SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Evening Star, Issue 21747, 15 June 1934, Page 13

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

ANNUAL MEETING #F ASSOCIATION VAftlEtY DF TOPICS DISCUSSED The keen interest that is displayed by parents in educational matters affecting their children was exemplified by the attendance and the discussions at the annual meeting of the School Committees’ Association of Otago last evening. There were about eighty members present, the president (Mr H. H. Johnson) being in the chair. ANNUAL REPORT. The animal report stated;—The number of committees affiliated at the end oi the year was sixty-two. During the year five new committees sought affiliation—namely. Kurow D.H., Clyde. Oamani South, North Toien, and Last Taicri. Four committees lapsed from membership, thus showing an increase of one over the previous year. Continued efforts were being made to enrol all committees, the executive being of opinion that all committees should be Impressed with the fact that the association was a provincial body and not purely a city one. Meetings of the executive continued to be' held monthly, enabling prompt attention to inquiries and correspondence, members being regular in their attendances. Since the’ last annual meeting an amending Bill had been passed in the House of Representatives which provided for biennial elections of school committees. The executive had given this question serioiis consideration, and was of the opinion that annual elections, with onehalf the committee retiring annually, would have been of more benefit generally. It was felt that in view of the poor attendances by householders at the annual elections generally such legislation might intensify the very apparent apathy of parents’ interest in school committee labours. Following a conference of school committees’ associations convened by the Wellington School Committees’ and Educational Federation during 1932, a provisional committee was set up to prepare for a further conference in 1033. This was hold in Wellington on Wednesday and Thursday, September 27 and 28, and proved one of the most important and successful of any yet held. As a. result of the deliberations it Was felt that the time wag ripe to form a dominion body, and this was accomplished. All associations, with two exceptions, were represented, Palmerston North and Hawke’s Bay being the only absentees. A serious endeavour was being made to stimulate further interest, and school committeemen were asked to assist where possible to secure further affiliations of committees; particularly was an appeal made to country committees. Although anxious at all times to meet country Schools, the executive found some difficulty in arranging meetings in virions centres. Although now consolidated, the forces of school committees were by rto means centralised in Wellington. A strong parliamentary committee had been set up in that centre, and the executive for 1033-34 was located in Tihiaru. members of which body were drawn from all associations in the South Island. The Vocational Guidance Committee continued, to occupy a prominent place in civic life, and though faced with a difficult task was doing good work. Congratulations were extended to Mr J. C. H. Somerville on his election to the High Schools’ Board Of Governors. Political questions had taken up a good deal of time and thought during the year, and development work, which should be the primary objective, had been to some extent hampered. Much remained to be done, and the executive urged on all school committees the importance of the work of the association. During the past year many questions were forwarded to tho executive for consideration, chief amongst the number being the request of . all district high school committees in the Otago district for assistance in resisting suggested changes in the syllabus. Success rewarded the representations made on behalf of these committees.

Another important issue under consideration was that of the system of holding proficiency examinations with particular regard to the grouping of children in country schools. A subcommittee had this question under review, and the executive hoped to be able to report a satisfactory arrangement suitable to all parties. The dismissal of teachers had been a vexatious question with some committees, but with limited finances the department was administering the regulations as fairly as possible. A satisfactory agreement had been reached between education boards in the matter of the'transfer of teachers, which was now arranged as far as could be managed at the end of a school term.

The executive, in pursuance of a decision of the South Island Federation at a meeting held in Christchurch two years ago, decided to seek the opinion of householders on the question of the five-year-old optional entrance to public schools. The largest schools were approached at the annual meetings, and 80 per cent, replied. Of this number only two of the smaller schools opposed the reinstatement of this privilege. The kindred body in Canterbury adopted a similar method of semiring public opinion on this very important question, and the result of that plebiscite showed a very decided vote in favour of repeal of this regulation. Householders, in reply to a questionnaire, decided strongly in favour of annual elections, with about an even vote in favour of half retiring annually.

* It was with a groat deal of satisfaction that the executive learned of the decision of the Minister to ask Cabinet to approve of a grant for the supply of material for handwork in schools. Committees generally would we I com?' this news, and the action of the Minr ister was to be commended. The reply of the Minister to the deputation which waited on him at the conclusion of tho dominion conference in September last year had been considered by the executive, and although they realised the difficult task wjth which the department was confronted, much satisfaction could be felt in the thought that though not many concessions were made all speakers were attentively received, and due consideration was given all issues advanced.

Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, the President stated that, while they had not accomplished al| that they had set out to do, they could claim to have done a great deal. One thing of which he was proud was that the formation of the Dominion Federation had been accomplished during his term of office. The speaker reviewed some of the principal activities during the past year. “ Owing to lack of funds,” concluded the President. “ we regret we have been unable to keep more in touch with affiliated schools on important national educational questions. Quite recently we wore in the unfortunate position of being overdrawn in our secretarial account. Fearing a request for increased affiliation fee would be strenuously op-

posed and likely to lead to secessions, we appealed to some of the schools who arc represented on the executive for assistance, and they very generously responded, but we feel that adequately to carry out tho functions of the association a wider appeal may be necessary. Several suggestions to increase our revenue have been advanced, and will be referred to the incoming executive.” .. Mr Johnson added that ha and the secretary (Mr R. S. Vercoe) had attended a meeting of the federation in Timaru last Saturday, and it was a meeting that augured well for the success of that institution.

