Levin School Committee.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 April 1915, Page 2

Levin School Committee.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Levin School Committee was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening. There were present:—Messrs li. &• Lancaster (chairman), 'W . Thomson, r l. Dawson, F. O. Smith, T. Broome, H. (J. Gapper, A. Sims. Rev A. O. Randerson. and the head teacher, Mr J. Mclntyre. The chairman reported that lew doors had been put on the coal shed, new desks ordered, and half a dozen chairs procured locally. A vote of thanks was passed to the secretary for the excellent way in which lie had kept the books during the past year. It was decided to forward the head teacher's application For a gas heater for a bath to the secretary of the Education Board and recommending that it be procured. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the members of tho teaching staff and the children for their work in connection with the recent concert on behalf oF the Belgian Relief Fund. *v^ The question as to whether ®uie amount raised by the children and the staff of the Levin school at the recent concert should be forwarded direct to Wellington by the School Committee on behalf of the children or paid over to the Levin Ladies' Committee was raised by a paragraph in the head teacher's report stating that the teaching staff "desired that it be paid through the local ladies 1 committee for the Belgian Relief Fund. Mr Mclntyre stated that he objected to any advertising in the matter and it was not desirable to encourage it 111 the children. He preferred that they should hide their light naider a bushel. Mr Smith stated that other schools had forwarded their contributions direct to Wellington, and had received full credit for it. Tf Levin school did not send its contribution in people would think that Levin children had not done anything?. He moved that the resolution passed by the committee at its last meeting, to the effect that the money bo forwarded direct to Wellington, be adhered to. Mr Thomson seconded the motion. Tn reply to a question the secretary stated that lie had no record of any resolution on the matter. Mr Mclntyre said that the committee in ignoring the wish of the teaching staff was not treating the teachers as it should. He had no recollection of a resolution passed at the last meeting that the money be forwarded direct to Wellington from the Levin school and he was surprised when he heard that the committee intended to do so. Tho teachers had done all the work and should be listened to in the matter. It seemed to him that some people wanted credit for it. The chairman said lie knew that iome people wanted the credit—the Levin Ladies' Committee wanted the > redit. He felt that the teaching staff i.id not desire that the money be paid li er to the Ladies' Committee to be .jiwaidud to Wellington. Mr ALclntyre strongly objected to tiie chairman's remark that the (staff did not desire the money Tje handed over to ihe ladies' committee. The question bad been left entirely to them to vote on it in any way they pleased and it was iheir wish that it be paid*to the Ladies' Committee. He could not say if the teachers knew when they voted that the money was to be paid through the local committee. The chairman said that he was upholding the previous action of the committee. Mr lhonison .said that lie had a recollection that the committee at its last meeting decided to forward the money direct. It seenuM strange that the staff should express such a wish since that meeting. The chairman also remembered the committee's decision at last meeting to send the money direct. Rev. A. C. Kanderson said it w;ia unworthy of them to squabble aboub the matter. He had a good recollection of the resolution referred to by previous speakers and the committee should adhere to it. He repudiated the suggestion that the committee had not treated the teaching staff with respect. They had passed a vote of thanks to the teachers lor what they had done. The motion to adhere to the former resolution was carried unanimously. Rev. A. O. Randersou moved the following resolution : "That after carefully considering the falling off in Hie attendance at the District High School, in consequence of which that department- of tho school is now losing -one ol its teachers, although the roll niMiiber of the school has greatly increased during the past year, in. view of the fact that parents throughout the district continue to express considerable dissatisfaction with the rural course, many of them preferring to pay :'or outside coaching for tlieir children, rather than to the District High School; fearing also Jest the attendance should continue to dwindle at the same rate, so that the district might shortly lo6e even its present facilities for secondary instruction, the School Committee urges upon the Board of Education, tho iic-d of speedy and careful enquiry Into the whole position, with a view to remedying whatever may be found to contribute to the unpopularity of the lii'jjt school. That copies of tins resolution be forwarded to the Ed*., (ion Hoard. Director of Education, wie member 'of Parliament for the district and lo the press." Mr Thomson seconded the motion and it \ias agived to unanimously. Rev. A. C. Randerson moved "That in view of the approaching election of a school committee, this meeting of the retiring committee expresses dissatisfaction of the 'ticket' system, and ti usts that the householders' meeting this year will be loft to exercise its own free choice apart from canvassing and other methods of influencing the election." Mr Broome seconded the motion He considered that candidates seeking

©lection should stand on their own merits. Mi 1 Thomson supported the motion. It uas carried uanimously. On the motion of Mr Thomson a vote ol thanks was passed to the chairman for the way in which he had carrfecr out his duties during the last twelve months. He had carried out the work most impartially. Mr Smith seconded tho inolion which was carried unanimoinsly. The chairman, in returning thanks, stated that lie had received great assistance from the members of the committee and from the secretary who did all the work. Messrs H. C. Gapper and W. Thomson were appointed visiting committee for the ensuing month.