FOXTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2874, 23 April 1925, Page 2

FOXTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

ANNUAL MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS.

The annual meeting of householders for the purpose of electing u school committee for the ensuing year and to receive the report and balance sheet for the past year, was held in the schoolhouse on Monday evening last. At 8 p.m. there were only four persons present, principally members of the old committee. The indifference displayed by the householders was very severely criticised by those present. Shortly before eight p.lll. two more arrived and finally there was an attendance of six. Mr M. E. Perreau was elected chairman. The following is a digest of the annual report and balance-sheet: — At the householders meeting last year the following committeemen were elected :—Messrs Coley, CowRangiheuea, Smith, Parkin and Stevenson. Mr Hornblow was elected chairman, and Mr Rangibeuea secretary. ANNUAL REPORT. During the year ten meetings have been held and the attendance of Committeemen has been very satisactory—harmony and co-op-eration predominated the meetings throughout. The question of establishing a District High School has arrested not only the attention of the Committee but also that of the Board and up to the present both bodies are strenuously working to bring about the establishment of such an important branch of Education in Foxton. Representations have been made to the Minister and other Educational authorities for the immediate consummation of this objective and according to advices received from the Board the matter will he considered by the Council of Education early in June.

Your committee has, during the past- year, given its hearty support to a recommendation for the standardization of School Books for the period of not less than five years, thereby lessening the burden imposed upon parents who would have to continually buy new books and would also assist Committees in adopting a scheme to bring about the issue of “Free Books in their Schools.”

The past year has been one of the most notorious for so many changes in the school staffing—not less than seven teachers left to take up positions elsewhere. It is regrettable that the School has to Imw to the inevitable but your Committee hopes to see ample inducement offering to the staff this year in order to reduce changes to a minimum. . Tin- infantile paralysis has caused a dislocation in the current year's working; but we are pleased to learn that this malady is on the wane and that, within a week or so, all the schools throughout the Dominion will resume work. During the year your Committee had certain proposals in hand for effecting concrete paths and ground improvements at the School but owing to certain financial records not being available they had to be left in abeyance temporally. We sincerely hope that the in-coming Committee will see its way clear to effect these very necessary improvements in order that the children will derive a little more comfort and ease.

The thanks of the Committee are due to the beneficiaries in the estate of the late Walter Bock for the sum of £IOO, invested in the office of the District Public Trustee under a deed of trust, which will provide the Committee yearly with funds to purchase prize books for the “Dux” boy and girl of the school. This source of prize-revenue, lias been appropriately named “The Walter Bock Memorial Prize Fund.” Master Vernon Moore and Miss Olga Yorke were the first boy and girl to gain this prize and the Committee congratulates them on their meritorious success.

The attendance of children at the school has, during the year, been somewhat indifferent and your Committee considers that if parents realised the gaps made in a child’s education through absence and the hindrance caused to the rest of the pupils in a class, they would take care to see that pupils absent themselves only in cases of illness. The child’s future welfare depends on its mental equiqment at the close of its school career. Irregular attendance is deleterious to both pupil and teacher, and, indeed, generally to the progress of the whole school. Your Committee is also indebted to Mr McKniglit for his prize in connection with the best contribution of essay-writing for the past year.

In passing your Committee heartily congratulates the staff for the very creditable concert rendered at the close of the year 1921. We desire to point out that it was a huge success in every way. Several requests have been made not oniy to the Committee but also to the Headmaster to repeat the performance and so far nothing has been arranged. We regret to record Mr. George C. Coley’s illness which has prevented his friends, urging him to seek re-election. For many years lu- has been considered the “Father” of the school and to lose his services, during the current year, will be more than severe hardship to the school and its environment. The new Headmaster, Mr. F. A. Mason, has put in very strenuous quarter and has discharged his duties to the satisfaction of the Board, parents and Committee.

The annual picnic and excursion to Ashhurst was cancelled this vear owing to the epidemic. I lie Committee desires to congratulate the teaching staff upon the success of the school work during the year and for its hearty co-operation with the Committee. The balance-sheet as read showed a credit balance of £152 10s 2d. The chairman elaborated several matters in connection with the report and balance-sheet after which they were adopted. There were nine nominations tor the nine vacancies, and the fo’lowing were elected: Messrs Barron, Cowley, Hornblow, Perreau, Roore, Ross, Steen son, Walton and Woods.

Votes of thanks were passed to the Headmaster and staff, the auditor (Mr D. Christie), outgoing Committee, and the caretaker, Mr. Byne.

Mr F. A. Mason, Headmaster, responded on behalf of the teaching staff and himself, and referred to the hearty co-operation of the Committee in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the school and the goodwill which existed and the assistance of the parents. The first meeting of the newly elected Committee was held at the close of the Householders Meeting. There were present Messrs Perreau, Cowley, Ross, Roore, Woods and the Headmaster (Mr F. A. Mason). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Honjblow, Barron, Walton and Stevenson. Mr. M. E. Perreau was elected chairman. The chairman welcomed the new members and Mr Woods, on behalf of his newly elected colleagues, suitably responded. Messrs Perreau and Roore were authorised to operate on the School Committee’s current account at the local Bank. It was decided to meet on the first Friday in each month at 7.30 p.m. The visitors for the month were Messrs Barron and Cowley. The Headmaster was authorised to ask his worship, the Mayor, and Rev. Mr McDonald to address the children at the school on “Anzac Day.” The Headmaster was authorised to obtain school requisites to the extent of £2. Air Harris was appointed school janitor for the ensuing year.