STATE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1252, 30 May 1914, Page 2

STATE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS.

A meeting of the local State School Committee was held at the school yesterday afternoon for the purpose of inspecting the grounds and buildings and conferring with the head teacher and staff as to further contemplated improvements. There were present : Messrs Hornblow (chairman), Betty, Chrystall, Henderson, R. J. Thompson, Perreau, Woods and Kent-Johnston. An apology for absence was received from Mr Hussey. An inspection was made of the dividing fence, between the old cemetery and the school garden enclosure, which is in a dilapidated condition. The Chairman explained that a new fence was necessary and he had approached the Mayor as to the Council bearing half-cost of same. The Mayor stated that the reserve had not yet been vested in the Council and negotiations were still pending. When the Council had control he had no doubt it would bear half-cost. The Chairman stated, further, that to ask the Maori owners to share half-cost would result in delay and possibly disappointment. Assistance would be asked from the Board. The matter was one of urgency if the gardens were to be protected. Messrs Henderson and Thompson moved that a 6ft. corrugated iron fence be erected and that alternate tenders be called for the work, A one for labour only and the other for the completed fence. A subcommittee, consisting of the Chairman and Messrs Chrystall, Kent-Johnston and Henderson, was appointed with power to act. The girls’ playground was next inspected and it was decided to authorise the sub-committee to expend up to £ls in levelling portion of same. The committee then met in conference with the teaching staff. All the teachers were present. The Chairman explained that the Committee desired to take the staff into its confidence in respect to contemplated improvements to the school environment and enlist their sympathy and co operation in any special effort that may be required to raise funds. He was aware that the Institute deprecated extra work of this uature on the part of the teachers and the staff could refuse to assist the Committee, but he knew their sympathy was with the Committee. The capitation grant barely enabled the Committee to meet ordinary expenditure in connection with school cleaning and minor repairs. The school was backed by a generous public, willing to assist in making the school environment healthy and- attractive, and it only remained for the staff to co-operate with the Committee in making the Foxton School the brightest and best under the - Board’s jurisdiction. He referred to the staff’s splendid co-operation in the past, and added that such assistance indirectly benefitted the teachers. Mr Jackson, head teacher, replying on behalf of the staff, said he felt sure the Committee would receive what assistance it was in the power of the teachers to render, but they had to consider the educational welfare of the children. At present the work was a little behind, due to the recent holidays, and if the results were not good at the end of the year the Committee would be the first to complain. He had, during many years, assisted Committees in special efforts and recognised that such co-operation was necessary for the school’s welfare. He assured the Committee that the staff would do their part in assisting in any special effort. He would confer with the staff and report to the Committee at a later date.