SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1922, Page 8

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

HOUSEHOLERS' MEETINGS. CENTRAL SCHOOL. Householders’ meetings for the election of school committees were held throughout Taranaki on Monday night. There was an attendance of about thirty householders at the Central School, Mr. P. J. H. White (chairman of the Taranaki Education Board) presiding. On behalf of the committee, the chairman (Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P.) reported that the high state of efficiency reached in connection with the education of the pupils attending the Central and Courtenay Street Schools was still being maintained. At the proficiency examinations held at the end of the year 46 pupils gained proficiency and 10 competency, and only three failed in a class of 62-—a result which was more than creditable. Reference was made to the success of the "at home” held in April last year, and the school concerts in the following July, by which the sum of £584 14s 8d was raised. Application had been made to the department for a subsidy on this amount, but no definite reply had been received. The statement of the committee’s finances showed that receipts were £241 10s, and payments £230 2s, leaving a credit balance of £ll 8s lOd. The improvements io the school grounds, for which funds were now available, were being proceeded with, and work K>n the girls’ playground at Pendarves Street would be completed shortly. Other improvements were detailed. The report concluded : "The staff now consists of the headmaster, 10 assistants and seven pupil teachers and probationers. The committee desire to here record their appreciation of the manner In which the staff have carried out their duties during the year. Parents should feel gratified that the school is staffed by such excellent teachers, who seem to get the best out of pupils by a happy spirit of co-opera-tion. The committee records its thanks to the Press for every readj’ assistance, and to the Education Board officers, whose advice and help, more especially while the improvement scheme is being carried out, is more than appreciated. This report would not be complete without special recognition by the committee of the most valuable services rendered by the honorary, secretary (Mr. F. A. Coleman). The secretary’s work Is beyond reproach, and has been commended by those outside the committee who have knowledge of the manner in which he has carried out his duties.” The adoption of the report was moved by Smith, seconded by Mr. T. M. Avery and carried without discussion. Afterwards a vote of thanks was passed to the committee in recognition of their work. The meeting passed a resolution recording high appreciation of the splendid manner in which the headmaster (Mr. Stratford) and staff had carried on their duties, and congratulating them on the success met with. In moving the resolution, Mr. Smith quoted remarks from the inspector’s report, which stated that it was evident that the pupils were receiving sound instruction and careful training for the duties of after life, and also paid a tribute to the efficient management of the headmaster. It was stated that the order and discipline of the school were excellent, and that a very fine moral tone prevailed throughout. Mr. Smith said that in his opinion the report indicated that there was not a single weak teacher in the school.

In seconding the motion, Mr. F. E. Wilson expressed gratification at the high moral tone, prevailing in the school.

Eleven nominations were received for the committee of nine, and the following were elected: Mrs. S. A. Jemison, Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P., T. M. Avery, W. S. Cobham, F. A. Coleman, V. Elliott, S. W. Croker, T. Hardgrave, W. H. Robertshaw. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. Smith was re-elected chairman. WEST END SCHOOL. At the West End gymnasium, Mr. J. S. S. Medley presided over an attendance of about fifteen members. He was pleased to report that the past year had proved a very successful one, both as regards the work of the school staff and of the committee. He referred to the excellent work done in the school, despite several changes in the staff, and remarkd that in Mr. D. P. Evans, the headmaster, and his staff, the school had a teaching staff that could not, fee thought, be excelled by any school in the Dominion. During the year the committee had done good work. Thy had started the year with a credit of £ 199. The committee's activities during the year included successful concerts, and here he paid a tribute to the splendid organising abilities of Messrs. J. Hoskin and T. Petty. There had been the gala day run in conjunction with the Kawaroa Park Committee, and also the carnival queen election. The annual picnic at Ngaere had been a distinct success, and he- thought all the children would again vote for Ngaere. The committee had effected considerable improvements for the children, and given liberal donations to the sports fund and to the library. Owing to pressure of other business he was unable to stand on the committee again this year, a fact which he regretted, but he hoped to again join the committee later.

