SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1917, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE,

Tim annual conference of the I«ra•na!,i School Committees'" Association was held at the plans' Club yesterday, Mr. S. G. Smith; president, 'being in the chair, the following delegates being present: Mrs. Jemison (Tariki), Messrs S. G. Smith, G. H. Dolby, F. Coleman, F. Reed (Central), W. G. Reiil (Fitzroy), J. Hurlo (West End), J. Simpson (Moa), A. McHeth (Egmont Village),. F. Andrews, H. P. 'H, Surrey (Huirangi), J. H. Allan (Tikorangi), A. E. Williams (Hurford), T. tr. Walker (Hawera), J. W. Boon, F. J. McDonald (Stratford), T. A. Boeock (Ruapuha), A. Smith (Hurford), W. K. Morris (Oakura), E. Ford, 11. Wakeley, A. Tomlinson (Waitara), J. Diggins, W. Roberts (Lepperton), Max Gemhoefer (Toko), P. Darke (Okoke), W. Chambers (Opunake), D. L. A. Astbury (Mangatold).

After briefly welcoming the delegates the president called on Mr. B. Masters, chairman of tho Educatym Board, to address the meeting. Mr. Masters, after expressing the Board's appreciation of the good vork which the committees were doing, the 1 voluntary assistance given hy them in the cause of education, and the amount of money raised for improvements, especially of the grounds, pointed out the strenuous time the Board was 'having owing to the enlargement of the area of control and personally visiting the schools. He referred to the question of school reserves advocating that such as 'were not needed should be leaged for the purpose of augmenting tho :chool funds, provided it is spent on improvements of ,school grounds. On the vexed question of school books, Mr. Masters pointed out that the Board had decided no change should take place for the next four years. He approved of uniformity of school books, except as to readers, it heing undesirable to tie tied down to the same readers which the children would soon know hy heart and weary of. He thought the Government should print and' supply the necessary hooks at as low a cost aa possible. He dwelt at some length on the subject of the hack block schools on the same lines as in his remarks at Stratford. Mr. H. Trimble (ex-chairman of the Ediication Board) expressed his pleasure at being present. In connection with the subject of diopl books, he contended that books should be provided by the State free of cost to the childwn. Mr. G. H. White, member of the Board, applauded the work of committees, and endorsed the remarks of Mr. Masters relative to the ,'back blocks schools. THE REMITS. Mr. Walker (Hawera) 1 moved: That the Education Board should have, fuller power to deal with the removal or transfer of teachers within their own districts. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bocock and after an explanation by Mr. Trimble as to the Board's powers which, he said, were fairly full, the motion was <arried without dissent. Mr. Walker moved and Mr. Mcßeth seconded: That a recommendation bo made to tJie Education Department to adopt a uniform system of school books for the whole Dominion. After some discussion, during which Mr. Trimble explained . that in cases where parents moved from one district to another the Government supplied the books if necessary, the motion was carried. Mr. Walker moved: That a recommendation be made to tho Department that the Government should print all school books.—Carried. Mr. Walker moved: That a uniform standard of examination papers be adopted for proficiency examinations throughout the Dominion. The chairman heartily supported the proposal, which was carried. The chairman (for the Tokaora delegate) moved: That the method of paying the capitation allowance to school committees be improved. Mr. Simpson seconded. The discussion favored the present system, but it was suggested that the Board might pay half the bank charges, the chairman advocating presuro heing brought to bear on the banks to make a concession to the committees. Eventually the remit was referred to the incoming executive to deal with. Mr. Simpson (Moa branch) moved: That all printing necessary for the Education Department should be done by the State Printing Department, so that school books could be supplied to families of three children at cost price and free to families over that number, besides supplying the necessary .printing required by school committees. Ho claimed that if the printing office couTd print railway tickets and postage stamps it could print lucational material for the parents. The motion was carried. Mr. Dolby (Central) moved: That out-'f-date and insanitary school buildings should be replaced as soon as possible by modern structures. He did not contemplate his proposal being carried out till after the war, out contended that it was time to move in the direction of stirring up the authorities to replace Insanitary buildings with new and up-to-date structures. ': : :. i The motion was carried. The chairman moved: That capitation now paid to school committees be increased.—Carried. . Mr. Bocock (Stratford) niovert: That tho date of tho householders' annual meeting be altered so , as to make it ■nea.er to the date upon which the committees' accounts close. The chief reason advanced was to plat! a check on the outgoing committee making splash out of funds in hand between the end of the financial year and going out of office. \fter some discussion the motion was altered to make the financial year end on May 31 and was then carried. STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL. The chairman moved: That the Conference endorses the desire of the Stratford branch urging on tke Ministar of Education the urgent necessity of disestablishing the Stratford District High School, and establish a technical high school, and that the proposed scftool should be kept under tho control of the Education Board. Mr. J. Boon, who .supported the motion, traversed tho arguments which have already been pub. lislied in connection with this ma.ilcr, and outlined the details of thomodel ■farm which it is proposed to provide in conjunction with the Technical School. The motion was carried unanimously. OTHER MATTERS. Mr. Bocock moved: That there should be unity of control of the primary and secondary schools in this district. The motion was carried on.'a division. _ Mr. Dolby moved: That tins Association expresses its approval of the at-

tempt of the Board to establish woodwork classes in country school, and hopes the Department will further the work. He pointed out tho desirability of making tho country schdols as attractive as possible and giving as far as possible the facilities enjoyed by, the towns.

Mr. Masters explained what the Board was doing, remarking that although tho Minister was sympathetic, the necessary funds for the work had not yet c»<}ie to light. It was impossible to erect a technical school in every part of the district, so that the only substitute was to send instructors to country schools. The motion was unanimously carried.

Mr. Simpson moved: That this meeting, realising the disabilities of the children of tho hack blocks in regard to education, urges on the Minister to bring in an amendment to the Act in the direction of substituting the word five in lieu of eight in the fifth schedule of tho Act, clause I.—Carried. On the motion of Mr. Beid, the r?seting expressed its best thanks to Mr. Gray, technical director, in his endeavors 'to provide manual instruction at country schools, and for Iris ever ready assistance in other matters. ' f ELECTION <3F OFFICERS. President: Mr. S. G. Smith (re-elect-ed). Vice-president (left over fos alteration of rule). Secrctarv and treasurer, Mr. W. G. Reid. District vicepresidents: New Plymouth, Mr. Dolby; Waitara, Mr. Wakely; Inglewood, Mr. J. B. Simpson; Stratford, Mr. Bocock; Whangamomona (left over); Okato, Mr. •Morris; Opunake, MV. Chambers. Exe•cutive: Messrs. Grayling (Fitzrov), Lister (Frankley road), Hurle (West End), and F. Coleman (Central). A hearty vote of thanfcs was accorded to the chairman and members of the Education Board who had attended the meeting. Mr. Masters replied. A similar compliment was paid to the chairman and executive of the Association, . I