HOME AND SCHOOL

Chronicle (Levin), 7 August 1946, Page 2

HOME AND SCHOOL

OTAKI' ASSOCIATION MEETS. |

Mr. Calwell presided at the : mont.hly meeting oi the Otaki ! State School Home and Schooi ; Association on Thiirsday night, j when a record attendance wit- ! nessed two aspects of school work presented by children of the senior ; wtasses. The meeting was most] successful and proved again the ; vaiue of sucli associations .. being j lormed, when parents and teachers can meet to discuss matters dealmg witii the various school activicies. The chairman introduced the business of the evening, the necessity of getting the use of part of the Maori Coilege as a manual craining schooi, but owing to difficuities to be overcome it was left over for another time when the association will discuss the subject iurther. It was stated that the school vacation commences on Saturday, August 24. hiie headmaster (Mr. Jamesi introduced Mr. W. L. Freeth, a new otaif member.

After the formal business was disposed of, Mr. Calwell called on ' Mr. James to explain the first oitoject, a playreaanig from tne ocnoui journai, oy a form ciass. It was pomted out that the j'ournals ; 1,0-day were of a more interesting ; nature, great advances having c-een made in hoth the materiai presented and the setting' up of tiiese valuable monthly papers. : The cliilciren's interest is maintained by delightfully-arranged stories, piays and pocrns, evcn cross-word puzzles being a feature. The play selected for presentation, ; "Before the Rcmans Came," not j only had humour but very helpful 1 history facts, which couid be learnt : in happier methods than formerly. : The children had taken the play : through two or three times to : familiarise themselves with the j dialogue. Those taking part were: | Britons, Lugh (Mairere Taipuai,| Pig (Don Anderson); Lug (Biii : Tweed) ; Druid (Beryl Ross);] ITader (Jiil Snell). After tlie presentation, the children each explained wiiUB had been learnt from the article. This was e'lcep^ionally weil clcne, and the1 audience, after asking fome qucstions of the children, expressed its appreciation. - tMr. Townrow then introduced 'the second subject for the evening, -"The- Qiass-~Discussion," to. -be. taken ■ by a Form 2 . group. Mr. Townrow said that the time had comc for tlie teacher to take a back place while the class took charge of these discussions, which not only taught the chiia to express itself correctiy, but gave courage to children in speaking in public. The children enjoyed these con.trolled taiks and the demonstration to be given had been arranged entirely by the children, the only part he hacl taken in it being the decision on the subject to be discussed, that "Town children have more advantages than country children." Those taking part were Heather Fox, Rae Potham, Hira Beli, Helen Davies, Michael Southcombe (elected chairman), Malcolm Julius, Phil Meagher, Ron Roach, Amore Waitey and Keri Dickson. The children kept the audience very interested and amused by their line of thought, and the clear way they expressed themselves. The chairman had little to do by way of correction, no one being unruly. At question time it was asked if this method of discussion helped to prevent playground arguments, the meeting being divided on the matter, altliough the children themselves thought that few playground squabble cccurred when matters could be discussed freely in the class-room. Mr. Calwell thanked the children for their demonstrations and moved a hearty vote of thanks for .ffieir work. Gver a delightful supper the parents met the teachers and discussed various matters of mutual benefit. It was decided to abandon the September meeting. the next to be held on the first Thursday in October.