GISBORNE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2413, 30 January 1909, Page 6

GISBORNE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

.JtO.VTIU.V MEETING

.The monthly -meeting of the Gisborne School' Committee was held in the - school: last- evening, there being present: -Messrs J. Somervell (chairman), Sianvyer, File, Riach, Wildish, Spence, and Revs. -Grant and Thomas. The headmaster (Mr. F. J. Rowley) was also in attendance. It was decided that -a’letter of condolence be forwarded to the Rec. C. Griffin land family in connection with the recent bereavement they have sustained. In regard to the request from the Borough Council that- the Derby Street drain, over which the committee is a principal, be extended, it was mentioned that several persons had connected with, the drain without permission. It was resolved that the drain be extended, and that Messrs Darton, "Wildish, and Somervell form a committee to ascertain the position with regard to outside connections. Considerable discussion took place regarding the -High School opening U the school buildings. Mr. Darton pointed out that there would likely be trouble regarding the playground, which would bo under dual control. Mr. "Wildish said tilings had gone so far that it would be unwise to place any obstacles in the way of the High School commencing. The Headmaster was. asked for his opinion, (and he. said that dual control of - the playground was doomed to failure. No two masters could -have control of the playground. He. was determined to be master of the school ground. He -wished to work, amic,rbly, but he was satisfied there would •be trouble. The Rev. -Grant thought'the difficulties mentioned could he surmounted. Mr. Rowley must (be master of bis own playground, but- lie thought the committee were going out of their way to meet- trouble. ■Mr. R-iacli said that the committee stood at present” in a state of ignominious disgrace, -and that it Quad been t-oo slow in acting. He thought-, however, that things having gone so far they should 'assist the Board, of Governors as far -as possible, but, if the Board could obtain other buildings for a school they should be forced to do so.

Mr. -Darton then moved that the .Board of Governors he requested to obtain other premises in which to establish their school.

M-r 7 Spence seconded the motion

Mr. °"Wildish moved as an amendment that the committee agree to allow the, -Board to start in the Technical Buildings, provided that the playground he under the sole control of Mr. Rowley, -and hope t-lirit the Board of Governors will obtain other buildings :as soon as possible^ The -Rev. Grant seconded the amendment.

Air. Darton said it was impossible to- have dual control of the playground, for Mr. Rowley could not have control of the children ol' n school other than his own. He objected to the principle which, ho contended, -was built upon an ont'rWy wrong basis. The amendment was lost, and the motion whs carried, Messrs "Wildish and the Rev. Grant voting against it.

Air. Darton moved, and the motion was carried, that- the committee imadvise the Board of Governors and the Board of Education of the committee’s decision. The secretary of the Board of Edutiou advised that Miss L. Morgan had been appointed temporary assistant at the school. It was. decided that- tenders he called for isch-ooi 1 : requisites for the coming school year. Air. S'. Dolman notified _ that lie would be unable to finish his contract of asphalting the school grounds, and asked for the cancellation of the contract.

It was decided to bold the matter over for further particulars. , The Headmasters report mis read as follows: —

“Since your last meeting the school has been closed 'for the mid-summer vacation. It re-opens on Monday next, February 1, at 9.30 a.m. Our average attendance for the year end- ! ing December 31 (last was such as , under the old Act would have entitled | us to another- ipupil’ teacher. Miss j Hogg has completed her course as a pupil teacher, and thus there are two vacancies on the staff of pupil teachers. Under the new Act (1908) the school its entitled to three assistant teachers more than .under the old Act. Two assistant masters Sind four pupil teachers lare being advertised for ;this still leaves us with two pupil teachers short of the number of pupil teachers we are entitled to, or one assistant. Miss G. (Black, who has been acting temporarily on the staff, bus been withdrawn. Miss L. Morgan and Miss iH. Hogg have been, instructed ,bv the secretary of t-lie Board to act on the staff till the vacancies are filled. I see from the newspiip'ers that the new High School is to meet in the Technical School rooms- on Monday next at 9 a.m.. I ask vour committee’s instructions: (1) "With regard to the right of the new school to use the rooms; (2) with regard to the use of the school grounds and conveniences by the High School, and to the control of the children in the grounds. I enclose the annual report of the Board’s inspectors on the school, land results of the inspectors examination of Standard VI. in. December last. I also enclose a '.statement of my own on the subject -or the treatment of history in our school which is criticised in strong terms by Abe inspectors. 1 beg to- urge you r committee to ask the Board of Education to fix by!opiate round the writ Is of the rooms in the infant school. The necessity of the substitution of blackboards by slates and paper in the instruction of infants, is being strongly urged in all modern text-books, and by our pleading authorities, yet, though your committee mlade application. to the Board nearly two years ago, nothing has been done. Some of the blinds in . the infant school building are in disrepair., I would recommend that green liolland blinds" nith spring rollers be substituted for the Venetian blinds as. fast '-is vour funds will allow. I wish also to recommend that wires be fixed to I Insides of all the windows fitted with such ’ blinds, t o keep the blinds m place and guide them m rolling up. The . asphalting; in the playground lias not' yet been - completed. ■ The caretaker has had the tongue of the bell repaired again. The secretary of the Board reported to me at the

beginning of the month that the -Government subsidy had . been placed to the .Board’s: account. I have been un-able to get any payment in H ifborne so far. I wish to -report* to your committee the -death of Miss D. Griffin, while bathing in the ‘ school swimming bath last Tuesday.. She was the daughter of the Rev. 0. Griffin, a member of your committee. 1. have given orders for. 166 medals lor full attend!nice, including four gold medals. The gold medal is given when the winner has completed five years’ full -attendance, not necessarily consecutive years.’ ’

Referring to the inspectors’ general report of the school, members .spoke in terms of praise of the. success attained throughout the past year, and la- motion that the staff he congratulated on the all-round satisfactory state of _ mutters was carried. Some dnseussoin took place regardijiiir the- recent drowning fatality m the school baths, and it was deemed that the caretaker must not allow anyone in the bath unless lie is- m attendance. r , The Revo. Grant and -Grinin and Mr. G. -Diarton were, appointed a- visiting committee for the ensuing month.