CENTRAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 149, 20 December 1911, Page 8

CENTRAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE

The monthly meeting of the Central School Committee was held in the Town Hall last evening. There were present: Mr. F. P. Corkill (chairman), Revs. Osborne and J. W. Burton, and Messrs. C. T. Mills (hon. secretary), J. Pa/ton, G. H. Dolby, and S. G. Smith. Mr. H. Dempisey (headmaster) was also present. HEADMASTER'S REPORT. The Headmaster's report for the four weeto .respectively read: 570.3, 577.5, 506.5, and 541.5; average, 564. j Roll.—The roll a week ago stood oM 619, but after striking off a number who ] are leaving—some owing to passing Standard VI., and others through leaving the , | district—it has been reduced to 608. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The inspector's report was read, and a \ resolution was passed, deeming it highly satisfactory. .! SCHOOL BUILDINGS. ! The chairman reported having sent the l | following letter to each doctor in the . town: —"Dear Sir, —For some years past r the members of this committee have felt . that the buildings' occupied by the two . | schools (Central and Courtenay street) . 1 are no longer suitajble for the aecom- > modation of so many children as are in [ attendance, if, indeed, they can be regarded as fit for school purposes at all. j Both are very old wooden structures, [ from 27 to 40 years in constant use, and 3 badly designed and equipped. The policy of this department seems to he that so long as the buildings can be kept weather proof, so long must they suffice. The ' committee recently asked the Hospital ': and Charitable Aid Board to permit its , inspector to make a careful examination > I of the premises and advise as to their ' condition, and his report has now been " i furnished as per copy attached. In bring- \ 1 ; ing it under your notice I venture to i I j ask, in the interests of the 600 children! j of New Plymouth in daily atttendance ' j at these schools, that you will give us, r your candid opinion as to the fitness of I these premises for continued school ocII cupation. Constant complaints are made lof headaches, listlessness and "out of 5 sorts," which would appear to be largely B i due to insufficiency of air-space, especially at the infant school, where there f are 200 little ones in attendance. We i ] are an impecunious body, and cannot *; offer to pay the usual fees, but I am - j assured that this request will commend | itself to you, and beg to thank you in •■- anticipation of your reply." f It was resolved that a copy of Mr, i Kendall's report be forwarded' to the a Education Board, and their attention t, drawn to the position of affairs dis- ; closed. j J Members said nothing lees than a new! t , I building would remedy matters. J t- HOLIDAYS, n The headmaster said the breaking-up* >■ would take place in the Theatre on t Thursday at 2.30, when the report would n be read, a few remarks made 'by the d chairman, and the distribution of prizes.