BALCLUTHA SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 156, 6 July 1877, Page 6

BA LCLUTHA SCHOOL COMMITTEE

( The ordinary meeting of the Balclutha School Committee was held on Tuesday evening. There were present : Messrs M-Neil (Chairman), Hope, Hogg, Bain, Paterson, See wart, Dunne, and Campbell. mi s l' T -..*--. The minutes of last monthly meetingami a special meeting were read' and eonrinued. m-n-onT re ttkks. Mr Grigor, readier, reported that. LM had been collected of fees for the current half-year, and that tlie fees for the whole six months would amount to LUti, or an average of LIG per month. -Aev.'oivxx.-'. The following accounts wore passed for payment :— Clutha Leat-kp., Ts (id ; Mr Grigor's salary, L__o ; Miss Barton's do , LB. ' IIBPAITIS TO TKACHKs's KESf nr.XCK. The sub-committee — Messrs ■"Bain and Stewart— reported they luid inspected the teacher's residence, aiid found the two front rooms and the lobby required papering — estimated cost, Ll ids. The sub-committee was authorised to get the work carried out. THE .•*.F_.*ICJ-_XC , Y OF Till-. SCHOOL. The Committee appointed at the special meeting to consult Mr Grigor regarding the advisability of appointing a "second teacher, and as to tho eflicioncy of the schoo], reported as follows : — Your sub-conunittc-o — consisting of Messrs Hogg, Paterson, Bain, Campbell, and M'Neil— having met and consulted the teacher, find that there aro no pupils further advanced than tho sixth standard of the Education Board syllabus of instruction, proficiency in which implies the possession of a thorough English education. Tha teacher states that pupils who are'well advanced in this standard may with profit begin to loam Latin, etc., but advises tliat unless pupils intend following s-.r.ic one of the learned professions, it would ho of much more advantage to them' in after-life to have their attention directed to the acquirement of a more intimate -acquaintance with their own tongue, and an elementary knowledge of some of the sciences. Mr G'-rigor reports that the pupil teachers are doing their work faithful-yawl well; and wo consider that the objections which may bo urged against pupil '' teachers in general do not, when tlieir age and qualifications are taken into account, apply to the pupil teachers employed in. our school. " Mr "William Kenton will very likely enter tho formal School next session", when the Gominittoo will have an opportunity of taking steps to obtain the services of a second master, if tlie attendance at, the school necessitates ifc. Considering tlie uncertainty of the school's revenue, and the change that may be effected by the proposed new Education Bill, we would not advise the Committee to raise tho teacher's salary by any fixed amount; but would recommend the Committee to give a bonus at the end of the financial year out of any surplus monoy that tho Committee may have in tlieir hand after paying all necessary expenses. After some discussion, the report was ! received and adopted. j THE SCHOOL 03.00STD.S. _ Mr Dunne called attention to the necessity for tho footpaths within the school grounds being re-gravelled, as sorao of them were covered with water ; also small channels were required to let away tho water. Tlie Secretary was instructed to have the work done. AN EVENING SCHOOL. Mr Hogg said lie had that evening received a petition to present to the Committee, praying that steps bo taken to establish an evening school. Ho said it was signeclby twenty-one young lads, who wished to become pupils. Tho petition had only been prepared that evening, and he was informed many more would have ' signed it. had there been time. He thought it was a very gratifying fact tliat the lads themselves had "taken action -in the. matter. -and had como to the vCommittee with suchi aiequesfc; He had no doubt? the .Committee -would give them/ ; every 7

encouragement, by giving the use of tho school and fuel and 'light' free, lie moved that a committee be appointed to see Mr Grigor, and mako tho necessary arrangements for starting tho school. He had no doubt Mr Grigor would enter heartily into the matter, as teachers did elsewhere, but if he were unable to do so, tho Committee would require to get some ono else to conduct tho school, which ho thought might be started by Mouday next. Mr Campbell seconded the motion, and heartily endorsed every word Mr Hogg had said. He sincerely desired to see the school .set agoing at once, and thought it very encouraging to find the young lads of. tho towns] up coming forward as they had done to ask provision to bo made for their education.

Mr Hope said he had no doubt Mr Grigor would at once take up tho matter if he were spoken to in tho proper way upon the subject. Mr Dunne pointed out that when Mr Grigor did the work required of him in connection with tho day school, he could not be pressed to conduct evening classes. The Committee could confer with him, and if he did not wish to undertake the work, some other one would havo to be

got

Tho Chairman and oilier members of Committee expressed their opinions that, while the schoolroom would be given for tho use of the evening classes, the. pupils should pay a small fee. to provide fuel, light, cleaning, &c, and the whole arrangements, while they would not be mixed up with the present school, would bo under tho control of the Connnitt.ee. it was also suggested, that should Mr Grigor not undertake to conduct the classes, he-might superintend them, which would be of great. advantage. After some further discussion, the motion was carried unanimously, and the following were appointed the Sub-Com-mittee : — The Chairman, and Messrs Hogg, Campbell, Paterson, and Pain. The meeting then-adjourned.