STRATFORD SCHOOL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 94, 20 April 1912, Page 5

STRATFORD SCHOOL.

COMMITTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT

The following is the annual report of the Stratford School Committee to be presented at the annual meeting of householders to be held in the school at 7 p.m. on Monday evening next: — At the householders’ meeting last year the following committee was appointed:—Messrs. IJ.1 J . Skoglund, G. Smart, A. Stewart, C. I). Sole, R. H. Cameron, J. W. McMillan, I). McMil- * Mr. Solo being elected chairman at the subsequent committee meeting. Of this committee, two—Messrs. D. McMillan and A. T. McMahon—have left the district, their places on the committee being taken by Mr. S. Clark and the Rev. B. Metson. Fifteen meetings of the committee have been held, and the attendances of members have been us follows: —Skoglund 9, Smart 11, Stewart 15, Sole 15, Cameron 3, J. W. McMillan 10, I). McMillan 5, McMahon 7, Butcher 8, Clark 8, Rev. Metson 3. The first notable event of our year of office was the destruction of the greater part of the main building by fire on the 20th May. As you are aware, prompt measures were taken for continuing without delay the school work. Thanks to the Salvation Army officer, the use of the Army Hall was obtained, and with the accommodation thus provided and that furnished by the Technical School building, Mon- > day morning (the fire took place on a . Saturday) saw the school in full swing as usual. It was, however, a very laying time for the staff, and the very greatest credit should be given lor the splendid way in which they met the difficulties. “Out of evil cometh good,” and we have now to rejoice in Rip possession of a permanent, welllighted, well-arranged,, and sanitary building of brick, an ornament to the town arid a credit to the Education authorities. _ The foundation stone was laid by Sir Joseph Ward on 27th November, and the opening function is too fresh in your memory to need mention. Efforts nave been made by the committee to have the brick front of the building extended westward, the whole length, and this should still be kept in view. Much remains to be done in making the grounds and surroundings worthy of the handsome building. The Education Board is arranging for the proper grading of the whole playground. The committee has in hand the asphalting of the floor of the sheltershed. . One important addition to the buildings has been made during the year by the committee in providing a commodious glass house for botanical studies. A matter that is already urgent and will become imperative in the near future, is the provision of additional playing ground, the space available now being out of all proportion to the number of children. More ground can only be obtained by the removal of the Headmaster’s residence, and adding to the playground the area now occupied by the house and garden, , With the valuable assistance of the Operatic and Orchestral Society, an excellent entertainment was given at the Town Hall prior to the Christmas holidays. Part of the funds derived from the performance were devoted to the purchase of prizes for school work. The annual seaside picnic was held as usua) at Moturoa. Wo were greatly favoured by the weather and there was a record attendance. The number of children attending the''School has continued to increase, and it is, now easily the largest in the province. The school has given a grade m classification for staffing and is now on a better footing in this respect. In regard to results, it is gratifying to find that, inspite of the obvious disadvantages entailed by the scattering of the classes and consequent comparative disorganisation, these are equal to any yet obtained in former years. (Signed) C. D. SOLE, • j; • Chairman. Abstract of , the School Fund Accounts, for year ending March 31st, 1912, Education District of Taranaki, School District of Stratford:—

Total ... ... ••• £350 1 10 At Stratford, 1912, we do hereby „ certify that the above abstract js a true abstract of the School Fund Accounts of the School Committee for the year ending 31st March, 1912, and that the said accounts are correct, duly vouched, and in accordance with law. C. D. SOLE, Chairman of School Committee. I MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE. A meeting of the members of the Stratford School Committee was held last evening. There were present: Messrs. C. D. Sole (in the chair), P. Skoglund, G. Smart, A. Stewart, and S. Clark. A letter was received from the Secretary of the Taranaki Education Board stating that Messrs. Masters and Rogers had been appointed to en-

quire into the necessary improvements to the grounds and fences, and report at the next meeting. The matter of the cupboard for the Headmaster’s room had been referred to tin Inspector to enquire A communication from the same source stated that the Board had decided to take no action with regard to the appointment of a female assistant for the infant department of the school. The Chairman notified his intention of not seeking re-election, and said he would take this opportunity of thank# ing members for the very nice year of officer they had had. Nothing but good feeling had existed. Ho. might say that the same thing applied between himself and the teaching staff. No discordant note had been sounded. During the year a good deal of work had been satisfactorily done. The Chairman further stated that there was a spare room in the new schoolroom that was eminently suited for a library. He felt sure that if the new committee interested themselves in the matter and made the establishment of the library their “guiding star,” they would succeed in establishing one of the finest school libraries in Taranaki.

