Page 4 Advertisements Column 5

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1916, Page 4

ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES. The annual meetings of householders and parents for the election of School Committees take place this evening at the various schools throughout the Taranaki Education Board's district. Considering the great importance of these annual meetings, it is almost incredible that as a rule, they are so SDaraely attended. The administration of our educational system is a matter that affects the nation quite as much as the units, but there seems to be an impression that the functions of school committees are so limited that considerable difficulty is experienced frequently in obtaining a full quota of members. In a democratic country like New Zealand, where Government by the people for the people is an established principle, there should be an active interest taken in every detail of administrative work. School Committees have a real live work to carry out, and whether the schools under their respective control advance or retrogress depends on the manner in which they carry out their'duties and stimulate the head teachers by displaying an active interest in the work and recreation of the scholars, and by providing the numerous requisites to ensure the success oi the school. They are practically the Education Board's local deputies, and part of the duty of each Committee is the school. The Board, of course, is the body of central control, but it is the committees who control the personnel of the Board, the members of which are elected by the Committees. Thia is one potent reason why it is desirable f«r every district to secure the services of its best men on the School Committees. Or; the Committees devolves the duty of establishing school and class libraries, and the establish) for the use of the .„„.,......, fc „,.,. school. The formation ef the School Committees' Association, which is doing excellent work, has enabled united action to he taken in all mat f °"° •■«"*>—■><■■.> education, and it is a l iug the Attest members for the Education Board. An example of the Committees' good work is the adaption of compulsory attendance of backward children at continuation classes after they have been withdrawn from school, and this has been found most beneficial. >At the present time it is more than ever desirable, if not imperative, that greater attention shall be given to technical education, in view of the widespread movement in faver of the Empire being selfcontained. We cannot too strongly urge householders to recognise the desirability of their being present at the annual meeting in their respective districts to-night at half-past seven o'clock, and thus show their interest in this branch of the work of the State, as well as to help forward the business of education, and to show their appreciation of those who have been shouldering the burden of committee work, thereby earning (but jeldom receiving) the thanks of the community. The enlarged sphere of the Taranaki Board's work should certainly arouse a corresponding degree of interest 'n the educational wo&- at #ie,