EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1988, 8 July 1880, Page 3

EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL.

The East Christchuroh sohool committee held their monthly meeting on Tuesday evening last. All the members were present but Mr Williams, to whom leave of absence was granted. The Chairman submitted the following letter he had forwarded to the Education Board in reference to the appointment of a head mistress at the main school:— Sir,—ln reply to your ;ietter of May 26th, I beg to say that it appears to the committee that some of the points urged by the deputation on behalf of the appointment of a head mistress for East Christchurch have been overlooked, I therefore purpose to restate the position of the committee. Their calculations may be shown as nnder—l. If the East Christchurch School district were paid according to the Board's own ■cale, the committee would be entitled to an additional sum of £436 per annum. 2. That if the allowance of the Gloucester Street School waa in proportion to that of the West Christchurch School, the committee would havean additional £271 a-year to expend upon salaries. The Ea3t Christchurch School have an average of 1412, and receive £3372, while the West Christchurch School, with an average of 856, receives £2043 for incomes. In any comparison of the children attending the East Christchurch main school with those attending the West Christchurch School, based upon age, the following fact must be borne in mind—that while West Christchurch presented 499 under the different standards, the main school, Gloucester street, presented 625. This fact shows that the main school has, judging from its present classification, more than 25 per cent, of elder children attending it than West Christchurch. It muat also be remembered that the infants are massed in a building by themselves, therefore the committee's argument as to the _ necessity of superior teaching power in the main school still holds good. It is probable, therefore, that the proportion of children actually older is much greater in the main school, Gloucester street, than at West Christchurch. However, all the committee ask for is a sufficient income to place their staff on a satisfactory footing. They, therefore, trust that an allowance of £2OO a year will be made to enable the committee to appoint a head mistress. In reference to the appointment of an assistant mistress at the South town belt, the committee, while yielding to the wishes of the Board, yet respectfully protest against what they regard as arbitrary action. If the committee are rightly informed, several appointments have been lately made by the Board of precisely the same character as that which the committee are not permitted to make. The committee refer to the cases of Mrs Ockford, Lyttelton; Mr M'Gregor, Kaiapoi ; and Miss Badcliff, Normal School. None of these teachers are certificated, so at least the committee are informed. I am, Ac, H. C. M. Watson. The Inspector's report upon the Bingsland school was submitted, also some letters from Mr Q. B. E. Taylor, the master. It was decided to forward Mr Taylor's letters to the Board, and request them to deal with the matter. Mrs Kendriek, mistress of the Phillipstown side school, tendered her resignation, which ■was accepted, and Mrs E. Harbridge recommended to the Board for appointment in hor place. A letter was read" from the head master, referring, amongst other things, to the fact that at the scholarship examinations held recently three scholarships had been obtained by boys taught in the East Christchuroh main school, one in connection with the Agricultural College, and two provincial, at the same time stating that to Mr George Gilling's diligence and careful teaching the scholars' sucoeßS was . largely due. The secretary was directed to express to the head master the committee[s satisfaction, and request him to tender their thanks to Mr Gilling for his successful efforts. The quarterly returns were submitted, showing on the rolls of the four schools for the quarter ended June 30th, {1956, with a working average of 1355. A sub-committee was appointed to draft apetition to the Government, embodying the results agreed upon at the conference of chairmen of school committees, and such other matters as may be deemed desirable. After passing some accounts, and attending to some other matters of routine, the committee adjourned.