BOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 632, 10 May 1882, Page 2

BOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held last evening at the Schoolhouse. Present —Mr St.Hill (Chairman), and Messrs Boyle, Robinson, and J. Ward, Secretary. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read from the Board of Education, Christehurch, notifying the appointment of Mr Chichester as third master. It was stated that Mr Chichester commenced his duties at the school on Monday last. From Miss Amy Harland, the newlyappointed mistress, stating that she hoped to "commence her duties on May 15th. From the Board of Education, returning demand for rates on account of'the master's house in Ashburton, and stating that by the provisions of the Education Act, school buildings (in which term masters' houses were included) were, exempt from rates. The enclosure reached the Board (the letter added) in a communication from Mr Mayo, applying fof railway tickets granted by Government,to teachers. The Board wished to point out, that it would be more convenient if all correspondence addressed to it was carried on in the rrgular course through, ihe Secretary of Committee. ATTENDANCE. A tabular summary of attendance returns for the district of North Canterbury for the quarter ending 31st March, 1882, received from the Board of Education, was laid on the table. From this return it appeared that the number of pupils on the roll of the Ashburton Borough School at the beginning of the quarter was 390, and at the end of the quarter, 456 ; the ■ average weekly attendance was shown ■. as 445, the strict average being 327, and the total working average, 332. HEAD MASTER'S REPORT. This report was as follows ; ; —"I have the honor to submit my report for the schools from the beginning of April till i now. I find that any relaxation from i school work, accidental or otherwise, has • the effect of weakening for a time 'the links which bind the school routine and

scholars together, and of engendering a species of indifference regarding school attendance. Easter occurring at one time during the month, and the races at another, had the effect of slightly lowering our attendance, as the consequent holidays at these times interfered with our regular work. The average attendance at the upper school is 201 2 ; and in the infant department, 121 9. Total average attendance since Ist April, 323'1. Number on rolls : Upper Bchool, 274 ; infant school, 186. Total on rolls, 460. .The conduct oF the children is satisfactory, and I believe some parts of the school work have been much improved on during the month.. Improvement is still necessary in many things, but 1 hope after the l6*h inst., when our staff will be permanently fixed, that the work will go on in the zealous and painstaking manner so necessary to success. I intend in future to submit to you a report of the pupil teachers as well as the pupils, with their work for the month, as I am thoroughly convinced that there can be little advancement in knowledge without individual exertion. I am scrry to say that their home work has been far from satisiactory since I took charge, although during the past fortnight there has been a considerable improvement. I shall therefore consider- it a duty due to them, to you, and to myself to see that more .real work is done in the future. I'shall"also submit to you my opinion of the manner in which they fulfil their respective duties in school.—l am, etc., Hecioii Dempsey. The report was considered very satisfactory.

VISITING COMMITTEE. The Chairman and Mr Williamson were appointed a Visiting Committee for the month. FUEL. It was resolved to call for tenders for coal and firewood. BORROWING SCHOOL FDKNITUEB. The borrowing of the school furniture for the use of St Stephen’s Church on last Sunday evening, came up for discussion. It appeared that there was a scarcity of seats at the church on the occasion of the Ven. Archdeacon Harris’s preaching, and Mr George Jameson, churchwarden, sent off to the school to borrow some of the forms. '• •• The Committee expressed no unwillingness at all to lend the seats, but thought that Mr Jameson should have obtained permission from the Chairman or Secretary before he removed them. Mr Boyle was quite sure Mr Jameson had intended no disrespect to the Committee. He ought, of course, to have obtained permission to lake the seats but his not having done so was a mere oversight. J It was then resolved—“ That no article' of school furniture be taken away in future without the sanction of the Chairman or Secretary.” ACCOUNTS. One account was passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.