MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9538, 9 July 1909, Page 5

MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Masterton Schorl Committee was held in th 3 secretary's office last evening, there biing present-Messrs K. Brown (chairman), R. Hendry, T. J. Tr.omp3on, 11. J. O'Leary, W. H. Jackson, J. Carpenter, A, H. Chapman, E. 11. Waddington, G. Tnwnseiid, and C. H. Perry. The treasurer's report showed a credit balance of £lO3 9s 9d. It was decided to purchase a copy of the Roderick Mjp for use in the school. Accounts amounting to £3l 16s were passed for payment. The Headmaster reported as follows: — Attendance. — Main School, roll 614, average attendance 565, percentage of attendance 92; Side School, 162, 147, 91; Secondary Classes, 81, 77, 95. The attendance for the month has been good, and a creditable precentage of attendance has been made in all three departments. I find that parent 3 are tilting a much keener interest regarding the regularity of their children's attendance. A few parents, however, have got into the habit of taking away for holidays at other times than the usual school vacation. Ihis has been one of the most serious causes of loss of attendance. I submit an absentee report fur the month. Staff. — Miss M. Hare has be3ll transferred from the : Johnsonville School, and has taken up her duties as pupil teacher in place of Miss Olive Dagg, who has retired. Miniature Rifle Range for Cadets. — I have to thank the Committee for so heartily supporting the uroposal contained in my last month's report regarding the provision of a miniatura rifle range for ot;r school cadets. I have pleasure in reporting thrit Major McDonald has approved of the proposed site, and has expressed hi 3 willingness to supervise its construction, and certify regarding its safety when finished.. The Mayor and the officers of the Navy League and National Defence Comlr ittee have intimated their desire to accord the project every encouragement and assistance. Cadet Inspection. —The three cadet corps belonging to our school were inspected to-day by Major T. W. McDonald, the , commandant of School Cadet Corps. He expressed great satisfaction with the appearance and drill of the boys. Infectious Diseases.— The utmost vigilance is exercised by the staff in connection with the detection and prevention of infectious diseases among the school children, and it has happened in several cases lately that I have had to direct the attention of the Health Officer to homes in which infection existed. On the part of some few parents thera appears reluctance to get nndical advice when a child is only slightly ill, although th ;re may be every appearance of scarletina or measles. A mild epidemic may thus become a greater scourge than one accompanied by very pronounced symptoms.