The headmaster (Mr. D. P. Evans) said that there was very little to add to the report he had submitted at the breaking-up ceremony. Two pupils from the school had secured junior national scholarships, both being well placed on the list, one boy (L. Tuffery) being highest, on the list for Taranaki. At the end of last year he had expressed the hope that the staff changes, which had been so frequent during the year, were done with, but during the present yiar some changes had already taken place, and they had not yet got their permanent teacher in some standards. This was particularly the case in Standard V. He touched on the appointment of Miss Tracey, of Canada, to the school, pointing out that she would be leaving about the end of June on her return, necessitating another change of staff. Miss Sharpe, of Australia, had been appointed to the school. She had special ■ :;n‘ng in Montessori work, and he was very •tied with the results so far shown. He pressed regret at the resignation of the chairman, who had always been most assiduous in attending to the requirements of the Mr. R. J. Deare, a member of the Education Board, was sympathetic towards the West End School and its requirements, but they could net get the department to move. There was talk of a moveable school at Moturoa, but something must also be done for Westown, the hall there being unsuitable for the purposes of a school. They should battle hard for a site for the West End School, though the department always said they were hard up. He considered the Canadian teacher had not been given a chance in having to take charge of a class of eighty-six. There being only the requisite number nominated, the chairman declared the following committee elected: Messrs. C. Anderson, W. H. Broome. A. Coad, J. Brokenshire, J. Garcia, 0. G. Erickson, J. Hawker, J. Hoskin, and .1. Lobb. A motion was passed expressing the householders’ appreciation of the work of the headmaster and staff. Mr. Medley spoke in high terms of the work of Mr. Broome as secretary. He had had a very busy year indeed. He moved that the meeting record its appreciation on the minutes. —Seconded by Mr. Coad and carried. It was resolved to place on record the householders’ appreciation of the work of the retiring members (Messrs. Medley and Petty). At the instance of Mr. Hawker it was resolved : That this meeting of householders urges on the board the necessity for providing a shelter shed, seeing that I he present, gymnasium, built for a shelter shed, was now used as a class room. Reference was made to the danger to the' small children through the trams in front of the school, and it was resolved to ask the Borough Council to issue instructions for the trams to slow down while passing the school during school hours. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. Jas. Garcia was elected chairman, and Mr. W. H. Broome secretary. The meeting night was fixed for the first Monday of the month. FITZROY SCHOOL. There was an attendance of 19 householders, including several ladies, at the Fltzroy annual meeting of householders on Monday evening. Mr. R. Day was voted to the chair. The annual report stated that, the roll was still rapidly increasing, and the committee had again made strong representations to the ,ieLp*ruaeat conawnlug a new school, but up ».o

the present nothing had been done beyond lining the gymnasium. The teaching of the school was all that could be expected under the present lack of accommodation, and the headmaster and his staff were to be congratulated upon the results attained under prevailing conditions. Mr. Armitage still maintained his reputation for his good work as caretaker. The committee had carried out various improvements to the grounds levelling and sowing into grass a large piece of ground, tarring and sanding, besides effecting several other small improvements.

A supplementary report, showing the growth of the school during the last few months, stated :—Roll number : October, 1921, 262 ; November, 267 ; December, 274; February, 1922, 296 ; March, 299.

In moving the adoption of the report, the Rev. Martin paid a tribute to the energetic work done by the committee. Speaking as chairman of the committee, he said he had never worked with a finer committee. The motion was seconded by Mr. H. Hall, and car-

The annual balance-sheet showed a credit of £ll 19s 5d in the bank, and a balance-sheet of special accounts showed a credit of £262 4s lid.

Ten nominations were received for the committee of nine members, and the voting resulted in the following being elected: V. W. Ardern, A. C. W. Bellringer, A. Cunningham, W. H. Chatteris, G. F. Goldsworthy, V. George, H. Hall, R. L. Parkin, A. L. Roberts. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. Parkin was elected chairman. A vote of thanks to the retiring committee was carried by acclamation, the Rev. Martin (the late chairman, who did not seek reelection) responding. VOGELTOWN SCHOOL. No election was necessary at Vogeltown, only the required number of nominations being received. The members are: Messrs. H. Boswell, N. Allen, R. Tippins, G. Wigley, V. Griffiths, A. C. Evans and W. Healy. UPPER MANGOREI. Messrs. R. H. Balsora, junr. (chairman), S. Richards (secretary), L. J. Wadsworth, G. Knaux, J. D. Pearce. CARDIFF SCHOOL. Messrs. C. A. Marchant (chairman), P. H. Richards, J. Richards, W. Dempsey, E. Bennett. STRATFORD SCHOOL. Messrs. J. W. Boon (chairman), W. Abraham, W. Pinhey, D. Clank, H. Hunt, —. Bocock, G. Smith, H. Anderson, W. McDonald. RAUPUHA SCHOOL. Messrs. WollantoD, Gordon, Skedgwick, Jamison, Jensen. MIDHIRST SCHOOL. Messrs. G. Smith (chairman), G. P. Harkness, A. L. Witheford, T. Carter, E. A. Adlain, A. McMeekin, A. Boniface. CORRESPONDENCE. NEW PLYMOUTH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. (To the Editor.) Sir, —As a horticulturist of many years experience, in New Plymouth and elsewhere, I have been very favorably impressed when visiting past shows held under the auspices of the New Plymouth Horticultural Society, by the high quality of the exhibits, which, I consider, were equal, and in many instances, superior in merit to similar but more pretentious displays which I have seen in the larger centres of the Dominion. Such results must be extremely gratifying to all concerned, and are a tribute to the fertility of Taranaki soil. At such meritorious and enticing displays. I expected to see a large attendance, but, with the exception of a few enthusiasts, the public were conspicious by their absence. The apathy of the public in tliis respect must be decidedly discouraging to the society’s energetic committee, who devote most of the limited time at their disposal to the worthy and distinguished cause which they have embraced. And equally so to the exhibitors, who, at the expense of much time and labor, and with small compensatory bene 1 !??* 1 , supply the wherewithal that makes the shows attractive. It is difficult to suggest a remedy for this deplorable condition of affairs, as the taste for the more exciting forms of entertainment predominates at the presenr time, but as one who appreciates the good work which the society, in spite of many obstacles, is doing, I take this opportunity of making an appeal to your numerous readers in the hope that a larger measure of patronage will be extended to the society on Che o'ccasion of their chrysanthemum show.—l am, etc., J. L. Me. New Plymouth, April 22,