EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 103, 20 June 1913, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.

Technical Classes Fop Pukekohe District.

Advisory Committee To Qe Appointed.

Oil Widntsday ai'trrnoin Mr Geurge George met iotr.e rf the members of the Pukekohe District High School Commit tea ti di?ci!sa the qieslio.i of t:e establishment rf technical cUsses.

Tie appointment of a controlling authority w;u the fubject of some discus-sion, Mr George favouring a Board of Manager?, who wouH shoulder the financial responsibility. The members of the Committee were onposed to this, considering that ro ore would accept office under such conditions, finally it was decide I to appoint an Advisory Committee, the constitution to be fiva membeis of the School Committee, and ore representative to be spnnintel by each of tha following bodies: Franklin County Council, Pikekche Borough Council, Franklin A. anl I*. Srciety, Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce, Pukekoha branch New Zealand Farm:rs' Union, Pukekohe West Read Boird ard two othar manners to be appointed by the Committee. Mr George rdvoca!ed the bcho:l Committee putting in fnvc compulsory attendance at continuation c'assea for children between 14 and 17 rot attending school. He expained that thii applird to all children rrsilirg within twj m'ks from the school. The atten J ance was firci at four hou s a week. He pointed out that the enforcement of this clause would materially assist the establishment of technical c las us.

Discussion as to classrs ensued. Mr George intimated that irs ! ructors were available for the following classes, namely, dressmaking, cookery, v. oodwerk and millinery, the fees for which would ba 30s for 36 lea. on*, provided 15 pupila were enroled. A book-keeping, svorthand ard Lu3inf33 methods class might be established if an instructor could te fcurd. The Board had recently app inted another agricultural inatiuct-r, and hi 3 services would be availahh for a f>trni~ra' diss (t'i embrace a couraa in science and other rubj'cts suitable for farmers). Veterinary, tirs'-sid and art classas were aho mentioned.

Mr George hoped that the classes would be started soma tima in July.

At the 80-ough Council meeting on Wednesday night Cr Cowrie was appointed fhe Council's representative on the Advisory Committee.

PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL O.i Wfdietday soma twenty settlers in;t at the Educa'ioi Reaeive on the Waiuku read, s;me three railen from Pukekohe, where tha establishment of a new school is asked for. Considering that the farmers hed to leave their fi"lds on a tine day—and fine days are precious opportunities just r;cw—the large attendance v. aa evidence of the keen desire for the echool. The arguments in favour of the echro have already appeared i.i the "Tiroes."

Mr K, F. BuJlard, M.P. for K 4 aglan (which includes the locality abcut the sdiool site) explained to Mr Garland, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, that the company present wnhed to consulr. Mr Garland about the school. Pukekoho wai the' nearest echool, arcl they could see from tha state of the roac's that day the hardships the children had to suiL-r in having to travel 8T iar. Mr J. Pollock presented a li t showing that 45 children of school age would attend this school, Of that number 36 were attending at the different schools—Puni, Patumahoe and Pukekohe—while nine did not go t3 school because they cculd riot travel so far. The existing schoul', Mr Pollork pointed out, were overcrowded now.

M? Garland, who went through the liot catefullv, said it was quits likely the erection cf this r.ew school would solve the over-crowding proLl : m, He could not say very much now. without further considering the matter. 'lie site itself wes a beautiful ore for s public school; with its five acres of land it was one of the teat thct could have been got. Mr Bollard: It woulJ look very much bett°r if it were graced with a school.

Mr Garhnd egre d. He a-fded thst a viry good case waa offered frr mature consideration, He could not say what would ba done but they would hear again, very shortlv, aboui it. He was imbued with the im[re?s : on that a very good case had been made out, but the Board would fully roisider the matter, and Mr Mulgan wou.d advise them Mr Mulgan, Chief Inspector: "Yes, the matter will ba considered in the light of thi3 information" (referring to the Int supplied) An adjournment w?s then made to Mr J. J. Hare's hou3e, where an elalorat' light lunch waa provided, snd the bounteous hospitality of the hostess wa3 heartily appreciated. In thanking Mr and Mrs Hart fur their "lavish board," Mr Mulgan said thife was a matter that would be carefully corsidertd by the chairman, Mr Garland, and by himself as adviser in some thing* to the Board. He could assure them that Mr Garland, like Mr Barriball, had the causi of education at heart, and especially country education, He was eure that the representations made that day wouH receive the most careful consideratioa of the Education Board. (Applause).