CENTRAL SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 253, 24 September 1929, Page 4

CENTRAL SCHOOL

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. Mr W. 1?. Mayes presided over a meeting of the Central School Committee last evening, also present being Messrs H. J. Canton, AV. H. Cameron, W. S. Fatten, L. S. Hands and C. E. Taylor. The headmaster (Mr E. Bary) reported for the month to August 23 that the attendance was 730, with 81G on the roll. The drop in attendance was largely duo to the prevalence of iniluenza and the inclement weather experienced throughout. Since the commencement of the present term, however, the attendance had greatly improved. Miss E. Clare, an assistant teacher on the staff, had resigned to take up another appointment, and Miss Emmett had also forwarded her] resignation, to take effect from Octo-1 ber 31. Messrs Crawford, Adams and Law had made their annual inspection of the school and had commented favourably on the standard of work. A list of books had been drawn up by the staff for a children's reference library and had been approved of by tho senior inspector, and the headmaster suggested that the conimitteo should apply for the Education Board's subsidy in order that the books might be obtained. W. Tweedale had won the trophy for the most improved player at llugby, presented by the lvia Toa Eootbali Club. \V. Tweedale and L. Pye were selected for the Manawatu primary schools ltugby representatives to travel to Wanganui. W. Tweedale, It. Todd, H. Burrows, L. Bye, L. Busst, J. Cole, M. Turner and G. Pike were selected for the primary schools' representative hockey team. The donation by Mr F. Jackson of two very valuable pictures of historical interest was acknowledged with thanks. The committee received the resignations of Miss Clare and iMss Emmett with regret and wished them every success in their new spheres of activities. It was decided to apply for the subsidy on the list of books drawn up by the staff and the pupils successful in winter sports were congratulated. The secretary was instructed to thank Mr F. Jackson for his gifts. SCHOOL BALL. A combined meeting of the school and the ladies' committee was held prior to the ordinary meeting, when the report and balance-sheet of the annual ball were received. A credit balance of £77 17s 3d was shown, as against £73 3s 7d last year. Mr Bary stated that he would like to see Central School give a lead in Palmerston North for the abolition of prizes at school balls. He had taken a vote in three classes at the school and the figures showed that 213 were for prizes and 285 against. He had found that children preferred more dancing and less speeches. At present, they had somewhere in the vicinity of 50 prizes for 500 children and, whereas the lucky ones were quite satisfied, a larger percentage were not. The speaker did not think tho abolition of prizes would be detrimental to tho attendances, and it would save a great deal of worry, expense and time. He would like to see the committee take the lead and ho was sure other headmasters would be behind it. The ladies' committee were unanimous in their agreement with Mr Bary's suggestion and the general opinion was that parents dressed their children for the joy they received at tho ball and not for the prizes. The following motion was unanimously : "That this committee recommends to the incoming committee that no prizes be awarded at the next year's school ball." Euolgistic reference was made by Mr Mayes to the manner in which the ladies' conimitteo had carried out its duties and he stated that the success ! of the ball had been largely due to tho ladies' efforts. Ho knew 'there was , a good deal of sacrifice attached to the j work for some ladies, but they would' realise that it was appreciated and would carry on. ! Mrs dishing briefly replied, thanking the chairman for his remarks. 9