EDUCATIONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 95, 29 April 1913, Page 5

EDUCATIONAL.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE. STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL. The, annual meeting of householders of the Stratford district took place lastevening. Mr T. C. Fookes was voted to the chair. There was an attendance of twenty householders. On tlie motion of Mr E. Jackson, seconded by Mr J. Crossan, the annual report and balance-sheet, which have already been published, were adopted. Speaking to the report, the chairman of the outgoing committee (Mr P. Skoglund) said that he thought the attendance that evening was very disappointing, as the committee was undoubtedly a thing in which householders should take more interest. In past years the attendance had been better, but for some unknown reason the attendance had fallen off considerably. Probably the reason lay in the fact that the work done during the year had been extraordinarily good, and there was nothing to make a row about. Mr G. Smart remarked that had the committee brought affairs into an unfinancial position, they would probably have had a record attendance He thought the outgoing committee had done excellent work, and the satisfactory balance-sheet was a credit to their efforts. He trusted that the incoming committee would be as energetic as the outgoing one. Mr J. Croesan said ho thought it was a great pity there were not more people present to give the committee tne credit they deserved for the work dene during 1 the past year. Householders should feel gratified at the results achieved.

The Chairman stated that criticism, he it good or indifferent, was generally looked for, and the absence of that criticism was certainly disheartening to the members of the committee who had taken the trouble to devote their services to the interests of the householders. At the same time the absence of criticism was a great compliment to the committee, and especially to the worthy chairman (Mr SkOglund). It was, however, more encouraging to the committee that tliepublic should turn up, and ihe householders, if they could not say something bad of the work done, by the committee, should at least say something praiseworthy. 'Personally, he, was quite satisfied that the committee deserved every thanks at the hands of parents whose children attended the Stratford District Higli 'School. i H

• j THE NEW COMMITTEE. It was with great difficulty that sufficient names were obtained to make up the nine members required for the committee. Mr G. Smart, in proposing nine gentlemen, omitted his own name, giving as his reason, tnat he had already served the householders’ interests for seven years,] andj he was anxious to give someone else a turn. Messrs T. Lawson, iAt Stewart, H. Twiss, J. Boon, HI J. Hopkins, and J. B. Campbell declined for various reasons, but finally Mr Smart consented to stand, rather than see the meeting “in a hole.” The following committee was then declared duly elected :—Messrs P. Skoglund, S. Clark, J. W. B. Jones, E. W. Hancock, G. Smart, E. Jackson, J. W. McMillan, T. C. Fookes, and J. Staples. THE DINNER HOUR. Mr H. Twiss moved that it be a recommendation to tlie incoming committee to lengthen the time allowed for the dinner recess. He remarked ciiat it was absolutely necessary during the cold weather that the children should have a warm dinner, but in the fifty-live minutes now allowed, the children either could not have dinner at home, or ran grave risk of getting indigestion. Ho stated that he v. sa not speaking only for himself in this matter, but other parents had mentioned the matter to him. They suggested half an hour longer should be allowed for dinner. The Chairman stated that this matter was governed by regulation, formulated by the Taranaki Education Board.. However, he noticed that the Board was prepared to consider any application for the alteration of the routine, as it applied to the hour for commencing school in the morning, so that it might also apply to the time allowed for the mid-day recess.

Mr E. Jackson seconded the motion pro forma, and stated that he could not agree with Mr Twins as regards the advisability of changing the dinner hour. It had to be remembered that there were children travelling as much as three miles to school, and these children, if school cane out later, would not be able to get home before dark.

