Manchester Street School

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7278, 4 October 1933, Page 3

Manchester Street School

MEETING OF COMMITTEE Mr G. J. Fitzpatrick presided -at the monthly meeting of the Manchester Street School, held on Monday evening. Thero were also present Mcsdames S. McDowall, K Ross, Messrs J. Campbell (secretary), T. S. Goldsmith, P. B. Desmond, T. K. Hay, G. Watts, and tho headmaster (Mr D. C. Pryor). The headmaster reported that the roll stood at 373, tho attendance for the past four weeks being 354, 352, 332 and 341. The low attendance was due to a mild epidemic of influenza. Daffodil Day, held on September In, had produced £7 -is 9d. Inspectors MeMurtrie and Merringtou visited the school on September 18 and 19, and conducted a thorough examination of the whole school. Twenty-four new desks had been supplied by the Wanganui Education Board and these wore being used to replace very old ones. The headmaster was having the old ones converted into seats for use in the playground. Tho asphalting in the grounds was completed and improved the environment of tho school. A commencement had been made with summer games, tho boys playing cricket and tho girls baseball Tounders. House matches would begin this week. Tho staff and children were congratulated by the committee on the success of Daffodil Day, which had proved a much greater success than was anticipated. Tho Education Board wrote in reply to the committee’s requests, stating tlm-t blinds for two rooms would bo supplied, and that tho board had acceded to the request for two bubblyfountains for the school. The committee acknowledged with thanks these courtesies of the board.

Replying to a letter sent by the chairman, tho board stated that it would raise no objection to religious exercises being conducted by tho headmaster from 9 to 9.5 a.m. daily, in terms of the board's by-law. The board further stated that the responsibility for introducing the religious exercises lay with tho committee.

Replying to the chairman, the headmaster said ho would bo pleased to conduct the religious exercises. Some discussion, took place on the order of the exercises, the chairman suggesting a hymn, a school prayer, the Lord's Prayer, Scripture reading, and the Benediction. It was pointed out that this would take longer than five minutes. On the suggestion of the headmaster, the matter was left with tho chairman and the headmaster to arrange.

The chairman stated that he would call a meeting this month to form a School and Home Association in connection with the school.

Mr Ross asked if it would be possible to link up with the School Committees Associations’ Federation. The chairman said an association could be formed in this district if the school committee desired it. There wore about a dozen schools linked in the dental clinic service, with others to come in. Probably these schools would be willing to form an association. The matter was left for future inquiry.