Te Aroha School Committee.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42992, 7 August 1906, Page 3

Te Aroha School Committee.

i A meeting of the Te Aroha School Committee was held last night. Present: — Messrs T. Mclndoe (chairman), Rev. E. M. Cowie, Dr. Kenny, R. L. Somers, W. Mclnman, W. Hill. Mr A. F. Burton, head teacher, was also present. New Apparatus.—ln reply to a request of fhe Committee the Board communicated the fact that arrangements would be made for the Te Aroha school to be one of the first to be supplied with the apparatus required under the New Syllabus. Attendance. —The average attendance for • the month of July was 171, and the number on the roll 211 at the end of the month. School Sanitation. —A letter from Mr P, Gilchrist complained of the condition of the school, pointing out that the present sawdust on the floor was a disseminator of disease. Many of the scholars were in consequence suffering from a skin disease. The letter pointed out that the damping of the sawdust each morning was undesirable. The skin disease referred to was said to cause suffering to parents as well as children. It was suggested that the floor should be tarred, as had been done with good result at Thames. Dr. Kenny suggested sweeping every morning with damp sawdust suitably disinfected, and that the floors should be scrubbed once a week. He was in favour of white wood floors as they showed the dirt, which could be removed. Dr. Kenny was not in favour of tar. It was urged by tbC Chairman that a tarred floor could he hosed and swabbed out. The floors were at present only being scrubbed once a year. Whilst it was not desired to place monetary consideration before the health of the children, it was imperative that money should be considered. Dr. Kenny was emphatic against the idea that the sawdust had caused the disease. He was sure the disease had been brought from the children’s homes.

The secretary said the teachers would state that the disease had existed in the school before the sawdust had beeD used there During the illness of the cleaner, the sawdust had not been removed for three months in one instance. The Chairman was in favour of closing the school at once for cleaning, and that the desks} also should be well scrubbed. With this latter Dr. Kenny concurred. The head teacher said the disease had been in the schcol as long as he could remember. It was decided to use Jeye’s Fluid as a disinfectant mixed with the water used for scrubbing the floors. Mr Somers moved and Dr. Kenny seconded, that the sawdust be removed from the school, and that the floors, desks and dado be thoroughly scrubbed,*the school being closed on Tuesday (this) evening next to give full time for the work, the school to be opened on Monday next. This was carried. It was decided on the motion of Mr Hill to abolish common towels for the present. On the motion of Mr Cowie, it was decided that the children should be medically inspected by the Health Officer, and that he also report on the sanitary condition of the school. It was decided that Mr Gilchrist be written to informing him of the steps that were being taken to improve the condition of the school, and protesting against several terms used in his letter of complaint, as they were not borne out by facts. On the motion of Mr Cowie it was decided that fresh arrangements be made with Mrs Walker consistent with the new conditions. School GEOUND.--The question of alterations to the school garden was disoussed, and it was decided upon the motion of Dr. Kenny that tenders be called for the work, the specifications to be drawn up by the head teacher. Felling Trees.—The Secretary and Messrs Cowie and Kenny were appointed as a committee to deal with the tree-felling question and call tenders for the work. A few small accounts were passed for payment.