SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 492, 27 April 1909, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

It is satisfactory to note that the meetings for the elcctioti of School Committees were carried through in an orderly, manner last,evening, and that no organised attempt was made to subordinate important and varied issues to a single question. A good deal ofsympathy should be felt.with the complaint of one headmaster 'at the usual apathy of parents in connection; with theso- meetings. The responsibility which teachers undertake in training the ideas and mould-, ing the development of ■ the futuro' citizens, of the country is one which must be gravely felt at times by those who strive to discharge their duty conscientiously, ■ and tho • sparse attendances ' of parents, which are customary at these meetings -do not help them with the, impression of cooperation and support. : It is therefore gratifying to know that the meetings held last night .were, for the most part; more largely attended than has been the rule for some years past, and it is to be hoped that this may indicate an increasing interest-on the part of parents in the conduct of the schools. A curious 'example of past lack of interest was shown last evening by the fact 1 that seven committeemen of '• one school, who had held their seats for a number of years in succession,. were found to 1 have been living for years past outside the school district. They hadno-doubt been' doing excellent work on. the committee, but: pending an alteration of the boundaries, which it is. now suggested should be made, they had no right, to be elected. Apparently the irregularity, of their position was not noticed until recently, and the result of its discovery was; that they • had to. give place- last evening to other candidates, supporters of the Bible-in-schools referendum. It is to be hoped that in future years such a healthy interest. in-School Committer elections will obtain that informalities will have no chance' of being overlooked. :