SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 April 1910, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

HOUSEHOLDERS MEETING AT

LEVIN

IMPORTANT DECISION,

The annual meeting of householders for the election of a new committee lor the Levin High School took place last evening at the High School, Oxford street. There was a large attendance, and the Mayor (Mr 15. R. Gardener) was unanimously voted to the chair. The chairman, in opening the proceedings, explained the purposes of the meeting, and pointed out that the balance sheet and reports of the Into committee ami headmaster would have to be considered. There would, if the necessity arose, bo opportunity for criticising the reports and balance sheet. The minutes of the last meeting were read and -confirmed. The secretary of the committee (Mr J. Malcolm) road the annual report, which stated that at the beginning of its term of office the committee had a busy time looking after the expenditure of the bazaar money, and subsidy on tho school grounds. "This,"' the committee added, "we have done to the best of our ability with the money at ouv disposal. "We regret very much that tho Government have seen fit to discontinue the ninepenee per head extra capitation, which has been paid to the committee for tho past few years. Tn fact, without it wo are confident that no committee yon can elect will be nblo to make ends meet without outside assistance. Although rather late in the season tho committee decided to give the children a picnic, and. 011 a.ppeal foeinor made to the public tbev responded vorv read.ilv and liberallv. We were able to provide everything requisite nnd leave a. small credit balance. We would recommend the ineominocommittee tlv.it the picni" be held much earlier in tho venr." The headmaster (Mr J. Mclntyre) reported "The average attendance and tho average roll for 1909 showed an increase on that of 1908 of 28 and 32 respectively. Unfortunately this increase fell short by five of raising the school a grade so that the grade remains the same—'VllT. C. ~ The figures are:— Average attendance, 117; average roll, 4(37; percentage of attendance, 89; year 1908. For the year 1909Average attendance" -W5; average roll, 199; percentage of attendance, 89. Eighty-nine per cent, is not all that could be desired and there is no valid reason why it should not be well over ninety per cent. Owing to the apathy displayed by some parents, and of others taking full advantage of the Act. eighty-nine per cent may be considered only as satisfactory. With a roll averaging practically 500, it is unreasonable that over fifty should 1)!> absent daily, and the only remedy seems to be to make attendance compulsory for every day in the week, instead of permitting tho latitude of one day's absence in each week before legal proceedings can lie taken. THE RURAL COURSE. Tho beginning of this year—l9lo —saw the adoption by the Wellington Education Roard of the rural programme drawn up by the Education Department. Though the introduction (if the rural courso has inflicted a. certain amount of hardship in a .solitary case or two yet the course is eminently one that is fitted for a school such as this. The County District High School should not make examinations such as the Junior Civil Service and Matricnlalation tho aim of tho work, though the rural course allows of these examinations not being lost sight of, for those w.lio wish to take" them. But when it is consider©:! that, so very lew of the pupils who enter our district high schools stay long enough to reach matriculation standard, and of those few who do reach that •'tiindard, so very few enter a university, it must be admitted that a course drawn up entirely on matriculation lines must inevitably result in failure. Noted modern educationists agree that a course which provided a due proportion of manual and literary employment for the pupil is tho ideal one. This is now being recognised by most of the great, public schools in England, and in some of the older and most conservative institutions, such as Eton, manual work is made to alternate with literary study. The department's rural programme is an effort in this direction. It is too soon, as tlm working of the scheme is yet in its Initial stage, to predict how far it is going to prove a success in our district high schools, but that it will be a success, from an educational point of view, is beyond, a doubt. Tn conclusion 1 would like to thank the .staff for the -earnest and thorough work that has been accomplished during the past year: and hope that the cordial relations hitherto existing will continue." On the motion of Mr Ilannan, the. reports and balance sheet were adopted. A vote of thanks was passed, on the motion of the Rev. J. White, seconded by Mr Wallace, to the outgoing committee for their past services. Nominations were then handed in for a new school committee, and tlve Mayor was nominated, but he declared that he had his hands full already, and he would not take up public duties unless he could give proper attention to them. (Applause). A question arose as to the school boundaries, and it was alleged that persons were being nominated who were outside the school area. The Rev. J. White considered the full particulars should have been placed before the meeting. This observation led to some comment, and laughter, during the course of which 'the Mavor had to remind tho audience that the meeting was not a "play house." There were no further speeches, and the following were nominated as a. committee:—Messrs W. J. Arnold. S. TToldawav, T. F. Jones, •Tas. Prouse, Jos. White, H. Walker, S. Hall, E. Lancaster. Malcolm, C. Palmer. D. TTannan, Hook, J. Howell, E. Shaw, Kearslcy, C. Williams, •T. Johnson, Francis. T. Williams. A. Newman, C. Keilher. A ballot was then taken for the election of a school committee, and at a late hour in the evening, the Mayor declared the results as Follows :— ELECTED. Malcolm ... 138 ! Hook ... 135 Hannan ... 131 ✓ ! Palmer ... 129 « Lancaster ... 129 1 Slmv ... 112 5 C. Williams... 93 1 T. Williams... 84 Francis ... 82. 1 NOT ELECTED. s Newman ... 70 T Rev. Jones ... 76 1 J. Prouso ...76 c Walker ... '74 1 Rev. White ... 72 Holdaway ... 69 v Kearsley • ... 58 v Arnold ... 53 f Howell .* ... 49 Keilher ... 40 ? Johnston ... 33 1 , •" The nine gentlemen, elected are op- t posed to any alteration in the pre- i *pnt educational system, the Bible c in Schools party failing to' secure s the return of any of their candi- t Jates. The proceedings concluded e ivith a vote of thanks to the Mayor

for the businesslike way in whicJi ho conducted the meeting.

