SHANNON SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Shannon News, 8 June 1928, Page 3

SHANNON SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MONTHLY MEETING. The above meeting was held iu the Schoolroom last evening- * ™'* c »£ : Messrs A. E. Hyde (chairman), W. Christian, G. Booker, A. .rtichards, 0. Hansman, A. Coates, R. Goldsmith (secretary), and A. T. White (headmaster). T^_,^ NEW FENCE. The Education Board's. secretary wrote stating that the Board has authosed the renewal of the fence on the main road, and that the Supervisor of ■ Buildings will arrange for the eari}-, ine Out of the work.—Received. % CHAEGE FOR WATER. In reference .to the Borough Coun- ' cil's account for water supplied to the school, which the Committee contended at its last meeting should be paid by ■ the Board- and not out of the Com-, mittee's grant-for incidental expenses, the Assistant Secretary of the Board wrote as follows: "That on the establishment of a school the Government undertakes' to provide either tanks and ' tank stand, where the rainfall is relied upon to supply requirements, or to provide all necessary piping, fittings, etc., where a high pressure system can be tapped. The cost of these services is in eases about equal. The Board undertakes, of course, to maintain both kinds of services in good order and condition. As the Government regulations prescribe that any charge itaade for water should be met out of ( the grant for incidental expenses, the Board trusts that the Shannon Borough Council's accounts will be paid be .the Committee as early as possible." The letter was received and the ae- ' count was passed for payment. On the suggestion of Mr Hensmann the chairman is to approach- the Council with a view to getting the charge reduced. „• ATTENDANCE REPORT.

The headmaster (Mr White) reported that the average attendance since the beginning of the quarter was 339, 336, 334, "326, ,320, 328 and 334, the roll number being 351, average for seven weeks of 331. / GENERAL.

.. The chairman reported that the eastern plot had been cleaned and the committee had got a good job. Messrs Booker and Ingley, the visiting committee during last month reported that if the fence dividing the horse paddock and play ground was brought in 24 feet it would then be under observation. That the open drain near the woodshed be concreted in.— Messrs Booker and Richards were appointed to inspect and report to next meeting the estimated cost of the work.

The headmaster reported that he has written away for trees for planting on Arbor Day and suggested July 18th. Also that the supoly of cocoa commence on June 11th: and Will be continued during the winter months.

DENTAL CLINIC. DISCUSSED BY SCHOOL .COMMIT'TBE. At the latter end of last year a movement was inaugurated by the Tokomaru and Shannon School Committees to promote a dental clinic for the schools in the Manawatu district All of the school committees in the district mentioned were unanimous in supporting the idea. The new committee have taken the matter up and the Secretary reported to the meeting that he had been in eommunicatioi: witi the different school committee; to ascertain if they are -agreeable tc holding a conference of delegates ii; Levin in the near future to discus: methods of raising money for the es tablishment of either one or'two proposals viz. (a) a centralised clinic witl. quarters at Levin; (b) a travelling qualified dentist, to visit the' schools He pointed out that such a clinic would serve the needs of the school; in the Manawatu, the combined attendance of which are from 1800 t( 2000 scholars.'

He had also, been.in eommunicatioi. with the Director of Dental Hygiene and had submitted the following ques tion for an opinion:—

.i (A) Are either A or B proposal; possible in the hear future? (B) Is the conference justified in or ganising ways and means to,meet thr expenditure ? (C) What would be. the approximate cost of each proposal? (D) Which proposal, do you think would suit the district best? (E) Outline the method of Depart mental procedure necessary to bring this scheme into being? . i The Director of Dental Hygiene ha.* replied as follows:—"Regarding which was the better of the two proposals. he states that the Department's experience is distinctly in favour of centralising treatment as far as possible. It makes for. greater efficiency, economy, and more treatment can be undertaken. On the other hand with a travelling clinic conditions for operative work are usually more of a makeshift unless considerable expense is incurred. Much valuable time is lost in packing, unpacking and travelling, •which could be devoted to treatment, thereby reducing considerably the number that could be treated in a given time. In this connection, however, he doubted the advisability of having one Central clinic only, to, deal with all the schools mentioned. The distance would appear to be considerable for young children to travel, but this is altogether-a matter for organisation of transport, by local committees concerned."

With regard to A and B proposals, speaking for the .Department he was jibtfn: a; position to give'a "definite anawerVSste there will be no further dental ntirses available until next year, and the- Department has over 250 applications. Already 'before- -it. Also it must be taken into consideration that » number of-the children in the dis-

trict are in receipt of dental treatment per medium of an arrangement entered into by committees.

Questioii "B" is practically answered by the reply to "A." In" answer to "C", 'This is impossible to say without having all facts and figures before one, numbers, distances, etc., and cost of travelling: With regard to "D",. the answer is contained in the earlier part of the letter. - . ■ In. answer to "E" a circular was forwarded dealing with the question fully. Mr Goldsmith stated that a clinic built to the Department's standard, completely equipped, to provide for two dentists, cost £350 and for one dentist £2BO. If built on Government property this district would only have to find one-third of the cost, the Government providing the other two-thirds. He also pointed out that treatment applied only to children in the primer . classes and to all children from two years of age to school age. ■ After the scheme had been in. vogue a few years all children will be in it. The replies he had received from committees favoured sending two delegates to attend a conference to go into the question. He did not think there was any need for this meeting to discuss which clinicwas advisable, that would be dealt with at the conference.

The chairman said one thing they wanted light on was the number of children one dentist can attend to. Evidently by the Department's reply they think the district too big, and it may be necessary to have one clinic in Levin and one in Shannon or Otaki. Mr. White said if the conference have to consider having three clinics it would be as well to enquire if sufficient money was raised would any obstacle be placed in the way of obtaiiv ing separate clinics in each of those districts; 'if it is impossible for man to attend to all. Several were of opinion that enough children were available from the Shannon school and nearby schools to support a clinic in Shannon. Finally it was decided to call a conference of delegates from the school committees interested to be held at Levin on June 28th. The chairman and secretary were apjpointed to represent the local committee.