PAEROA HIGH SCHOOL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5399, 13 March 1929, Page 3

PAEROA HIGH SCHOOL.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. Al a. meeting of the Paeroa District High Schoo] Committee an Saturday night Mr J. C. H. McDonald presided ovgr the following: Messrs W. C. Alexander, W. N. Chamberlain, C. Holes, R. Lowry, C. T. Mettam, W. Smith, Gl H- Taylor (headmaster), and G. E. Alien (secretary). OVERCROWDING ON CAR. A letter received fdom Mr E. Harrison, Paeroa, complaining of Gvercrow’ding cm the Wilson’s Road motorcar, to the; children’s detriment, was thoroughly gone into by the committee. The chairman stated- that they we f e in a rather difficult position in regard to the service owing to the amount authorised by the Education Board to : the committee’bejing ojnly the ordinary capitation of 6d return per child unde;r five miles from school and 8d ovci. That, amount was not sufficient to. enable better arrangements to be, made. It was decided that Mr Harrison be informed of. the circumstances, and that the matter be left in the hands of the chairman to be dealt with, while a sub-committe was appointed to see Mr Dunlop, the contractor, and was given power to act. RENOVATIONS TO HOUSE. A local tender for the renovation of the headmaster’s residence was turned down by the Education Board ' as being in excess of. its standard pfiee. It was decided to advertise for i tenders in Auckland. ; BOYS playground. ‘ The chairman announced) that re- ' pairs to the boys’ playground had ' been completed by the Borough CounI t’il. Four, tennis courts were now ' available instead of two. The work had been splendidly done. On the motion of. Mr McDonald) >t * was resolved to address a, letter co " Hie Borough Council offering thanas 1„ for the satisfactory and efficient mam | f ner in which the repairs 'had been c.ar- | ried out. CHILD SLAVERY? The chairman brought! up the case of two children wfio had apparently not been allowed to attend the school picnic on account of thejjr having to ? milk cows, at 4.15 a.m. and again in '■ the evening- Mr McDonald considered 1! it an absolute case of child slavery. '! He had heard with scepticism before ■’ of such cases, but it had not been his ! misfortune to come into actual con- ' tact with one. These children came to school utterly tired out, unable to pay proper attention to their lessons, which was manifestly unfair tel the children themselves and to the teachers who were dbing their best f° r them. It would not have cost the boys’ parents anything on the score of s pierhe expenses, as the public, on I hearing the extraordinary fac,t, y. through the local press,and verbally. 1' that a number of children had never 1 seen the sea, had subscribed most lib- ' erally to the picnic Mr Smith commented that it was. rotten for this stage of civilisation, an opinion that Mir Mettam endorsed. ' The committee was unanimous, in expressing its indignation, and) passed ' a resolution that the Child Welfare officer be asked to look into the matter, as it was apparently a case of child slavery. « • appointments. . A communication from the Education Board notified the appointment of -Mr F. L. Cassidy aS additional assistant for the primary department at present. The appointment was alsci notified of Miss Muriel J. Taylor as relieving assistant for the primary department. SWIMMING BATHS. Mr McDonald stated that since the opening of the focal swimming bath's a •considerable number of children had been taught, to swim, and the; Paeroa Borough Council had generously set aside some days free far the school pupils. - > In answer to a question Mr Taylor ■replied that swimming was not at present a part 'of school curriculum, but was recommended. Ample; arrangements were made for, and! encouragement given to, t,he children. The teachers had given their time willingly to tliej instruction off swimming. Mr Alexander remarked that the bath custodian had also given his time tc instructing the children in •swimming. Mr Taylor was asked to c.onvey to : the teaching staff the committee’s thanks, and, appreciation of the; time and assistance given by them to the swimmers. It was also decided to wriite to the bath custodian, Mr C’. Fi ’lrrow, and thank him for the volunt «! instruction, bath in. group and priva. I ® l7, he had given the childrejn. y HSHTNG committee. A visit in S committee consisting of Messrs Sn and Chamberlain was appointed, a. P° wer to ately in resp to some - ur , se pairs. The gi playground, which at present, was would be seen to at before worse. Fencesand bilberries needed attention, as did Wished. . T , DENTAL CLI NICTpie chairman intimal tbe incoming, committee wou’ld find the ’dental clinic funds a satisfactory amount.