SCHOOL GRANTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1939, Page 5

SCHOOL GRANTS

ASSISTANCE FOR LIBRARY PURPOSES REQUESTS FROM MASTERTON HEAD TEACHERS. DISCUSSION BY TRUSTEES. Requests for financial assistance towards the combined schools library, the development of physical fitness and towards a scheme for the supply of new text books for primary school children were made to the Trust Lands Trust last night by a deputation from the Masterton Head Teachers' Association. The members of the deputation were Messrs E. G. Coddington, J. W. T. Jones and O. V. Berry. Following on a further request from a Trustee. Mr A. Owen Jones, for a £lOO grant to the Wairarapa College library an animated discussion ensued. Eventually, the Trust decided to grant £5O each to the college, and the primary schools' libraries and £lO to the primary schools for physical education purposes.

“The main purpose \ of the deputation,” said Mr Coddington, “is to try to impress upon you the importance of lending your aid, if you possibly .can, to the combined school library." Mr Coddington said it was recognised that in the past, when the Trust had more funds available, it had given very generously towards the schools library. He felt that the library played an immensely important part in the education of primary school children in Masterton. The present library was most inadequate for the purposes it was supnosed to serve. The schools 'of Masterton were very inadequately supplied in this matter and they found themselves under a considerable handicap. Mr Coddington stressed the importance of good reading in the education of the child. REORGANISATION SCHEME. Mr Jones referred to the steps that had been taken to reorganise the library by the Masterton Head Teachers' Association, which had formed a committee for that purpose. A sum of £2O donated by the Wellington Education Board had been expended in the purchase of new books. The schools concerned in the scheme .were Central, West, Lansdowne, Whatman, To Ore Ore and Fernridge. The books had been recatalogued but it had been found necessary to destroy a 'good number on account of their condition. Mr Jones proceeded to refer in detail to the policy adopted with a view to keeping a strict check on the books io prevent them from going astray. He asked if it would be possible for the Trustees to make a grant of £5O to place the library on an up-to-date footing. It was their considered opinion that the combined school library should consist of the best fiction and that each school should have its own reference library, the latter to be provided by the respective school committees. He stated that the children were most enthusiastic regarding the new scheme.

"The success of the scheme will depend,” observed Mr J. Macfarlane Laing, “on the keenness of the respective masters in the different schools who have charge of the bookS.”

Mr Jones: "That is so, the persona: element comes into everything.” An assurance was given that any grant made by the Trust would be devoted to the purchase of books. In reply to Mr E. G. Eton, Mr Coddington said the committee had no income whatever beyond any grant that might 'be made by the Education Board. It was proposed to hold a function once a year to raise funds for the maintenance of the library. They had asked the Education Board for £lOO and had received £2O.

PHYSICAL FITNESS. Mr Berry asked for financial assistance in the development of the physical fitness of children, the value of which was well recognised. At the beginning of last year, to ensure that games were conducted in a proper way, following a meeting of teachers, an executive committee was elected to run and control all school sports and subcommittees were also set up to control each particular kind of sport. He asked for a sum of £2O for the whole ol the schools in the Small Farm Area. Mr A. Owen Jones: "What happens to the capitation grants that the Trust give.” Mr Coddington: "The school committees handle those grants.” NEW TEXT BOOKS. Mr Coddington went on to refer to a scheme for the supply of text books to primary school children. He pointed out that new text books would probably be available in 1941 and he asked if it would be possible for the Trust to set aside a small sum eagh year for the purchase of these new text books. In reply to a point raised by a Trustee, Mr Coddington said the Trust grants would be far more usefully expended in the purchase of text books than for stationery.

Mr Jones agreed with Mr Coddington’s contention.

“I think we should spend our money from year to year and let posterity take care of itself." said Mr R. Krahagen. Observing that the Trust had every sympathy with the schools. Mr H. P. Hugo (chairman) assured the deputation that the Trust would do all it possibly could, though, as had been pointed out, the Trust’s funds had been curtailed and it would be some years before grants could be resumed in full The deputation then withdrew. EARMARKING OPPOSED. When the estimates came up for consideration Mr A. O. Jones suggested that the capitation grants to primary schools be the same as last year, that £lOO be allocated to primary schools as a book and stationery grant and that £25 be allocated to Wairarapa College as a book and stationery grant, the latter to meet necessitous cases. Mr Laing said he was very much impressed with what the deputation had said about the supply of text books. It looked as if parents of Masterton would be faced with a very substantial expenditure in 1941 and he thought they should give consideration to the suggestion that had been made and should set aside a sum of the purchase of these books. He moved that £5O be allocated to the primary schools as a book and stationary grant and £5O set aside for the new’ text books to be purchased in 1941. Mr Krahagen saw no reason why the children should be penalised meantime.

Mr Eton concurred. "Why worry about 1941?" he asked. I'Let us spend the money according to the Act.”

"The time is for us to spend our money for the purposes for which the Trust is set up," said Mr » Handyside, who suggested that the schools themselves should make provision out of the grants to meet the cost of the new text books. COLLEGE LIBRARY. Mr Jones’s proposal was adopted. Later, he moved that £lOO be granted to the Wairarapa College for its library. Mr Jones considered that the Trust eould not do better than make an annual grant to the college for library purposes. Mr Grey seconded the motion. “I am sure the principle behind the motion has the sympathy of all Trustees,” said Mr Laing, “but are we going too far?” he asked. "We have an application from the primary schools for a grant towards their library, which is very worthy of consideration." The standard of education in secondary schools, he said, was surely dependent on the primary schools and he considered a more reasonable grant should be made, both to the combined schools’ library and to the college. Mr Jones said it had been the policy of the Trust in the past to make grants to the primary schools and to each of the secondary schools. It was absolutely essential tfiat the college should have a good library. As the secondary schools had received no grant at all he thought £lOO a very small amount in comparison with what other schools were receiving. Mr Laing moved an amendment that £25 be granted to the college for library purposes.

Mr Eton, seconding the amendment, said no doubt Mr Jones was very earnest but at the same time he thought £lOO was rather large. Mr 11. H. Daniell: "I would like to see a substantial sum given to both libraries.” He moved a further amendment that £5O be given to each library.

This was seconded by Mr J. H. Handyside and carried by five votes to four.