SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1887, 8 October 1918, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the loeal State School Committee was held last night. Present : Messrs Hornblow (chairman), Rev. J. 11. Bredin, Claris, Kellow, Ingle, 'Martin and McMurray, and the bead teacher, AlcMurray, Perreau, and the head teacher, Mr Fume. An apology for absence was 1 received from Mr Signal. On the motion of Mr Kellow, it was resolved that meetings of committee he held in the school building when re-ereeted, and that a copy of correspondence to the Board re applications for grants or repairs be forwarded to the district representative on the Board. The Chairman reported that he and Mr Signal had attended the School Committees’ Association meeting at Palmerston as the Committee's delegates, and briefly referred to the remits there discussed. He also reported that he had proceeded to Wanganui in company with the head teacher, and conferred with the Board Secretary as to school equipment and the purchase of books at a reduced cost to the children. The action of the Chairman and Head Teacher was endorsed, and it was decided to enter the details re purchase and sales through the Committee’s books, as the Committee would be responsible to the Board for payment. The. head-teacher reported to the Committee the saving that would be effected to parents through the transaction. 'Hie cost of books, etc.., amounted to £25 18s !)d, and the sales to children were nearly £2O. An offer by a resident to sell a piano to the Committee was held over. The action of the Chairman and Head Teacher in putting down a concrete cricket pilch was endorsed; the work has been carried out by Mr A. S. Walsh, who kindly donated his labour, one week, to (he funds. Mr WnKh to he thanked for his generosity. The Head Teacher’s report was road as follows: —“The average attendance for the three weeks since the lire have been: Week ending Sept. 20th, 38!).5; Sept. 27th, 300; Oct. It it, 300.8. The percentages of attendance work out at 02.7 per cent., 02 per cent., and 02.0 per cent., respectively, which is exceptionally good when the circumstances are considered. To-day’s attendance was 371; epidemic- of influenza is prevalent. The effects of the unfortunate restriction wrought by the tire will be felt for a considerable time, but the staff’ is determined to reduce to a minimum the ioss of time and interference with the progress of the pupils. We rely upon the parents to assist us by sympathetic co-operation and seeing to it that the children attend regularly. It is only by co-operation between parents and teachers that the ill-effects of the lire can be reduced to the minimum. We are at present accommodated in live buildings—Gospel Hall (2 rooms), Primer I. to IV. —143; Presbyterian S.S. room, St. I. —57; Anglican S.S., Stds. 11. and 111., in 2 rooms —107; Salvation Army Hall, Std. IV. —50; supper-room, Town Hall, Stds. V. and VI. —73. The worst conditions are being experienced by Stds. H. and HI., where the accommodation is barely sufficient. The Committee may yet, have to consider the possibility of using a marquee. On 24tb ult. the Chairman and I proceeded to Wanganui, and prncnml through the Education Board a supply of new books for the children, to replace those destroyed by tiro. The invoice is attached. Up till the present we have sold at cost about £2O worth of books. It appears that there will be some over, but these will be saleable next year, unless the Committee make oilier arrangements for the disposal of the surplus. The re-organisation is gradually being overcome, and when the desks are fixed in Stds. 11. and HI classes we hope to bo able to continue the work under much better conditions. Under the present arrangements the whole school works to sol times indicated by the Presbyterian bell. These signals are heard in all departments, and are working sweetiy. In the morning all classes except Stds. 11. and HI. assemble in the old grounds, ami march to rooms to the accompaniment of bugle and drum. Play and drill are also taken in the main ground. All pupils who bring their lunch are despatched to the main ground to play during lunch recess, and children arc allowed in town only by special permission. The mid-day assembly is as for morning except that Std. L, to save lime, assemble in own ground. The whole arrangements, aim at strict and orderly assembly and dispersal. We strongly discountenance anything in the nature of loose conduct in going from room to ground, or room to room. The children are expected to traverse (he roads and paths in an orderly manner, and I am glad to say that I have not yet had to admonish tiny pupils for breaking this rule. My time has been very fully occupied with receiving, opening, checking and distributing material to the various class rooms. Miss H. Mackie, who assists with Stds. V. and VI., has given splendid assistance, and her willingness has more than confirmed my very high opinion of her. With the object of attempting to make tip for the loss in rime and the disturbance in the routine, 1 have commenced taking Std. VL for two hours on Saturday mornings. The pupils embrace the opportunity for extra assistance, and I hope to be able to supply the loss they have sustained. I am well aware what the proficiency certificate means to the children, and if I can give them any extra assistance my time on Saturday mornings is at their disposal. De-

spite the fire and the scattering of classes, we intend to carry on the children’s games as before. This organisation lias been placed on a definite footing, and we now require some funds, to replace lost material. I wish to acknowledge the following gifts: Mr Lisle, cricket material for senior club; Mr Bock, £1 for extra material where required; Mr W. Newtli, ss; Mr J. Madden ss, Mrs Wingfield 2s (id. I shall be glad to receive donations from any other well-wishers. If all combine, we can see to it that the children do not sutler because of the bad luck which has befallen us all. Any amounts received will be acknowledged in the “Herald.” It is at this time that we should aim at preserving the unity of the school through the games. The store shed across the ground required two padlocks and chains, as the coal shed is now needed for the garden tools, and (ho store shed for the cricket, tennis and rounder material. Padlocks will, I think, be more satisfactory than rim locks, which get out of order so ouickly. As the Committee well knows, all of the indoor fittings, pictures, piano, drum, bugles, library, office equipment, rifles, museum, Montessori apparatus for the Primer classes, which have taken years to gather, have been swept away. It will require at least £2OO to replace the loss and refit (be new seho'ol in keeping with its importance. 1 should like the Committee to consider making a general appeal and organise a Re-equipment Fund. The Education Department will subsidise the amounts £ for £. The Ladies’ Guild his decided to hold a fair in the Town Hall on Thursday afternoon and evening, 241 h inst., in aid of the fund. Mr T. Powell has also agreed to put on a picture benefit on ;piy night agreed upon, the only charge being £.l. for his rent of hall. To bolh the Ladies' Guild and Mr Powell 1 wish to express the thanks of the stall for (lie promised assistance. 1 also wish now to express my appreciation of the manner in which both Mr and Mrs Powell have acted to make our sojourn in the supper-room more comfortable. Nothing has been too much bother for them. The Board’s carpenters have been pushing on with the requirements, and have almost completed the necessary equipment. There stilt remains three cupboards, (he hat pegs, and the desk lops for Stds. II . ami lit. The men have been working long hours to overcome the work', and make us as comfortable as possible, and Mr Hodge, foreman, lias met ns in whatever lay in his power. I understand the policy of the Education Department is against the building of central halls or assembly halls. I think this is a decidedly retrograde step, and the concensus of opinion among headmasters tvho have to work large schools is that they are very necessary. This is (he only place, except outdoors, that the master can get his school together for the little ceremonies,.etc., which make for the life and corporate body of the school. Personally I shall feel lost without one. I hope (he Committee will discuss this aspect of the rebuilding. Mr A. 8. Walsh has completed the concrete cricket pitch. He has generously donated a week’s work as his share of the games and re-equipment fund, and the pitch will long stand as a reminder of his generosity. Further gifts which I wish to acknowledge are: X.Z. Ensign, Mr Hornblow; a sol of pictures, Dickens’ characters, Mr Kellow: ink tin, Mr MeColi. Those gifts will earn a subsidy of 10s in the £. Inspectors Strong and Milne visited the school 10-da v.”

It was decided to adjourn the meeting until 7 pan. on Monday next, when points raised in the head teacher's repijrt and other important mailers will be discussed.