School Committees

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 279, 28 April 1914, Page 7

School Committees

ANNUAL ELECTION. The annual election of school committees took place la-it evening. CENTRAL. There was an attendance of about eighty, including several ladies, at the Central School." Mr. C. E, Bcllringer was voted to the chair. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman, in his annual report, stated that the annual report presented by the Board's inspectors on the work of the. school for the past year disclosed a most satisfactory position. Only the diligence and perseverance of the staff and scholars alike could have produced such excellent results, and they were to be heartily congratulated on the success that had been attained. The report was "one of the best" that the school hat had. Out of 80 points reported on in the different standards. 71 were marked "good," "very good," or "excellent." At the scholarship examination at the end of last year, four pupils qualified, two gaining fourth and lifth places respectively on a list of 31. At the proficiency examination held on December 4, out of 45 examined, all passed but two, the majority gaining proficiency certificates.

Staff.-—The report expressed extreme regret at the untimely death of Miss Winine Spcnce, one of the most promising teachers the school had had, and the departure on promotion of Miss Doile, at the resignation on account of ill-health of Miss Ford, and at the resignation of Mr. .T. R. Sullivan, who had entered the Methodist Church, after much valuable work in the school.

Roll.—The average attendance for 1913 was 54!), as against 535 in 1912 (when an epidemic raged for several months). At the beginning of the present year, the attendance was low, owing to so many children leaving the district, bat it is gradually creeping up again, and the roll at present is 580. The regularity on the whole was very satisfactory, the majority making an excellent record, while the defaulters are promptly rounded up by the truant inspector. Finance.—The financial position of the committee was fairly good. The bal-ance-sheet as at Marcli 28 showed a credit of only £2 14s, out of receipts

amounting to £lO3 12s od, but a statement made up to Saturday last showed a credit balance of £l3 10s, with no outstanding liabilities. Vogeltown School.—The committee had been urging that something of a more definite nature should bo done regarding the proposed school at Vogeltown, advocating that a side school, under Mr. Dempsey's supervision, should be established at Vogeltown, taking pupils up to a certain standard. The Board made (application in this, direction, but later i on advised that they had amended their application, and were now asking for a j full-time school, 'with a separate district. The committee felt that the additional expense would have the. effect of further delaying matter,*. It was understood that additional land had been or was about to be procured at Vogeltown, but no information was available as to when a school building would he erected.

Carnival.—The committee desired to place on record its appreciation of the great assistance rendered to the school by those gentlemen who formed the Carnival Committee. The function was a great success, and nil credit was due to that willing hand of workers who had done so much for the school in recent years. Physical Instruction.—The committee was fortunate in securing the services of Mr. W. Lints to give a limited number of lessons of instruction in gymnastics during the past year. The boys entered into the idea" with great zeal, and the incoming committee would have to make definite arrangements to earn' on this work. In accordance with an arrangement witli the gymnastic instructor a very successful gymnastic carnival was held in the. Theatre Royal on December 11. Physical instruction now formed part of the school syllabus, and much good work in this respect had been carried out by the stair. It was a matter for regret that Taranaki had, not as yet been brought under the scope of the scheme of which Air. Koyd Garlick was the head, and it was to' be hoped that this would he done.

School Committees' Association.—A review was made of the work of the School Committees' Association, and it was remarked that while no definite result had as yet been brought under the notice of the Education Hoard and the Minister for Education in a manner which might yet hear fruit, it was certain that the formation of the Association was a step in the right direction. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £1 12s 2d. The reocipts amounted to .CIO2 Ida 7il, the principal items being: Capitation £GO Ss ild, extra grant €l3. advance carnival fund £lO, concert .€(! Is (id, proceeds carnival £1 Is (id. The principal items of expenditure were: Cleaning schools £OS 17s. printing, etc.. £5 17s Gd. swings and gymnastic material. £ls 15s (id.—Adopted, without discussion. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE.

Thirteen nominations were received for the committee. Rev. S. S. Osborne and ,Mr. F. C. .1. Bellringer were appointed scrutineers. The following nine were elected:—Messrs (i. H. Dolby 05. S. C. Smith <r.l. \\\ F. Short GO. <i.'(!riffiths 51. A. Milne 50. C. T. Mills' 4!), Rev Roseveare ,15, V. (irilliths 44 and R. YV. Sinclair 43. • Messrs T. Hardgraves 41, F. Coleman 38. C. .1. Laurence 28. and J. O'Hrien 27 were the unsuccessful candidates. VOTES OF THANKS. The best thanks of the meeting were accorded Mr. Dcinpscy (the headmaster) and stall for the work done during the year.--Mr. Dcmpsey. in returning thanks, referred to tile handicap experienced by the various changes of teachers. A vote of thanks was accorded to the members of the Minister.-,' Association, anil also to Sister Florence, for attending the school and taking the Bible k-s----sons. Rev. Roseveare. in expressing his pleasure at the resolution coming from this meeting, pointed out that they looked upon this as one of the principal futures of their work. All those who had assisted the school in raising funds (luring the year wee also thanked, as were the outgoing committee. KXTEXDIXC THE EDUCATION DISTRICT. Mr. S. O. Smith moved that the Tarami ki Education Hoard should he enlarged to include the whole of the Tarauaki province, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the member of the district and the Minister of Education. Ilf said that it seemed ridiculous that an important province like Taranaki shol.-M be cut in half and partlv adminNtered by Waiigauui. This district was hampered by containing so few large schools, and the proposed enlargement of the area would include several schools ' and enhance die teachers' chances el

