SCHOOL MATTERS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 293, 20 June 1929, Page 4

SCHOOL MATTERS.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE

Parents’ Day. The monthly meeting of the Putaruru District High School Committee was held on Wednesday evening, there being present : Messrs. F. C. Barnett (chairman), Flyger, Gawith, H. J. W. Scott and Rev. H. Ashworth (secretary), Mr. R. G. Hutton (headmaster) was also in attendance. Sewing Instructress. It was reported that the local dressmakers and others who had been approached as to accepting the position of sewing instructress had refused the position. A member of the committee placed the name of another likely appointee before the meeting and the secretary was authorised to interview the lady in question. Pupils’ Self Help. The secretary reported that the pupils of the typewriting class had contributed £6 15s for the purchase of a typewriter and this sum had gone forward to the board for a subsidy. Gratification was expressed by the committee at the pupils’ action in thus helping themselves. Headmaster’s Report. The headmaster reported on several matters that required attention and it was decided to authorise the works mentioned. In dealing with the attendance at the school Mr. Hutton stated that even making allowance for the influenza it was not at all satisfactory. They were getting perilously close to the minimum average attendance—l6l—which, if it fell below, would lower the school a grade and thus impair the efficiency of the teaching staff.

Parents’ Day. Mr. Hutton made further reference to the proposed parents-teachers association, expressing the belief that such an institution would have a beneficial effect on the school. Such associations were in existence in England, where it was held there was no need for the school to be a closed book to parents. The chairman and members generally supported the idea, Mr. Gawith aptly voicing the sentiments of the committee when he said that anything in the way of getting parents interested in the school was a good thing. In view of the large number of organisations already existing in the town it was decided not to form an association in the meantime but to hold “ parents’ days ” at the school, when opportunities will he afforded visitors to see the children at their work.

The headmaster was instructed to make arrangements for holding such a day at the earliest moment.