SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Southland Times, Issue 18823, 17 May 1920, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. The ninth annual meeting of the Southland School Committees’ Association on Saturday was largely attended. Mr C. Patton presided. The annual report was as follows; “During the year, though nothing of a very" important nature has come before your executive, the aims and objects of the association have been kept steadily in view and pressed forward with gratifying success. A greatly increased interest has been taken by country school committees in the work of the association. It is regrettable that this association was unable to send a delegate to the dominion conference of school committees held in Wellington on September 1 and 2, 1019. Owing to the short notice given of the conference being held,-and the disarranged railway sendee at the time, it was found impossible to send a delegate to represent Southland. The remits forwarded from this association were considered and curried in the following terms:— “That an additional capitation allowance of 2s based on roll number should be made by the Department for incidental expenses to school committees.” “The date of balance was altered by the Education Department from December 31 to February' 28.” “That no concessions or subsidies be granted to any private schools.” “That it is desirable that the Government should immediately take in hand the supply of el! primary school books and requisites, tree.” “That with the view of promoting the general efficiency of primary education in the dominion , (he Government be urged to increase the annual education grant to at least £3,000,000.” “In regard to the question brought up by Mr Carroll, Mutaura, at last annual meeting, the motion carried at the conference was: — “That 35 children ho the maximum in any class under the charge of one teacher; in country schools 30.’ At the conference it was decided ’That a federation of school committees’ associations be formed, to be called the ‘Federated School Committees' Associations of New Zealand.’ The headquarters of the Federation Association is in Wellington and the annual subscription is £2 2s by each association. Your executive have given careful consideration to the question of affiliation with the Federated Association, and have to recommend that this association delay affiliating with that body in the meantime. The question of representation of ! country - school committees at meetings of the association has been under consideration by your executive, the consensus of opinion being that any member of such committee should have the privilege and powers of a delegate representing his school, if present at any quarterly meeting of the, association. During the year eleven meetings of the executive have been held which have been well attended by members.” The balance sheet showed a credit balanc of £1 17s 3d. The chairman congratulated the association on the amount of work (accomplished during the year. He also referred to the important questions which the association would have to consider during the coming year, and stated that one of the most important of these was the disadvantage suffered by school children through sickness in passing the proficiency examination. During the last two years a great amount of rime had been lost both by the children and teachers, and he considered that the date of the examinations should be advanced a month or two in order that the children could make up for the time lost. They - were not so sure that they were yet free from the influenza in Southland, and he understood that some of the schools were on the point of closing. He thought that some recommendation should be made to the Education Department on the matter. The report and balance sheet were adopted. A letter from the Middle School Committee raised the question of the appointment of teachers, and a lengthy discussion took place in which the speakers expressed dissatisfaction with the system of appointment at present used by the Department. The following resolutions were carried : “That it be a recommendation to the incoming executive committee to consider the question of the appointment of teachers and to make representations to the Education Board to forward to school committees the names and credentials of at least three of the applicants for the position of teacher, before making an appointment.” "That this meeting representing the school committees of Southland is of the decided opinion that an alteration in the Education Act of 1914 is desirable whereby the School committees should on ail occasions be consulted before an appointment is made or where a transfer of teachers is contemplated, and that it be mandatory for the Board to submit the names of applicants in their order of preference.”' It was decided to forward the last resolution to the Education Department. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: —president, Mr Butterfield; vicepresidents: Mesrs A. Anderson and A. W. Jones; committee, Messrs C. Patton, Q. Stevens, A. E. Gardner, Bain, Webb, Blake, Clark, Chalmers and Murray; secretary and treasurer, Mr Smith.