Feilding State School Committee.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 310, 10 May 1894, Page 2

Feilding State School Committee.

The ordinary meeting of the above committee was held in the schoolhouse last evening. Present — Messrs Carthew (chairman), Taylor, Sorley, A. Eade, R. J. Thompson, Shearer, H. Worsfold, and W. G. Haybittle (secretary). The minutes of tho previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter -was received from the Education Board re staff. Mrs Rapley wrote complaining that Miss Haynes had ill-treated her children. The Inspector's report on the recent examination was read, being chiefly instructions to the teachers. The report stated that " Although the percentage of failures was very low, the percentage of passes was also very low, and this is chiefly attributable to the fact that only 50 per cent, of the roll number has been presented in standards. Of tho 147 (some of whom have been three, four, and five years at school) in the preparatory classes, no fewer than 66 are over eight years of age ; and for the non -presentation of many of those in Standard I no adequate reasons have been assigned. Tho work in the pass subjects generally was of a very fair quality." The ordor, discipline, and behaviour, in Standards IV and V were described as bad, and the other standards from good to excellent. Particulars of the passes have already been pnblished. The Chairman stated that he had invited the Head teacher to be present as it might be probable the Committee would wish to ask liim for information with regard to a communication from the Education Board, re the teaching staff. In reply to a question, Mr Hill (the head teacher) said that the percentage of passes was 955 on the number presented, anil that the percentage of 46*3 was on the total roll number, which was a style of calculation recently adopted by the Boatd. The percentage of failures was 4.5. Mr Haybittle considered the Inspector's report was damaging and the course adopted by the Education Board was a proper one. He thought the report showed the school was not going oil in the proper manner, and that there was certainly room for a great deal of improvement. Mr Thompson also considered the report damaging, and the other members concurred in the opinion that something ought to be done immediately to improve the school. In reply to questions, Mr Hill said the examination was postponed as there were only two courses open (the first case being a delay through an epidemic amongst the children), viz., that the Head teacher should examine the school or postpone. He was not prepared to undertake the examination of the school so the latter coarse was adopted. There was about the usual number presented this year, and when once scholars passed the first standard they could not be kept back, but had to be presented each year. The whole of the children in the highest preparatory class were put up after the examination, for preparation for the first standard. Proposed by Mr Worsfold, seconded by Dr Sorley, That the recommendation of the la&t committee, re the teaching staff, be carried out. An amendment was proposed by Mr Shearer, seconded by Mr Eade, That a special meeting be held on Monday evening next, to consider the matter re the teaching staff. — Carried. Resolved, That Messrs Taylor and Thompson be a visiting committee for the ensuing month. Resolved, That the matter re shifting the fence) be left in the hands of the visiting committee. Resolved, That Mrs Turner's contract for cleaning the school at .£24 a year be renewed. Resolved, That the Chairman and Secretary be authorised to sign cheques. Proposed by Mr Worsfold, seconded by Dr Sorley, That the compulsory clauses oi : the Education Act be enforced. Proposed by Mr Shearer, seconded by Mr Taylor, That Miss Haynes be asked I to attend the meeting of the school committee on Monday night. — Carried. Resolviid, That the ordinary meetings of the Committee be held on the first Monday iv each month. Resolved, Tha tho school bell be rung, the first at a quarter to nine and the second at nine o'clock sharp. This being all the business the meeting terminated.