Commenting on the balance-sheet, Mr M. It. Haig considered that the association was sailing too close to tho Wind. A suggestion had been made that committees should he asked for donations. He was quite certain that no town committee would begrudge two guineas a year to the association. If the association had this money it could do a great deal more than it was,doing. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. BIENNIAL ELECTIONS. Mr J. C. 11. Somerville suggested to the meeting that it should discuss tbe provision in the Amending Bill passed in the House of Representatives for the biennial election of school couinrttees. fie did not know how the Minister of Education had squeezed ibis through. How was it done? It was .certainly not what they wanted. The President stated that a parliamentary committee had been set up in Wellington, the duty of which,was to watch legislation, or proposed legislation, in the interests of the federation. Mr Masters, Minister of Education, referred this matter to the committee before it was included in the, Amending Bill, and the committee evidently expressed the opinion that it was quite all right. It did not approach the president of the federation,-.which was, to say the least, a discourtesy, and acted on its own authority. Consequently, it was liable to bo hauled over the coals at the annual meeting of the feredation. The committee endorsed the point when the matter was put to it, and Mr Masters was hiding behind that.

Mr Somerville then proposed a motion to the effect that the meeting regretted the action of the Minister in passing the Amending Bill changing the meetings of school committees to biennial, and suggesting that the federation be asked to take tho necessary steps to have the wishes of the association put into effect—that elections be held annually, with half the members retiring. Mr A. G. Osborne said that the parliamentary committee bad been given a free hand up to a point. As an association. they could not forward any such resolution to the Minister and let the federation down. It Was the committee that had to be criticisedMr Somerville said that the committee had certainly let them down, arid required censure. Mr D. C. Cameron doubted the wisdom of the resolution as it stood. They were censuring the Minister for giving them something their own committee had asked for. He thought they would ndt be wish in censuring the Minister, or even protesting, and suggested that the matter bp referred to tfil executive for consideration, arid that a report he obtained from the committee.

Mr Somerville pointed out that the resolution expressed “regret” that legislation was passed without the federation being consulted. The motion -was finally amended to the following form and carried:— “ That this meeting regrets that legislation was passed making the school committee elections biennial, and that the Dominion Federation be asked to take the necessary steps to bring its wishes into being—that annual elections shall be held, -with half the members retiring, and offering themselves for reelection if they so desire.” , Later in the evening a recommendation to the dominion conference that the powers and duties of the parliamentary conference should be reviewed was approved.

ALTERNATIVE FOR MATRICULATION.

Mr L. Deans Ilitchie mentioned that the Senate of the University of New Zealand had recently interested itself in the establishment of a new examination for secondary school pupils. It was ’ common property that the entrance examinations —the matriculation examinations —had assumed quite the wrong form in the minds of many' people. Many young persons who were leaving school and were seeking employment were, immediately asked if they bad matriculated, and, if they had not, found i* difficult to. obtain certain employment. Mr Ilitchie said that this new form of examination was designed for those who were not entering universities. To. assume that matriculation wis necessary, for qualification for some positions was quite incorrect. This new examination would require the same level of intelligence and study as the, matriculation, but the subjects would not pe the same. It was a step in the right direction. (Applause.) VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE,

Mr W. llipley, the representative of tbo association on the Vocational Guidance Committee, stated that the committee was doing splendid work in acting as the connecting link between young people leaving school and employers. He suggested that this subject should be fully dealt with at the next meeting of the association, and that Mr Conly be asked to attend. This Was approved. SCHOOL LEAVING AGE. The Oturehua Committee forwarded a notice of motion asking that the school leaving age should be raised to fourteen years, quite independent of the proficiency certificate. Mr Ilitchie asked if this meant that the child who "'secured proficiency at twelve- must stay on until the age of fourteen. Mr Vcrcoe replied that this would be optional. The children could be kept at school at their parents’ wish. The motion was referred to the executive, and a report will be submitted to next meeting. CAPITATION ALLOWANCE.

The. following notice of motion was submitted by tho Macandrew Road Committee: “ That tho capitation allowance for each ■ school committee should be based on the number of children residing in its own school district, and attending school, irrespective of which school.” In support of this motion Mr W. Wright protested against the practice of parents sending their children out of their own districts to school. He quoted Macandrew Rond as an example. Several years ago it was the biggest school in Otago, with a roll of 700, and now it stood at 450. Although two new schools had been opened in the district the attendance should still be greater than it now was. This practice of parents resulted in a dropping in grade, and the school suffered numerically and financially, and might suffer in its teaching. The motion was lost.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected for the year:—-President, Mr G. Rutherford (Mosglel); vice-president, Mr J. D. Clyde) secretary and treasurer, Mr B. S. Vercoe; executive—Messrs 0. Ritchie, W. D. Sutherland, G. Warwick, C Sherlock, A. G. Osborne, R. M’Garrigle, J. 0. 11. Somerville, J. Adamson, and J. Ripley. Mr Warwick and Mr Vercoe were appointed delegates to the dominion conference. Mr Vercoe was warmly thanked for his work as secretary, members expressing warm appreciation of his gesture in declining to accept remuneration. Mr Johnson, the retiring president, was also accorded a vote of thanks. ‘ LIFE MEMBER. Mr R. H. S. Todd was elected a life member of the association. It was stated that he had been a member of the Caversham Committee for thirtytwo years.