SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 81, 3 September 1874, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

WEST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL COMMITTEE. A meeting of this committee was held on Wednesday evening, 19th August, at the usual hour. Present : Messrs Tancied (in the chair). Bird, Brown, Craig, Hawkes, Thomson, Thornton, and McNie. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The following letters were read— From the Board of Education, sanctioning the acceptance of Messrs England Bros’ tender for outbuildings and fencing, for £765 ; and the tender of Mr Sandstein for clock, for £6O. From the Board, stating that, unless the sum of £2OOO was paid into the treasury by the householders of West Christchurch by the 31st August, a rate would be levied to raise that amount, , From Mr Pavitt, acknowledging receipt of the secretary’s intimation that the committee would not require the orphanage buildings after the 20th inst. From Mr W. H. Pilliet, applying for an 1 appointment as French master. From Messrs England Bros, relative to insurance. Mr Craig undertook to arrange the matter 1 referred to by England Bros. The chairman stated that the amount of prize-money due to the district, was £ls IBs, and he had arranged with the teachers for the purchase of the books. The school treat sub-committee reported that they had accepted the tender of Mr Poole to supply tea and cake to the children at 7d per head, and had guaranteed 1000. The chairman agreed to present the prizes on Friday evening at 5 o’clock. Mr Craig reported that he and Mr Harris had carefully examined several kinds of school desks, and had decided on procuring them of the same pattern as those in use at St Alban’s school. They had accordingly given instructions to Mr Farr to make out an estimate of the cost, and to arrange with the teachers as to the different lengths required ; also, to see how far the present furniture could be utilised. Mr Craig also reported that the Lincoln road school sub-committee had decided that, the gallery in the infant school room should: be a fixture, and should be placed at the north end of the room. The action of the sub-committee was approved. Mr Craig moved the resolution postponed from last meeting—“ That the schools in Addington be closed on and after the 22nd instant.” The motion was agreed to after some remarks from the mover and Messrs Hawkes, Bird and Brown. The chairman was asked to interview the. Board to ascertain what its opinion was as to • admitting children to district schools who ■ were under the age of five years, and whether • any extra charge should be made for them.. The matter of teaching staff for the Lincoin road new school was then considered. The following arrangement was decided' upon subject to the approval of the Board,, all appointments to be subject to three- 1 months’ notice on either side ; Head master, Rev J. Gumming, at £3so’per annum. Second master, Mr J. S. Foster, at £2OO per annum. Third master, Mr J, R. Thornton, at £l5O per annum. Assistant master, Mr T. W. Wilkinson, at £IOO per annum. Head mistress, Miss Stothart, at £2OO per annum. Second mistress, Mrs Cutler, at £l3O per annum. Assistant mistress, Miss Kesteven, at £6O per annum. Assistant mistress, Miss Mackett, at £6O per annum. The above salaries to be inclusive of lodging money. The pupil teachers at present employed in the temporary schools at Lincoln road and Addington to be transferred. The chairman with Messrs Craig and; Hawkes were appointed a deputation to sub--mit the above appointments to the Board forapproval, and to confer with the Board on; other matters connected therewith. The sub-committees for the different schools agreed to inform the headteachers of the holidays authorised by the committee,, viz., from August 22nd to 7th September next. Mr Brswn applied for the use of the Lincoln Road school-rooms, for the purpose of holding a meeting in connection with the Free Methodist Sunday school, Addington. The committee decided that it was not advisable to allow the building to be used for other than school purposes. It was decided to meet again on the 26th instant, to hear the report of the deputation* to the Board, and to decide some other pressing matters. The committee then adjourned. The adjourned meeting of committee was held on the 26th instant, at 7 o’clock, when there were present Messrs Tancred (chair-

