STRATFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 47, 17 June 1914, Page 7

STRATFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

MONTHLY MEETING. I At the meeting of the School Committee last night there were present: —Messrs P. Skoglund (in the chair), W. McDonald, F. A. Cramer, H. Sanderson, E. W. Hancock, T. Lawson, E. Jackson, J. W, McMillan, and G. Smart. HEADMASTER’S REPORT. The Headmaster reported: A really good job was made of the gravelling put down during the holidays, and we should now get through the winter without spending any more money on the grounds. Mr Moore, the Education Board’s foreman of works, visited the school during the week. He lias arranged to carry out the alterations tc. the infant room during the next term holidays—in. August next. The design for the alterations is well thought out. Increased accommodation will bo provided, the lighting of one of the classrooms will be improved, while the outside of the. building will only slightly be altered. The Education Board’s expert instructor in agriculture called at the school on Friday last, but only to talk over the school work. I'wish some scheme could he devised by the Board by which we could secure this gentleman’s services, at stated periods, in teaching our boys actual, practical agricultural work. Indeed for the next year we must have his aid or that ci same other good practical man, else the scheme of advanced weak which has been planned out must be abandon, ed. I wish to thank Mr McMillan for his visit to the school and Jiis lesson to our senior boys on grape vine pruning, His? practical knowledge was of much value to us. Inspectors Ballam tyne and Whetter visited the school ' on the loth instant and went closel;. into the working of the school. Their report will reach you in duo course. The school attendance continues satis- ' factory. It. was decided to ask the Education | Board to forward the plans for the ! alterations to the inf.-.nt school for the I Committee’s inspection.

VISITING COMMITTEE. . The Visiting Committee reported Your committee have to report, the completion of the following work's al- - Gravelling on south-east corner of playground, one pane oi glass in window and man-hole to drain on the north-east corner 'of iiifant room. We would recommend a new downpipe on the south-west corner of the infant room as the old one is much corroded with rust and almost useless. Another important matter is the filling in and draining of the south-west corner of the playground, which ip its present state is far from satisfactory. A bicycle shed and stand should be erected at tho/north end of the present shelter shed on Juliet Street. 'The dimensions would be about eighteen feet by eight feet. It would require only the roof and one end with the necessary racks for holding the bicycles. At present the western shed is utilised for bicycles, which take up a good deal of space. The above method has been adopted in other towns and should be an acquisition here. It was decided to ask the Education Board to build a small bicycle shed when the alterations to the school are being carried out.—An estimate is to be obtained for filling in the southwestern corner of the playground.

GENERAL. Mr A. Moon’s tender was accepted for stationery for the coining year. On Mr Smart’s motion it was decided to have the pine trees on the west side of the ground cut down. The attention of the Education Board is to bo drawn to the bad state of a number of the chimneys at the school, the backs being nearly burnt through. Notification was received from the Education Board that Miss Clemow had been appointed temporary assistant, that Miss Papps had been promoted to the position vacated by Miss King, and that Miss E. M. Pearce had been appointed sixth assistant. In the past the Visiting Committee has not been in the habit of going through the school in. school hours. Mr McMillan thought it would be a good idea if the committee did so, and on his motion it was decided to ask the Visiting Committee to follow that course. It was decided on Mr Sanderson’s suggestion to go into the matter of opening a plumbing class at the Technical School. Mr Sanderson said that the Act laid it down that a person could not sit for examination unless ho had attended technical classes for three years, and unless there were a local class the Stratford boys serving their time could never become fullblown plumbers unless they attended classes in. some other town. Mr Sanderson promised to the names of those anxious to,attend such a class.