ALEXANDRA SCHOOL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 731, 21 April 1876, Page 3

ALEXANDRA SCHOOL.

[We do not hold ourselves responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.]

(to the editor of the diinstan times.) Sir, -I£ there is room in your columns you will oblige by inserting the following : Tho Alexandra Justice Committee held their second meeting on the Btb inst. Present: Dr Duncan Robertson, J. Terry, T. Brown, J. M‘Kersey, and J. Simmonds. Mr Robertson being elected to the Chair addressed the meeting on various and most important points connected with the School, and was satisfied it was a matter of impossibility that the children could have gone back according to the report, providing the groundwork had been inlaid so deep by the last Teacher, but thought there was a little blame attached to M r Rice by not regulating his classes properly. He said no doubt it ought to have been considered that Mr Rice had very little colonial experience in schools, and considered there ought to have been a little allowance made. He thought by the threatening letter from Mr Hislop that the matter ought to be investigated ; he then called on the Secretary to read the minutes of’the last meeting, which were approved Of. ■ The following memorial to the- Alexandra School Committee and reply were laid on the table and read : Alexandra, March 30, 1876. To the Alexandra School Committee. Mr Chairman and Gentleman,—The memorial of the undersigned parents of children attending the Alexandra School having heard with surprise that the present teacher, -<Mr Rice, was asked to tender his resignation. Having faith in Mr Rice’s ability, and consider the children have improved in his term of office ; we (the parents) think it nothing but just to ask the Committee to investigate the matter, and find out the cause of the action taken, and to call a public meeting and furnish the same with all particulars and papers connected with the matter, and your memorialists will ever pray, James Simmonds, Secretary. James Simmonds, 1 child ; John Terry, 3; Thomas Brown, 2 ; John M‘Kersey, 4 ; Duncan Robertson, 3 ; Duncan M‘Donald 1; W. Robertson, 4; Thomas Jackson, 2; Lewis Cameron, 3 ; R. Ballantyne, 2 ; W. Noble, 2 ; J. Weaver, 2 ; W. Bohning, 2; J. M'Naughton, 2; D. Buckley, 3; Mrs Scott, 1 ; J. Short, 2; J. Noon, 3; R. M. Stewart, 2; W. Fraser, 1 ; D. M‘Elroy, 1; C. Pagett, 4 ; W. Ryan, I; E. Lett, 1 ; R. M'Keeman, 3. [reply.] To Messrs Simmonds, Brown, and others, Gentlemen, —I am instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the memorial in reference to Mr Rice’s Resignation, etc., and to inform you that the School Committee has not the power to call a public meeting as asked in the prayer of the memorial, but will be pleased to give any information in their power, and also the perusal of any documents in their possession. I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, James Rivers, Hon. Sec. Mr Terry considered the inward correspondence not satisfactory. Moved by Mr Terry and seconded by Mr Brown, that the Secretary be instructed to write to the Secretary of the Educational Board forwarding a copy of the memorial with a letter asking for information in reference to the action taken against Mr Rice. Carried. Proposed by Mr Brown, seconded by Mr Terry, that the Secretary be instructed to write to W. G. Rees, Esq., asking if he would favor the Alexandra Justice Committee with a oopy of his report of the Christmas examination. Carried. A vote of thanks to the Chair brought the meeting to a close. Mr Rees’ Report. Mr Rice, —Alexandra, Dear Sir.—You have drawn my attention to the report of Mr Petrie, Inspector ■of Schools, published -in the Dunstan Times of the 7th instant, and asked me how far that report tallies with my impression of the state of the Alexandra School, when at the request of the Committee I examined the pupils for the distribution of prizes on the 17th of December last. The Rev. Mr Dewe had arranged to act with me in the examination, but being called away at the last moment, the whole of the work fell on me, and. I found the time too short to examine the-several classes as carefully as I could have wished, but 1 saw quite enough to convince me that in common fairness I ought not to allow this report so utterly damnatory to you as a ■Teacher to pass unnoticed. 1 have no means of judging what the classes knew early in 1874, but I believe that you have had the care of the School for only ten months out of the twenty-four and it does seem strange that there should be such an utter falling off in so short a time. An unprejudiced mind might conclude that the former master’s teaching must have been very superficial so soon to have been forgotten. If you remember I have examined your pupils on those subjects which I was given to understand they had learned, and I must say that in nearly all instances, I found them well up in them. Reading.—Was very good, tone and emphasis being well attended to. Spellin'?.—There was no actual time given to dictation, but as many of the subjects were answered in writing, I considered the spelling of the answers good, and in no way inferior to that of children of corresponding ages usually met with. Writing.—Did not see the pupils actually writing, but the written answers made to questions were legible and clear. Arithmetic.—l ’’•as much pleased with the manner in whio most of the pupils performed their work. Colenso’s Arithmetic, which you tell mo you have lately introduced into the school, is a good but not an easy one. You have evidently taught your pupils to use their reasoning powers, and also had them well up in the more mechanical work of the subject. Grammar.—Knowledge of Grammar, moderate. Geography.—Here I must say I was (juite put to the blush by the manner in which I was almost corrected by the majority of the scholars in their superior knowledge of the Geography of the Colonies. In general Geography they are well up. Of the rest of the report I am not in a position to speak, as much of it refers to the system on which the Government Schools are required to bo conducted. All that I can actually agroo with is this : 1 noticed a want of order in the working of the classes, and of neatness in the care of tho books, &e., but at the same time your pupils obeyed you promptly and willingly. Pray make use of this letter in any way which you may think proper, as it is but fair that you should do so. I remain, Dear Sir, Your’s truly. W. G. REES. Galloway Station. A word to the wise—keep so.