man), Bird, Brown, Craig, Harris, Havvkcs, Thornton, and McNie. The minutes of previous meeting were read and approved Letters were read irom the Board, stating that the amount allowed for prize money was 6d per head on the average daily attendance ; sanctioning the payment of sundry accounts ; stating that the matter of refund of rates was referred to the Government, and that the chairman would confer with the committee on the subject of increased temporary accommodation for the northern part of the district; also sanctioning the various appointments to the new school of the salaries proposed by the committee, the new arrangement to date from the beginning of next quarterFifty applications wore received for the situation of custodian and bath-keeper at Lincoln Load schools. Of these, four were selected, ana it was agreed to meet on Friday afternoon to decide which of the four would be most suitable for the appointment. Mr Craig, one of the deputation appointed at last meeting, reported that the Board had sanctioned the teaching staff for the new school, as wa« seen from the letter read. He had also referred to the crowded state of Durham street school, and the Board, through the chairman, recommended that the elder boys attending that school should be drafted to Lincoln road, and that the committee should not encourage the attendance of children under five years of age, Mr Harris called attention to the large amount for which West Christchurch district was rated, viz. £2OOO, as compared with East Christchurch, which was rated at £2600, while the amount expended in district schools in the latter was more than double the expenditure for West Christchurch. It was true the Normal school was supposed to take the place of a district school, but he considered that an uudue proportion of the cost of that extensive building had been debited to this district.

Several members concurred in this view, and it was decided that the chairman and Mr Harris should wait upon the Board to state the views of the committee on the matter.

With reference to the late appointment of teachers, Mr Harris moved and it was agreed, that instead of second mistress, Mrs Cutler be appointed infant mistress at Lincoln road school, to have sole charge of children of both sexes between the ages of five and seven years, assisted by two pupil teachers.

The chairman directed the attention of the committee to the evident want of discipline in certain schools Jin the district, and after discussion it was resolved—“ That the committee desire to impress upon the heads of schools the necessity for maintaining strict discipline and cleanliness among the children attending the schools in their charge.” With a view to assist the teachers to carry out this resolution, the secretary was directed to instruct the head teachers not to permit the attendance of any children under five years of age ; and it was also resolved that the teachers be instructed to collect the fees fixed by the' Board from children attending school between the age of five and six, and over thirteen years, such children not to be admitted unless the fee be prepaid. It was proposed that instead of being paid according to scale, Mr Elwin, head master of Durham street school, should receive a salary of £2BO per annum, inclusive of lodging money, to commence from Ist October ; and the .deputation to the Board were asked to request its sanction to this arrangement. Hr Hawkes proposed, and Mr Bird seconded —“ That the amount be £3OO instead of £280,” but the committee decided on the latter amount.

The secretary was directed to notify their appointments to the teachers, and request them to acknowledge receipt thereof. The chairman was requested to arrange with M. Citron| and Mr Hull for instructing the advanced classes at the Lincoln road school in French and drawing, to commence with the opening of the school on Monday, iihe 7th September. It was decided that all surplus material at TLincoln road and other schools be sold ; and the sub-committee were directed to have the approaches to the Lincoln road school properly formed. The secretary was directed to give the clerk of works a week’s notice that his further services would not be required. Several persons were excused from paying the education rate, on account of poverty. Sundry accounts were passed and the committee then adjourned. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. A meeting of the East Christchurch vachoolcommittee was held on Tuesday, September Ist. Present —W. H. Wynn Williams (chairman), Rev H. O. M. Watson, and Messrs Anderson, Dymock, Macpherson, and Thomas. The minutes of the previous meeting were lead and confirmed. Mr Thomas brought up the report of the sub-committee, on fencing required for the Bingsland and South town belt school sites. The report was adopted, and it was resolved to request the sanction of the Board to call for tenders for same.

A letter received from the Board of Education, was read, stating that the contributions toward the school buildings, &c. to be provided by the district, was £2600, and] that unless that sum was paid a rate would be levied. It was resolved to request the Board to recommend the Government to levy the rate in three distinct sums, extending over three years, as the buildings were of a permanent character, and the rate being equal to nearly one shilling in the pound would fall very heavily on the ratepayers, in conjunction with the city rates, if levied in one year.

A letter was read from Mr Hill, Bingsland, enclosing a list of certain requirements for the school. The secretary was instructed to arrange for procuring what was necessary. Applications were received from Masters W. C. Armitageand A. Duncan, for employ ment as pupil teachers, and they were appointed to the Music-hall, under Mr Taylor, subject to the approval of the Board of Education. Similar applications were received from the Misses F. B. Galland, K. Williams, Williams, Farr, H. Tarr, E. and E. M. Morton, and ordered to be entered. Mr J. A. Bird applied for a refund of the household rate paid by him to the district collector, on the ground that he had preTiously paid rates for the West Christchurch district, in which he resides. The committee decided they had no power in the matter. The holidays to be given at Michaelmas were fixed from September 26th to October •3rd, (both inclusive.) After passing sundry accounts, the committee adjourned.