MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9007, 17 December 1907, Page 5

MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

ORDINARY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Masterton School Com mi tee was held yesterday afternoon, there being prebeing present: Messrs R. Brown, (chairman), J. Carpenter, E. H. Waddington, C. Perry, G. Townsend, H. H. Cork, H. O'Leary, and Rev. J. N. Buttle. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £27 13s sd. With regard to the establishment of advanced sewing and dress-making classes at the school, the Education Board wrote assenting to the estab • lishment of such classes, provided that the instruction is undertaken by an instructor on the staff of the school, or, if not, then by an outside instructor for an amount paid from the sewing capitation. The committee decided to refer the matter to a sub-committee already appointed to ascertain the probable nu'trber of pupils that would form a sewing class, whether a suitable teacher could be procured, and if the Trust Lands Trust would be willing to assist in the formation of the classes. Messrs Cork, Fendall and O'Leary were appointed the visiting members for the month.

| Accounts amounting to £l9 9s 2d i were passed for payment. The Headmaster's monthly report was as follows:—Roll attendance, Main School, 597; average attendance, 516; percentage of attendance, 88. Side School, 197; average attendance, 147; percentage of attendance, 75. Secondary classes, 92; average attendance, 84; percentage of attendance, 91. The attendance at the Main School has now nearly recovered from the effect of the measles epidemic. The Side School attendance is suffering most at the present time, the percentage being only 75 as against 92 last month. I am glad to be able to report that the epidemic has practically run its course. The infant room attendance at the Main School has made a wonderful recovery. Last month there were 71 children absent at the same time out of a roll of 172 on account of measles and influenza. Last Week the total number of absences was seven. One assistant and three pupil-teachers . have been absent from duty during the month, the first named on account of measles, and the others on leave to attend examinations. Miss Clark, pupil-teacher, has been promoted to the posiition of assistant at the Fernridge School. Owing to decreased accommodatoin in the primary department in order to provide a third room for secondary work, two standard classes have to be crowded into one room much too small for the number of scholars. An additional room is urgently needed. I should be glad if the committee will arrange with the Board, as early as possible for the establishing of the proposed classes in dress-making and advanced sewing. The classes will be unable to qualify for capitation unless started fairly early next year. The completion of the borough swimming baths will now make it possible to establish classes in swim'mingand life-saving in connection with our school. I would suggest that the committee appoint a subcommittee to co-operate with me in aranging with the Borough Council regarding terms and hours for the use of the baths in connection with the swimming classes. I desire to thank the committee for their congratulatory letters to the staff and myself in connection with the work of the school.

Messrs Pendall, Cork and Rev. Buttle were appointed a committee to arange with the Borough Council regarding the terms on which the school chldren, will be allowed to use the public swimming baths.