SHANNON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Shannon News, 17 March 1925, Page 3

SHANNON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

THE MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Sham nun School Committee was held in the scnoolrooin on Thursday evening, nesem;—The,Chairman (Mr R. L. Tippjerj and Messrs G. 7 Watkins s Anuerson, R. Downes, E. Warrington W. Christian, D. Gustofsen, and w’ Carlyle (secretary). CORRESPOND EN C E.

A. reply was received from the Boroogn council re tire charge for water to he supplied to the school, recommending that the Committee again approach the Board for the latter to pay the water rate.—lt was resolved that the Board he written to and informed that the Borough Council will not reduce the water rate and point out that the water is iiqw connected up to the school boundary; also that there will be no tank water available when the school re-opens: from the secretary of the Wellington Education Board in relation to tuu school residence, pointing out that the Department declines to authorise the abandonment of the rest-! dence and tiiat the Board has given i instructions that at an early date a further inspection should he made. It was stated that it ihad since been

proposed by the Board to spend a considerable sum of money in renovating the present building, but the committee were of opinion that the building was beyond repair and that any money spent in • this direction would be wasted and would certainly not go so far as if spent on a new building. Finally it was resolved on the motion of Mr Anderson, seconded by Mr Christian, that the Committee uphold their previous resolution that the house be condemned and that the Board he written to this effect, pointing out that a new residence be erected and that any money spent /bn . the present house would only be thrown away. The chairman stated he had already written to Messrs Harkness and Atkins, members of the Board, pointing out the folly ol' renovating the present building and asking them to inspect the house. His action in writing to these members was endorsed by the committee. It was pointed out that in the meantime Mr White is receiving no house allowance and it was resolved iliat the Board he asked to .allow him house allowance until such time as some arrangements are made. Mr V. 11. Thwaites forwarded ins resignation as assistant, owing to bis leaving to attend Victoria College to complete his studies.—The resignation was received with regret and it was decided to.,ask the Board, when appointing a teacher to replace him, that if. possible a male be appointed. ' The secretary of the Education Board wrote stating that application tor the subsidy for improvements carried out by the Committee cannot be further dea.lt with by the Education Department until the details asked for by them are supplied- The letter also pointed out that a subsidy of unly 10s in the £1 is available in aid of Mie cost pf laying down tenuis courts that only one-third of the amount •o be expended for this purpose can be claimed. The secretary also asked <or details of the amounts of any proposed expenditure. Mr Carlyle said he had received no advice what details were required by the Department. He had previously forwarded a list of what work had

been done. The chairman said there appeared to be some misunderstanding on the part of. the. Department as to what lias been done and on his suggestion it was decided that the ' secretary write to the Board asking them to send their clerk of works (Mr Powell.) to overhaul the work done at the school and thus bring the matter to a finality.

general, ' 'rile motion on the ininiu.te book to hold the annual school picnic when the school was re-opened was rescinded and in lieu of the picnic it was; decided to hold a picnic and sports sonic Saturday on a date to be arranged alter school re-opens. Mr Warrington brought forward the question of the proposed charge bv the Department for the conveyance of children to and horn ■school. It was pointed out., that the Department had iproppsed that it should be a scale rate, the same as jn some other districts, which according to the regulation . debarred children over a certain age within a certain distance from, travelling by the bus. In the past in this district a flat rate charge had been made. As the committee were not too clear' on the position as it affected tins distnet Mr White offered to make investigations and report to the Committee. This was agreed to. , , The chairman reported that be ami Mr Carlyle had taken the levels for the tennis courts. He said tnei t would be 90 yards of earth to sin t and a bank to be built around, n would be a clay co.urt for the time being. He said he had. received a price from Mr W. Butler to do the work, viz., £9.—Mr Anderson recommended calling tenders, but the committee, considering Mr Butler’s price reasonable, decided to ap ce Pt ft, the work to be commenced immediately. The erection of the net posts to be left in the hands of the chairman and secretary. , . It was resolved that the board "c asked to send their tarring appliances to the school as the asphalt paths were breaking up for want top dressing. , , ltU . Mr White stated he ihad recent I > purchased a machine for showing slides which he had intended using for educational purposes at tlu ’ school, but on inspecting he had found there was no electric lighting point installed and he asked that the committee consider having a. light installed in the main school and one at the infant school, thus enabling him to make use of the machine, ht. the school, which, he said, would be of great assistance in imparting knowledge to the scholars. He said he, would also be able to give lectures at night when parents could attend witH their children.—Tt, was resolved that the Horowhenua Power Board be asked to include a light

in the buildings as asked for when installing the hot water appliances, also pointing out that the lights will be used specially for educational purposes. In referring to the school -library Mr White said he had been going through it and was .otf opinion a wanted replenishing, many -of ' the books being out of date. He was trying to make arrangements for a supply of books from the library at the Newtown Museum, which supplied books to the schools in and around

Wellington. 1-Ie said he intended shirting a class library at the school, whereby each scholar would bring books, along that bad been read in the home and these would he kept in the scholar’s class room during the year and each child in the class would have«.thc right to read any book during school hours when ‘their work was finished, as he said there were .-always children quicker at some subjects than others, and instead of sitting about waiting for another subject to start they would be kept occupied. He said he was a great believer in reading a§ an education and strongly advocated a good library.— It was resolved to leave it toj Mr White to see what books was required for tihe library.