o'£64i iis 2d .and £572 2s'J ldi ' i From j these figures ■ it will be .seen ithat without-local sup« port the committee would not- have been -in.a position' toimeet-its eommitmentsy •>

Duri-ng-.. the two years. under review the committee was successful in completing the .installation, of the school baths and the dressing sheds. The'^contract for installihg the baths involved an expenditure of £164 Is 6d, while the purchase and erection of • the dressing. sheds cost the sum of €120 6s 3d. A considerable amount of voluntary assistance in the construction work materially aSsisted in keepihg down expense. Headmaster's Appreciation The headmaster (Mr. H, F. MCClune) expressed his . desire to acknowledge, his indebtedness to the past committee over. the last two years. The comhjitt'ee.hAd be^n most co-operiative.; 8,nd pleasant to y/ork with, s^.Mri'MeClune/as had the (pAr^hts^' teachers and children. £(Iso. He did not think that the poor attendance was indicative ' of a' lack of interest in the school, -but rath'er that it was a sign that parents were satisfied with the management of its affairs. f ' Mr. McGlune also referred to the happy atmosphere in the .'school, contending that best fesults were obtained in such an atmosphere. The recent addition of four male teachers to the staff had cohsiderably lightened the task of the lady teachers, who had given magnificent service during the difficult war years. The speaker also expressed his pleasure at the presence of Mrs. Hosie at the meeting, and concluded by thankihg the committee for all the members had' done.

New Committee Meets The householders' meeting was then concluded, and the new school committee held its first meeting. Mr. F. H. Hudson read a -statement on the work of the Levin School Dental Committee. It referred to tLe lengthy service on the committee of Mr. Hudson and Mesdames C. Bartholomew and C. R. Hosie. The report also stated that extensions .would be carried out to the existing clinic when the building situation improved. Mr! D. P. Todd moved that the thanks and appreciation of the school committee for the. services of the retiring representatives on the dental committee be placed on record. ,It was decided to leave the matter of the appointment of new representatives to the dental committee until the next meeting. A letter was received from Mr. L. G. Lowry, MJP., enclosing a reply from the Minister of Education to his request for a new school bus. The Minister stated that the matter would receive his consideration, and an investigation would be made. Before the meeting, closed, Mrs. Hosie spoke of her happy association with the school committee over

the last Seventeen years and regretted that ill-health over the last two years had necessitated her retirement. During the evening other members and householders expressed their pleasure at the recovery of Mrs. Hosie. Meetings of the committee will be held on the fourfch Monday in every month at 7.30 p.m.