OHAU SCHOOL COMMITTEE

At Oliau, last night, there was a large attendance of householders iiii the schoolroom, when the annual election of a school committee came dne. A good deal of interest was shown in the proceedings, and fourteen nominations were made for the nine vacancies. The election [resulted as follows:—Messrs J. MoLeavey (chairman), J. Richards (secretary and treasurer), C. Olsen, F. Retter, E. E. Smith, A. Whiley and L. Arcus. SHANNON SCHOOL COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Shannon householders was held last night, in the schoolhouse, for the purpose of electing a new committee. The meeting was well attended. Mr E. Law, eh air limn of the retiring committee, read a report which-recalled that the committee, when taking office twlevo months ago, fully expected that the average attendance for the year would entitle the school to another teacher, hut owing to the outbreak of whooping cough during the kst quarter of the year this chance was lost. The result is that the staffing of the school is now worse than ever, as there are now 200 children; on the roll, with an average attendance for last quarter of IGS, both being the highest number in the history-of the school. The report continued that the teachers were entitled to the sympathy of the householders in the very heavy work now put upon them. ' It was to he hoped that the average attendance would be kept up, so that an extra teacher might be added to tho staff. During the year two vacancies occurred on the committee through the resignation of Messrs A. Smith and T. Sowman. One of the vacancies was filled by the appointment of Mr Harris; "the other vacancy was not filled owing to the nearness of the annual election. The school buildings and the head master's residence had been, re-painted, and. a. saddle shed erected for the use of the children riding to the school. Agricultural work in connection with the school garden had been very fully carried out during the_ year, and very interesting experiments -wiftJi several different kinds of manures were undertaken. The results of the experiments were staged -at the recent Horticultural Show, where they gained a first nrize. The judge, Mr W. H. Taylor, complimented the school on its fine exhibit. The head master was entitled to the best thanks of tho parents for the interest he had taken in this work. The school concert was held during the year, and resulted in a net profit of £12 17s 9d. In deference to tho wishes of the many who had been unable in the past to make the trip to Paekakarild, it was decided to hold the annual picnic at home this year. Mr G. N. Wood's paddock near the Mana.watu river was chosen, and very full arrangements were made to give the children a good time, but the weather decided otherwise. As the expense of railway fares was wed by holding the picnic at home, the committee did not consider it necessary to send out subscription lists—a practice that had followed for manv years. A credit balance of ,€ll 10s 9d was shown by the balance sheet. Mr C. B. Robinson was elected chairman of the meriting. Fourteen householders were nominated, and the following <?»ven elected for the ensnin.w vear; Messrs .T. W. Batchelar, F. Linsell, iunr.. D, Gardiner. H. G. Harris, C. Vagg, J. T. AVells and J. R. Retter. CARTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE. [run phess association.! ' CARTERTON, This Day. The following is the result of the election of a school committee for Carterton :—Messrs J. G. Moore (chajrmnn), R. J. Chapman (secretary), T. IT. Hughes (treasurer), A. F. Wilson, Coleman, Phillips, .T. M. Nicholls, .1. H. Wakelin, J. CalHster and the Rev. L. Thompson. -~ ' 7 BELVEDERE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The following were elected a, school committee for Belvedere school: Messrs L. McPhee (chairman), C. J. Leliacev (secretary), E. Eagle, junr. (treasurer). Jas. Stevens, Arch. McPhee, W. Suimex, W. Earl. OLAREVTLLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The following is the new school committee Messrs A. PhilpoTs (chairman, secretary and treasurer), W. Garkess, J. McDonald, W. Ilodder. T. G. Rathbone, J. Monaghan, C. Campbell. I daleftelFschool COMMITTEE. The following comprise the new "ommiittee:—Messrs M. T. West (chairman), H. H. Knowles (secretary and treasurer), J. ITodder, A. T. Ordish, J. Hacness, C. Saycrs, and R. R. Savers. FETLDING PROTESTS AGAINST THE CURTAILMENT OF SPECIAL GRANT. FBI LDING, This Day. At most ct the householders' meetings held in the district, last night, for the purpose of electing school committees, resolutions were passed protesting iagainst the action 'if the Education Department in "urtailiing the special errant to the Education Board, and the capitaiLitHi grant to the committees.