Mr. G. Smart, on behalf of the committee, thanked Mr. Solo for his remarks. He considered that the committee had worked together amicably for the good of the school as_ a whole. He believed that the Chairman had decided not to seek re-elec-tion, and while regretting this decision, eulogised his work in the advancement of the school.

Mr. Stewart said that as regards their meetings they differed at times, but doubtless this conduced to good work being done. Referring to the Chairman, he said Mr. Sole had done his duty, and done it well. Mr. Skoglund remarked that os a rule the position of chairman of a school committee was regarded a* a ■stepping stone to other public positions. It was not looked npon as a very important position by the public generally. If members of school committees did their duty properly, however, it was the most important position the public had to offer. Their dutv was to look after the welfare of the children, and the children were going to make the nation. He expressed his pleasure at the _ remarks made by visiting educationalists at the opening of the school the night previously, when it had been admitted that the Stratford School was the best in Taranaki. They should be proud of then school. Referring to Mr. Sole’s ■services, he said that there was no mail who could have worked harder for the benefit of the school than he had done. He, himself, had contested the chairmanship with Mr. Sole last year, metely because he had been asked to do so, and that ho wished to test the feeling of the committee. He was very pleased that they had put Mr. Sole in. He moved “That it be recorded in the records that this meeting passes a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Sole for the very valuable and lengthy services to the school, and that it expresses its regret that he is unable to offer his services for a further period.” In seconding this motion, Mr. Clark said Mr. Sole had done yeoman service. It was recognised throughout Stratford that Mr. Sole had his heart and soul in the work. He felt exceedingly sorry that Mr. Sole would not seek re-election, and felt sure that, ■should he change his mind, the chairman would .have no difficulty in retaining his present position. The motion was carried unanimously. In returning thanks, Mr. Sole said tliere were times in a,man’s life when he felt that he had been allot at long enough, and he would like to he at the other end of the gun and shoot back.

Receipts. £ s. d.j To balance in bank and in baud, on April 1, 1911 47 3 8 Receipts from Education Board—(1) Grants for ordinary incidental purposes 105 0 0 Voluntary contributions for general purposes ... ■33 1 3 from other sources Government subsidies ... 87 13 8 Refunds from parents of cost of school stationery 20 10 0 Refunds from Education Board of deposits ... ' 49 0 0 Refunds, various 1 4 0 Swimming Bath receipts 6 3 6 Sundries , 0 5 9 Total I £350 1 10 Expenditure— £ s. d. Cleaning schools and outbuildings 73 6 9 Fuel for school use 16 19 0 Repairs to buildings, fences, and furniture 6 12 11 School Stationery 26 19 i Swimming Baths, upkeep and supervision * ... 21 12 10 Erection of glass house for botanical studies 41 0 0 Imprivement of grounds ... 10 8 11 Improvement of grounds at Technical School 6 5 0 School, prizes 18 4 9 Deposits 49 0 0 Expenses of committee —viz Printing ’ 0 6 C Advertising 2 3 6 Stationery ... , 0 12 0 Salary ... 10 0 0 Stamps and telegrams .... 2 1 7 0 Bank charges ... \ ... 0 16 Lighting 0 2 b on other objects— Expenses _ at laying of foundation .stone ... 6 18 0 Lighting class rooms, Elec trie Supply Co. 1 19 0 Entertaining 31s 6d, cartage Us 9d, map 11s, cadets 9s 9d, piano tuning 10s 6d, P.O. Box 16s 8d, removal, of partitions 8s 3d 4 19 6 Balance 49 14