SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION.

Shannon News, 22 November 1921, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF HOROWHENUA BODY.

A meeting of delegates of the re-cently-formed Horowhenua School Committees ’ 'Association was held on Friday afternoon. The delegates present were: Messrs. F. G. Roe, G. Short and Rev. W. F. Grove (Levin), T. W. Brown (Waikanae), J. Sciascia and H. K. Walton (Koputaroa), C. I. Harkness (Ohau), and. R. G. McLearf (Paraparaumu). Mr A. C. Holms, organiser and the first president,of the South Wairarapa Association, was also present.

THE CONSTITUTION. Mr Roe was voted to the chair, and explained what had been done at the first meeting about a month ago. He j stated that their first business that j day was the consideration of the con- j stitution, which had kindly been j drafted by Mr Holms, and copies dis- J tributed among the various commit- - tees interested. The chairman then read the proposed constitution, which

set out the objects of the Association as: (1) To foster local and national efforts directed towards unity of purpose in advancing the cause of educational progression; (2) promote the physical, mental, moral and industrial betterment of the State through the medium of the public schools; and (3) devote special attention to disabi-; lilies peculiar to schools within rural 1 areas. Other clauses referred to the jurisdiction and government of the Association, representation on which was proposed on a basis of school committees of five members, two delegates; seven members, three delegates; j nine members, four delegates. At the ; annual conference a president, two 1 vice-presidents and a secretary-trea- j surer would be elected, and these with ! representatives from the boroughs of j Shannon, Levin and OtaliP and the j areas adjacent thereto would he an executive committee. The annual con- | ference was fixed for the third Friday in May each year,, and a half-yearly . general meeting on the third Friday ‘ in November. The quorum was fixed j at delegates, or as an altgrna-

tive, not less than four committees to be represented. Executive committee meetings \vere arranged for the third Friday in August and third Friday in February in each yean The annual conference was fixed at the Association headquarters ,also meetings of the executive committee, general meetings to be held in the other town centres in due rotation. There were also many other pointy touching on the administration, and other matters necessary to the government of. the Association. •

After these had been fully considered and discussed, the constitution was unanimously adopted on the motion of Messrs. Harkness and Walton. ‘ OFFICE BEARERS. .

Office-bearers for the first term were elected as follows: President, Mr F. G. Roe; vice-presidents, Messrs C. I. Harkness and T. W. Brown; secretary and treasurer, Rev. W. F. Grove; the executive committee, with the above officers, to-consist of the Chairmen of the Shannon and Otaki School Committees, Mr H. K. Walton (Koputaroa), and members ex-officio. Mr G. Short (Levin) was appointed auditor, and Levin was fixed on as the headquarters of the Association. J&r Roe returned thanks for the hon; our done him by being elected the first president. He would carry out the duties of the office to the best of his ability. It was decided, on the motion of the chairman, to hold the next general meeting at Otaki. Mr Holms suggested that the members of the Otaki SehooL Committee should be invited to attend, and the same invitation should be given to local committees when the meetings were held in other centres* Mr McLean favoured this being done, in fact, members of any committee should be invited, but, of course, only their delegates would have power of voting. The chairman stated that it was . the practice for any school' committee members'' to attend the annual con-, ferences of the Association, and was a good one, as it gave an insight into the work done.

Mr Holms’ suggestion was unanimously adopted.

Mr Holms also stated that in the Wairarapa it had been found, a good idea to hold general meetings in the different centres, as it maintained interest all round and removed the pression that one place was running the Association. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT.

The chairman reported that he had attended the recent School Committees’ Conference in Wellington, but unfortunately he could not stay during 'the whole of the conference. Two remits were sent down from Horowhenua, one being carried as follows: “That the Federation direct the attention of the Minister of Education to the desirability of the New Zealand Federation of School Committees having direct representation on the Council of Education, in view- of the close consideration the organisation •is giving to local and national educational problems.” The chairman went on to say that the conference was .a great education to those attending, but stressed "the necessity of grouping remits touching .on the same subject, thereby saving time. The chairman added that the question of school stationery had been discussed,* and the conference was informed that the Government was going into this matter. Mr Brown said the desire was that the Government should provide all the stationery, not a portion only.

Mr McLean stated that another important thing that concerned parents was the necessity of standardising the school books. .He quoted the case of a man with a large family who came to the Hutt district from Nelson, and had a heavy outlay in providing his family with new books. Mr Walton pointed out that in a case where a family was moving from one educational ' district to another, the Board supplied a free set on the others being handed in.

The chairman also referred to other matters touched on at the conference —the proposed change in the school course, the time which teachers should occupy at one school before being transferred to another, besides other matters.

Mr McLean said that something (should be done to prevent teachers be ing transferred except at the end of a year. He said that at his school several changes had been in the middle \ of the season, to the detriment of the \ school. / VOTE - OF THANKS. This concluding the business, the chairman said the local association was deeply indebted to Mr Holms for the splendid work be had done, not j only in drafting the constitution,, but . with his generous advice and assist--1 ance. He had great" pleasure in mov- | ing him a hearty vote of thanks. ! The v-ote was supported by Mr j Brown and carried with applause. ; ] Mr Holms suitably acknowledged ' the compliment, remarking that he | would be well rewarded in the benefit he was sure would result to the district from the activities of the Association. | E. M. Dell’s new book, “The Ob ‘ stacle Race.”—At Dmu^ley’^ iMsL,. & >• - . - - .....