Mr J. 13. Campbell; They’ve got to catch the trains I Mr Jackson continued that he thought a nice warm breakfast and a hot tea, with a cold meal in the middle of the day, was all the children required. They all remembered their young days,' when the y too had had cold dinners, and he did not think any of them were the worse off for it. (Laughter). Mr Skogl nnd remarked that there were peculiar conditions obtaining at the Stratford School. It should not be forgotten that there was a very large' number of children who travelled to and from school by train. Other children came from a very long distance, and had to walk or ride home. The only people who would fairly benefit by a change were the townspeople, who had already had every convenience by the fact that they were' living in town. He remarked that he; had discussed the matter with Mr Twiss, and was at

first prepared to agree with him. ! However, since lie had looked into the position, he had come to the conclusion that any change in this direction would not be in the interests of the country people, and, he thought, these were the interests of primary importance in this connection. Mr Fookes said that it was possible that the dinner hour might be : interfered with by the teachers by j “keeping in” or something of that sort. He did not know whether such was the ease, and did not for one moment wish to make any charge against the teachers. Tilt* motion was lost. VOTES OF THANKS. Votes of thanks were passed to the out-going committee, to the staff for the excellent manner in which the school had been conducted and for the excellent results obtained, and to the Chairman. MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE.

At the subsequent meeting of the new committee Mr P. Skoglund was unanimously re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. Air T. H. Penn was re-elected secretary, and Mr H. Kivell was again appointed custodian. Committee meetings will be held on the Tuesday before the Education 'Board meetings at 7.30 p.m. Messrs McMillan and Jackson were appointed visiting committee for the month. A resolution was unanimously passed in appreciation ot the services rendered to the school for a great many years by Mr Alex. Stewart, who is leaving the district shortly . PEMBROKE ROAD. 1 hero was a . fair attendance of householders at this meeting. The annual report and balance-sheet was considered very satisfactory. The following were elected members of the new committee .-—Messrs J. Montgomerie, W. Barlow, R. Rogers, W. McCracken, D, Swann, G. Gibson and W. Rogers. TOKO. V ery little interest was taken in the meeting, only 13 houseliolders being present. Mr G. Bain presided. Eight candidates were nominated and seven duly elected as follows :—C. Bain and M. Gernhoefer 11 votes each, J. Kilpatrick, G. E. Bocock and Alex. Ferguson 9 each, W. Pratt 8, T. A. Lees 7. Mr R. 1). Milne and Mr C. Beloe acted as scrutineers. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing committee. Mr G. Bain was re-elected chairman and Mr G. E. Bocock was appointed secretary, jDENBIGH ROAD. i .Fir! The meeting constituted a record. The retiring chairman read the bal-ance-sheet, which showed a nett balance of £2 9s Gd. The Inspectors report showed that the school had made very satisfactory progress during the year. ,A resolution thanking Miss Cameron for the very efficient manner in which she had carried on the work of the school during the year was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The following were elected a committee for the year:— W. Walker, H. Huckstep, A. Mills, D. Walker, W. T. Mills, of which Mr W. Mills was reelected chairman. TUNA. The following are the new committee:—Messrs W. Hathaway, W. Skedgwell, sen., W. Skedgwell, jnr., R. Milne, T. Vickers, F. Wellington, C. Goodwin. Mr Hathaway was again chosen chairman and Mr C. Latham secretary.

The chairman’s annual statement complimented the teachers on the continued efficient state of the school as disclosed by the Inspector’s report for 1912.

The new committee afterwards transacted a considerable amount of business, an ddecided to hold a concert and dance at the breaking up for midwinter holidays on Friday, 23rd May, in aid of the school prize fund, when the school prizes will be distributed.

RAUPUHA. The folowing were elected to the committee ;—Messrs T. A. Bocock (chairman), J. V. Shield (secretary and treasurer), J. W. Bnrkitt, R. H. Oaten by, W. Colson, H. Noilson, W. B. Smith. INDIGNANT “HOUSEHOLDERS. Hamilton, April 29. The Frankton householders refused last night to elect a school committee and left the schoolhonse in a body as a protest against the action of the Auckland Education Board in so arranging the boundaries that half the township, including the main street, was put into the Hamilton west district.