HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNORS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 58, 9 March 1901, Page 3

HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNORS.

A meeting of the High School Board of Governors was held yesterday afternoon at Mr DeLautour’s office. Present: Messrs W. Morgan (Chairman), DoLautour, Warren, Johnston, and Nolan. The statement of accounts was received from the Board.

The School Committee applied for 16 pairs of dumb-bells for the use of the secondary classes. Mr Nolan asked would they be used without their use being made compulsory. Mr DeLautour said that the recommendation was made so that the boys in the upper classes should bo dealt with the same as the others. They had been in the habit of going off, and the idea was to discourage that, so that they would feel as if they were of the one school, and, at any rate, not too big to take part in drill. The request was granted.

Mrs E. M. Dunlop wrote, that as her son Fergus wished to receive a University career, the scholarship granted to him should be transferred to Auckland. Mr Johnston said he understood that a pupil had to declare what he ,was going for when a scholarship was granted. The Chairman : That is understood, but is not a regulation. Mr Nolan asked if the scholarshipholder was allowed to go to another school. lie thought it was contrary to the rule to grant scholarships away from the district. A suggestion that likely pupils should be assisted to take a University course was, he thought, not entertained.

There was a good deal of general discussion on the subject. Mr Dc Lautour said that if such a request wore granted in one case ho did not see where it was to end, and the Chairman said that it would exhaust thoir finances.

It was resolved that taking into consideration the limited state of the Board’s finances, it was not favorable to the transfer of any scholarships. Mr Henry AValkcr, of Haiti, wrote referring attention to the way'his daughter Sadie had been treated in regard to the scholarships. He claimed that she had qualified for a scholarship, and was more entitled to it than two who had been awarded scholarships. A long discussion took place on the subject. At first some of the governors thought that there was a good deal to justify tho contention, but on going into tho papers it was considered that the right course had been taken, and that if it came to deciding the scholarships as Mr Walker desired, thero would bo two other pupils with prior right to that of his daughter. It was resolved on tho motion of Mr DeLautour, seconded by Mr Nolan, that a reply be sent that under the regulations (Sadie Walker was ineligible for one class of scholarship, and as for the other class she could not obtain one without injustice to other pupils who were placed by the Headmaster above her in order of merit, and who did not rcccivo a scholarship.

In accordance with notice, Mr Warren moved to tho effect that in future all pupils to be eligible for scholarships should have entered for the same, lie said ho need not make any speech on the subject, as they knew his opinions. Mr Nolan, in seconding the motion, said it had his hearty support. The Chairman pointed out that the regulate ins now in force had beer, framed after careful consideration ; they had been recommended by the School Committee and adopted by the Board after othor suggestions had been considered. Mr Nolan said lie bad not been aware of those regulations until tho last mooting. Mr DeLautour said there was the difficulty, and it was a very serious one to pupils, that they had not a say as to whether they sa£) for scholarships, nor had parents had any say. It was decided nine or ten months before the examination. If at that period beforehand tho headmaster did not think lit to allow a boy or girl to enter they had no right to do so ; after they had been thus reduced by the teacher, if ho became nervous they wore thrown out without either the consent of tho pupils or the parents. There, were many eases of boys and girls who ought to go up for scholarships who were kept out ; perhaps they had been lazy at the start, but during the year improved, and at the time of the examination would pass easily. Many boys and girls were uneven in their work, and it seemed to the committee unjust to make it essential that they should all have entered for the scholarships. .It had been stated that one of the pupils who received a Governor's scholarship was at the last moment on the point of being thrown out, but the headmaster was overruled by the indignant remonstrance of the parents, and it was said not everyone eared to taeldo the headmaster on such a point. Ho had looked into the system thoroughly ; under the present system pupils or parents had no voice in the matter, and it depended on the headmaster's nerves or feeling at the time. If they would revert to the old system, in which every child in tho sixth standard had to go up for examination, that was a great deal bettor than any other system, but the Board had deprived them of that for this hybrid system, and it was constantly impressed upon the headmaster that they were not to presont for scholarship examination pupils who were not brilliant ; they were in every way discouraged from sending up more than a limited number of pupils. Mr hk>lan to some extent agreed with Mr DeLautour. Whether the scholarships were left with the headmaster Tho Chairman : He has supremo control.

Mi* Nolan said that the scholarships should not be left to the tender mercies of the headmaster. The Board of Governors oiijjht to have some test in the matter. Mr DeLautour said that it was left to the headmaster after the result of the inspector’s examination, the examination by himself, and the scholarship examination. What he objected to was the tying of their hands to abide by his judgment nino months before. Mr Warren : Nine months '?

Mr DeLautour: Mr Morgau can tell YOU.

The Chairman said that he would not say nine months, but certainly some months before. Ho would not be surprised if it was now known who intended to go up for the scholarship examination next vear.

Mr Nolan said that if children did not elect to enter, lie did not see why they should be dependent on them afterwards.

Mr Johnston : Special circumstances. Mr Nolan said that he was always willing to consider special circumstances. He did not see why children who elected to work all the time should be put aside for children who had the same opportunity hut would not work. As many of them as chose went lialf-an-hour earlier to work for these scholarships. Mr Warren said he thought the selection was made from the sixth standard without reference to anyone.

The Chairman said the intending pupils were known long before the sixth standard examination —they got a certain amount of preparation in the meantime. Mr John stem : Mr Bull takes the responsibility of throwing a lot of them out. The Chairman : He has supreme power in the matter. After furthof discussion in a like strain, the Chairman said that there was no hurry to decide the matter, and ho would prefer to see the other governor present. Three of those present wore members of the School Committee—perhaps by the next meeting they might not all be members. It was resolved to postpone ihe matter until the next meeting. It was resolved to vote .£5 for prizes,

It was reported that three loans would soon soon fall in, and Messrs Nolan and Warren were deputed to sign releases.