SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3914, 5 March 1929, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the local D.H. School Cofmmittee was held last evening, presided over ,by Mr. J. K. Hornblofw (chairman). There were also present: Messrs S. E. Cowley, D. Christie, A. G. Huntley, A. ,W.,Stevenson and R. Rungiheuea (secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Perreau, Ross and Hutchins. Formal correspondence was read and received from the Education Board. Mr. W. Trueman wrote accepting the position of bon. auditor, vice ilr. f J. S. Moir (resigned). The schedule of duties re trimmining of hedges, etc., was confirmed. Accounts amounting to £52 14s 3d were passed for .payment. The chairman’s action in applying to the Board for half cost of an incinerator was endorsed and it .was decided to ask the Board’s 1 ! architect to furnish a plan and estimate for the committee’s consideration. A comprehensive report was submitted by Messrs Christie and Cowley, visitors for last month. The report stated that the work of cleaning etc., was satisfactory. Arising out of this report it was decided to draw up a new schedule of duties for the janitor, which would Jbe brought into operation as from April Ist. The secretary submitted a bal-ance-sheet in connection with the annual picnic, which disclosed a 'small credit balance due to the liberal donations received/ The chairman and Mr. Christie were deputed to convey the committee's appreciation to the teaching staff for the splendid organisation of the sports programme etc. An application was received from the local ministers of religion to introduce the Nelson system of Bible instruction in the school. The application was approved and the details were left in the hands of the headmaster. Messrs Huntley and Stevenson were appointed visitors. for the month. HEADMASTER’S REPORT. The school re-opened on Monday, •February 4th and the purged rolls and average attendances' to date are as follows: . Rojls and average attendances :■ — Primary, 394 and 368; Secondary, 48 .and 47; Side School, 61 and 52. Total 503. i On the whole there appears to be little variation from the numbers .attending this time last year. There have been several changes in the personnel of the staff. Teachers, who left us. at the end of the year were Mrs. E. M. Baxllie, Miss J. Thompson, Miss A. Holst and Mr. Y. Moore. New teachers' on the staff are: Miss J. Mountfort, Miss E. Bindon, Mr. D. M. Scott, Miss O. Yorke and Miss E, Crowe —the two latter being probationers, and were last yoar pupils in the Secondary Department. We are to lose another member of our staff at the end of April in the person of Miss Williams, our infant Mistress, who will be retiring on superannuation after a long (period of faithful service.

Your Committee will have noted from reports appearing from time to time in the local press of the success which attended the teachers’ efforts during last year. 1928 stands out pre-eminently as the most successful year in the hisf ory of the! school. Durnig the month the school was visited by Air. F. Roydhouse, physical instructor, who reported most favourably upon the work of the school in the matter of physical training. Inspectors Crawford, Adams and Crosby also inspected the school and have given me to understand that they are well pleased .with the state of .efficiency prevailing. One factor which is handicapping .the work at present is the lack of text-books. The new syllabus of instruction which came into foi'ce with the new year, has necessitated a change in text-books —a change which is pressing hard upon the pockets ,of parents. Old books are to be discarded and an entirely new set is being substituted. These new issues are not yet in full circulation with the result that teachers and pupils both are at present working under difficulties. I am pleased to state that the efforts .of the committee to lighten the cost, of writing material havb culminated in our being able to supply parents with writing pads at a cost of something like 25 per cent, cheaper than anything we have been able to obtain hitherto, but while this is so, I .would point out that the willing co-operation of the teachers in retailing these goods is making (the effort practicable in the school. The sports side of our school work is again receiving due attention and teams have been selected from among the many boys and girls who have been training, to defend the four shields at presept in our custody. The conveyance of children' who have passed standard 4 at the side sohool has now been arranged for, Mr. R. Hart having undertaken to carry out the work. The conveyance of children from the Motuiti-Ilimataugi area is- at present receiving consideration and I trust that as a result something definite will eventuate.