promotion. A determined attempt was being made to abolish the Taranaki Education Board. It had been decided 'by the Education Commission that the number of boards in the North Tf»land should be reduced to five, and that meant that either Turanaki or Wanganui would be wiped out—Mr. W. F. Short seconded. Mr. C. 15. Bcllringer said that another attempt was being made to side-tract; Taranaki, and ii wis time that they stood up for their Tights. The motion was unanimously carried.

A resolution wti >< passed appreciative of the action of those responsible for the formation of the North Taranaki Schools' Assciation. PHYSICAL CULTURE.

In reference to file fact that the services of the recently-appointed physical culture expert had not been made available to Taranaki, Mr. Dcmpsey stated that no application had been made by the Board for his services. The committee met subsequently, and re-elected the chairman and secretary, Messrs S. G. Smith and C. T. Mills, respectively, with Rev. Roseveare as de-puty-chairman. The committee will mcee.t on the first Tuesday in each month at the Town Hall at 7.30 p.m. WEST END,

The annual report of the secretary (Mr. W. W. Thomson) stated that the balance at the end of March, 1913, was .€36 lis, but there were unpaid accounts amounting to £42 Ids sd, leaving a debit of £6 5s od. During the year accounts amounting to £O6 2s lOd had been paid, and at March 31, 1914, there was a bank balance of £26 9s lid. Considerable improvements had been made to the school property during the year. A new room had been added, and the east and west sides of the playground had been fenced. The gymnasium had been partially lined, and a large amount of work had been done to the playground in having it graded. The latter work involved a very heavy expenditure, but the fall of the ground necessitated it. The school attendance had steadily increased, and the outlook for the school generally was very promising. Only one complaint from a parent came before the committee during the year. The work of the scholars had been of a high order, and the teaching staff and the scholars were to be congratulated on the successes achieved in the examinations held' at the close of last year. The increasing attendance must eventually mean that more accommodation will be needed to provide for- play grounds, but the high price of land in the vicinity would mean a very heavy expenditure. The following committee was elected: —Messrs Thompson, Bullot, Morrison, Hardwidge, Smart, Brokeushire, Hawker, Deare and Russell.

At the first meeting of the new committee, Mr. A. K. Smart was elected chairman, and Mr. W. W. Thompson r«electcd secretary.

FITZROY.

! CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. | The Chairman (Mr. W. G. Reid) in his j report stated that the management of the school had been very satisfactorily I carried out under the aide guidance of the Headmaster, Mr. Oscar Johnson. I The removal of Rev. J. Kempthornc was a loss to the committee, but Mr Ana had been elected to fill the vacancy. Doctor Elizabeth Gunn paid a special I visit to the school and her report was j very satisfactory. The Carnegie Library Committee had granted tlie free use of I Library books to pupils in Standard Vf. The committee hoped the parents would see that their children made the best use of the opportunity afforded them. July last saw the completion of the gymnasium and shelter shed. This his been quite a "landmark" in the com- [ mittee's work during the year. The building was not only proving useful to the children, but also to the young men of the district, who liad established a physical class and would he making use of the shed regularly. There being a small balance over the gymnasium fund, the committee proposed improving the grounds. They had already applied to the Education Board for a subsidy and had been granted £ for £ up to £3O to carry out the work. He recommended this work being done by the incoming committee. The committee had to thank all those who so generously subscribed to the committee's funds and I helped with tho bazaar and concerts !during.the year. Special mention was made of the enthusiastic work and keen judgment of the secretary, Mr. George White. The balance in hand for general account at the last annual meeting was £3 8s sd, and although the balancesheet now showed a credit of £l2 ISs liabilities of £9 12s 3d which had since boon paid, leaving a balance of £3 fa fid as at March 31, there were then 3d for the incoming committee. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Votes of thanks were passed to the headmaster and teaching staff, and to the chairman and secretary of the committee. The new committee is as follows: Messrs W. G. Reid (chairman), \V. H. Griffiths. V. W. Ardern, Bond, A. Jones, I. Aroa and G. S. White (secretary and treasurer). Meetings will he held on the first Monday in the month, at 7.30 p.m.