TAIHAPE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 March 1919, Page 4

TAIHAPE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The usual monthly meeting of the Taihapc District High School Committee was held last night, Mr. A. J. Jobliu presiding. An apology was received from Mrs Mawson.

The lady organiser of Chautauqua waited oil the committee with a request to allow the children to leave school at 2.30 each day during Chautauciua week.—ominted.

A letter was received from the education Board stating that Miss E. Wapp, on fulfilling the requirements of the Board, would be admitted a junior pupil teacher.

The sum of £2O 12s was received from the Education Board as capitation grant.

The Headmaster ’s report was read as follows:—The attendance for the month was: Primary. roll number, 298. Four years ago we had a, roll of 147, while last November the roll was 33(>. Secondary: 8011, 43 —an increase of almose 100 per cent on last year’s roll. Winiata (side), roll, 20 —a slight increase on last year’s roll. I would ask the committee to draw the Board’s attention to the increase in the attendance of the Secondary Department with the view of having an extra assistant apppoited. It was decided to make application for an additional teacher for the secondary classes. Owing to unauthorised persons making use of the school conveniences, the Headmaster is to be requested to see that the outbuildings arc locked up after school hours.

Messrs Swindells and Denness wore appointed a visiting committee for the month.

The matter of providing hot water for children to enable those who bring their lunch to school during the winter months was left to the visiting

committee to inquire into. A cheque for £l3 was received from Mr H. D, Bennett as a donation to the funds for the improvement of the grounds. These improvements, which have j.ust been completed, include picket P shaped fences round the exit gates and a substantial railing fence round the grass plots, and arc of a permanent nature. A hearty vote of thaks was passed to Mr B'cnnett for his generous donation, and an application is to be made for a subsidy from the Department thereon. The committe then sat as a Technical School Committee, when the following report was received from Mr. A. E. Wilson, organiser of the classes: Owing to the influenza epidemic and the early closing of the schools, I regret'that the annual report has been held over until the present meeting. During 1918 classes were conducted in the following subjects: Woodwork, Cookery, Dressmaking, Book-keeping, Shorthand, and Typewriting. The attendance on the Avhole was good, considering the distance some pupils live away from the classes, aud the very severe winter experienced. Early in the year electric light was installed throughout the class-rooms, and proved a saving in both labour and expense. I regret that Miss Minogue, through, 'em oval -rom the district has resigned from the staff of instruction. During the past year she proved herself an able, regular, and con-

scientious teacher. I have been unable to fill the vacancy caused by Miss Minogue’s resignation. The book-keep-ing class will also be without an instructor, unless some business man come forward, t'o take up the work. I have approached all I know capable of taking the class, but without success. In connection with this matter the remuneration tviz., 7/d per evening) seems most inadequate for an experienced and capable book-keeper or accountant. Surely, as the classes are compulsory the Board should make provision for sending instructors, or make the salary such as to induce local men capable of doing so, taking iri the work.

It was decided to send the report on to Mr Matthews, Director of Technical Education, to see that proper instructors are supplied for the classes mentioned in Mr Wilson 's report, as it was a distinct undertsanding when the compulsory techical classes were initiated that instructors would be forthcoming. This being all the business the committee (adjourned.