Feilding School Committee.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 280, 5 April 1894, Page 2

Feilding School Committee.

1 _^ A meeting of the Feilding State School Committee was held in the schoolhouse last evening. Present— Mesurß Lethbridge (chairman), J. Taylor, W. G. Shearer, E. Worsfold, J. C. Thompson, and Dr Soriey. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Inspector Bindon's special report, dated February 21st, 1894, was read. The following are the principal features of it : The number on the roll is 353, and ; the average attendance for last week was 249.1, or only 70.5 of the roll number. Such a proportion for a large town school is, the Inspector thinks, most discreditable. Indeed, it is from 10 to 15 percent, below what is obtained in some whole districts with all kinds of schools included. Late coming is also very prevalent, as he found from looking at the registers and from his personal experience. Mr Hill <loes a good deal of work in the way of directing his teachers' efforts — really one of the most important of a head master's duties. The time tables generally were satisfactory. The Head Master thoroughly supervises the work of all bis teachers, and consequently good methods are employed. Monitors are employed with success. The work of the assistant master cannot be good until he has his classes in better order. In the exercise books much of the work shows poor arrangement, bad writing, and bad methods. In Standards 111 and II the teaching appears to be of very fair ] quality. The progress of the school 1 must be seriously hampered by the phenomenally low attendance. In one quarter the attendance was as low as 62 per cent, of the roll number, while last week, with fine weather every day, it was only 70.5 per cent. With the exception of the assistant masters' room the pupils are well under control. All pupils might enter the class rooms in rather nicer style. Manners are very fair. Mr R. Robinson waited on the Committee to complain that one of his children, who is in the second standard, attended school yesterday, after a sickness, and was allowed to wander about without being t&keu notice of. He thought it was useless to send children to school if they Avere not taught. — The chairman informed Mr Robinson he would refer the matter to the Head Master. Mr Shearer drew the attention of the Committee to the way children went to school at all hours of the day, after loiteriug about the streets.— A general discussion ensued on this matter, all the committee men agreeing that immediate action should be taken to improve the punctuality of the children. Proposed by Mr Shearer, seconded by Mr Worsfold, That the Head Master's attention be directed to the Inspector's report re late attendance, and that he be asked to enforce i^unctuality with regard to attendance ; Also, That the call bell be mug strictly to time. — Carried. Proposed by Mr Lethbridge, seconded by Mr Shearer, That this Committee is surprised that tho resolution, re teaching stuff, sent to the Board on January 2iith last, has not been carried into effect, nnd would urge in the best in J crests of the school that imineilinte action be tivkcu. — Carried. After passing accounts for payment the meeting terminated.