SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Shannon News, 14 October 1921, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

♦ HOROWHENUA BRANCH FORMED. A meeting of delegates of school committees in the West Coast districts was held in Levin yesterday afternoon for the purpose of considering the for mation of a branch of the School Committees’ Association and\ joining up with the New Zealand 'Federation of School Committees. There were present: Messrs, F. G. Roe and Rev. W. F. Grove (Levin), A. J. Watts (Otaki), R. G. Maclean (Paraparaumu), T. W. Brown (Waikanae), A. K. Walton (Ko- - putaroa), C. I. Harkness (Ohau), and J. E. Warrington (Shannon). Mr A. C. Holms, of Levin, organiser and the president of the South Wairarapa Association, was present by invitation. Mr Roe occupied the chair. The chairman said the object ol\ the meeting was to consider the forming of a School Committees Association for this coast, and pointed out that such a body would increase the powers of committees through combining for their natural benefit. The meeting was fortunate in having present Mr A. C. Holms, the originator of the Wairarapa Association, which was a very live institution. Mr Holms had much , 'experience in this class of public body work, and the chairman called upon him to address the meeting. OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION. Mr Holms said the vObjects of the Association were briefly: (1) Unification of country school opinion and elforts towards educational reform; (2) special consideration of the disabilities of country schools in the direction of status of teachers, school and residential surroundings and class accommodation, size of classes, 'afford assistance when necessary in an organised form in regard to local proposals submitted to the educational authorities, and arrange for short addresses by enthusiastic educationists at suitable times. Speaking generally of other matters that claimed the attention of the Association, Mr 'Holms said they should work for more harmonious relations with the teachers, who had the moulding of the future citizens of the country, the establishment of a central circulatinjg library in the Association areas, the co-operation and coordination of the secondary school districts to secure the interest of the whole district in its high school. It was also urged that school committees should keep in closer touch with their representatives on the Education Board, and business done should be transacted through him, so that when district business came before the Board he would be'able to give it greater assistance. The appointment of teachers to country schools was important, considering the difficulty there was in getting teachers to voluntarily take country appointments. A * post in the city had far greater at- . tractions, and the country might suffer by not getting the right class of teachers. Therefore the selective basis of appointment was advocated. The thing was to give a sound primary education, which was the principal course in the country districts. Mr Holms went .on to refer to the 'Dominion objectives of the Federated Associations, some of which had been considered at past conferences and adopted by the Education Department. The Federation had, advocated the raising of the capitation allowance, the raising of the primary leaving to 15 years, open-air class-rooms, cuntinuktion classes, free medical, optical and dental treatment, training colleges in each education district, a central depot for the supply ol' books and stationery in the interests of education boards and school committees. Regulating the size of classes was another important point, also the provision of ground attached, to country teachers’ dwellings, adequate . playing areas,jit all schools, proper sanitary systems, and numerous other matters for the betterment of the schools and their working. Mr Holms illustrated many of his points by reference to the splendid Scottish system of education, and argued that what was good enough for Scotland ’ was good enough for New Zealand. In conclusion, Mr Holms suggested that, the meeting agree to the lormation of a School Committees Association for the Horowheriua district, and join up with the New Zealand Federation. He stated that Wairarapa, Manawatu and Wellington had their associations, and Horowhenua .would complete the chain if it joined up. He stated that, in anticipation of this being done, he had drafted a constitution, which could be discussed, and if | necessary, amended to suit the spe- | cial requirements of this district. Mr i Halms .then submitted the proposed | constitution to the meeting. J

Mr Harkness stated that Mr Holms’ address had been very helpful, and he had supplied some valuable information. He considered an Association should be formed, and' the other formalities arranged later. He moved that the meeting form an. Association

under the Federation.. He agreed that matters coming from an association would have far greater weight than under the conditions obtaining at present, and specially favoured the suggestion that the business of . the committees done with the Boards should be through the local representatives on the latter body. The motion was seconded by Mr Brown, who said that matters frequently cropped up in country which would have better chances of success if they were supported by the committees of the district. The motion was carried, the Association to be called the Horowhenua School Committees Association.

Mr, Harkness moved, and Mr Walton seconded, and it was carried, that the Association affiliate with the New Zealand School Committees Federation.

The chairman/'Suggested a sUh-com-mittee should be appointed to go into the question of the constitution. Mr Harkness asked if the copy supplied by Mr Holms could not be distributed among the school committees for their consideration, and adopted at a later meeting.

The chairman said he quite agreed with that, and distribution would *be made as suggested.

On the question of fixing the next meeting of delegates, Mr Harkness said it would be a good idea to get school committees to meet during the samO' week, preferably just before the Education Board meeting, so that any business coming up could be discussed and transmitted to the Board at the same time.

Mr Maclean suggested that Paekakariki should be included in the Association, and he was surprised that no delegate was present. Mr Warrington said for the skme reason Tokomaru and Makerua schools should be represented. The next meeting of the Association was fixed for the third Friday in November, at 2 p.m. s The chairman stated that it would be necessary to appoint three delegates to attend the New Zealand Conference to* be held in Wellington next month. Mr Harkness was appointed from' the central district, the Shannon and ©taki School Committees to appoint the two delegates. REMITS TO CONFERENCE. Mi- Holms mentioned the matter of remits for consideration at the'conference, and said"- that the elimination of the rural course at the Levin District High School, and other schools similarly situated, should form the subject of a remit. '. He thought that the matter should even be made a national instead of a local matter. .»Mr Harkness said this particular matter was coming up again at the next meeting of the Wellington Education Board, and he thought it should be allowed to stand over till then. If it was not successful there, the conference could take it up as a. national question. g The chairman spill quite close to our doors was a State «l'arin of 600 or 800 acres; and he maintained that an agricultural school should be started -there lor the teaching of practical agriculture. The ‘Government had numerous experts at its command, whose services could be got to lecture before the scholars. There was ample accommodation there, and if a school were commenced as many as 30 pupils would attend from, Palmerston North. Mr Holms suggested that this shoutu be matte the suojeci oi a remit m me following form: “Thai, ny way oi encouraging boys to loliow farming pursuits, the efforts of the Education Department be directed towards providing an adequate course of training at agricultural colleges to be established in each education district, lor preierence in proximity to the present State farms, conditional on 80 pupils being guaranteed.”

Mr Harkness stated the Boys' Training Farm could be converted into a fine agricultural school, as the number of inmates there was comparatively small, and the boys were being moved away to other schools from time to time. It seemed a pity that portion of this fine property was to be sold when it could be used as an agricultural school.

' A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Holms for his address and to the delegates for attending closed the., meeting.