LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2087, 9 May 1883, Page 2

LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the members of the Local School Committee was held in the Town Hall on Monday evening; present—Mr R. J. Seddon (Chairman), Messrs Barrowman, Burger, Campbell, Voysey, and Stanton. The minutes of the previous meeting wert> read and confirmed. The inward correspondence was read and received. A " Schedule of Questions submitted to School Committees re proposed School Committees Election Bill" was read; replies thereto were adopted; and it was resolved that the Secretary forward the same to Mr W. J. Steward, M.H.R. (for Waimate); also that the local paper be asked to insert the " Schedule of Questions." The resignation of Mrs Pascoe as teacher of the Rangiriri School was accepted, and it was resolved that the Central Board be asked to fill the vacancy as soon as possible. The following communication fiom the Head-teacher was read : To R. J. Seddon, Esq., Chiarman of the Local School Committee. Sir—1. Mr Harre's departure necessitated a redistribution of the teaching staff. At present the arrangement is as follows : sth and 6th Standards: J. Woodward. 4th Standard: R. Wylde, Pupilteacher. 3rd Standard: W. Voysey, Pupilteacher. 2nd Standard : Miss Galland, Junior Assistant. Ist Standard: Miss Rogers, Pupilteacher. Infant Department: Mrs Williams, Assistant Mistress. 2. In the management of the Infant Department Mrs Williams is assisted by monitors. These are taken alternately from the 6tb Standard, with the understanding that the one who displays the greatest aptitude for the work will be recommended to the Committee in case a vacancy occurs. 3. J. Smith, Esq., visited the school for general inspection on May 3rd. His entry in the Visitors' Book is gratifying. It is especially so to me, since it confirms the statements I made in my report re " The Proposed Alteration of Staffs." He says, " Considering the weakness of the teaching staff, the work of the school is being carried on in a highly creditable manner; but this weakness throws an undue burthen upon the shoulders of the Head-teachei", and places the school at a considerable disadvantage when compared with the larger schools." 4. Enclosed is a copy of the returns for the quarter. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, James Woodward, Kumara, May 7th, 1883. It was resolved that Mr Woodward be informed that the Committee approve of his arrangement of the teaching staff at the Kumara School. A letter from the Head-teacher applying for the use of Richardson's Text Book for the use of those who wish to compete for Sir W. Fox's prizes was received.—The Secretary was instructed to inform the Head-teacher that the Committee had no objection to its use. The following petitions from Greenstone and Westbrook residents were read and received : To the Chairman Central Board of Education, Greymouth. Sir— We, the undersigned Residents of this district, beg most respectfully to draw your attention to the following : Mr W. S. S. Stanton, member of School Committee, Kumara, has canvassed this locality for the purpose of raising funds to improve the teacher's residence here. He has raised the sum of £o lis towards the said improvements. We now earnestly beg that you will consider the matter, and that you will agree to supplement the above amount pound for pound to enable the work to be carried out before the coming winter. By so doing you will meet the wishes of ths people of Greenstone, and confer a boon upon our teacher and his family. We have the houour to be, Sir, Your obedient servants, (Signed) James Biggs, Felix Fearon, [And 24 other residents, subscribing sums varying from 2s 6d to 10s; in all, .55 lis.]

To the Chairman and Gentlemen of the Central Board of Education, Westland. Sir and Gentlemen— We, the undersigned, beg most respect f ally to inform you Ist, That the approach to the Westbrook School is in a very bad state; in wet weather the water lies in front of the building from 6 to 9 inches deep. 2nd, That the school buildiug is fast falling into decay for the want of paint. 3rd, That the school room requires a ceiling; as in frosty weather in the winter season there is a constant droping from the iron roof into the room. We, your petitioners, therefore most respectfully beg that you will vote to the Local School Committee a snm sufficient to get the necessary repairs done before the winter sets in. Approach to school, £2 ; painting school, £5 ; putting ceiling to room, £3 ; total, £lO. We have the honor to be, Your obedient servants, (Signed) W. S. S. Stanton, and 42 other residents. April 2, 1883. It was resolved that the petitions bo forwarded to the Central Board, and their favorable consideration asked for the same. The caretaker of the Kuniara State School was granted 2s 6d per week extra for the three winter months— June, July, and August. Mr Stanton proposed and Mr Burger seconded—" That the consideration of the Chairman's letter to the Central Board re the closing of the Kuniara School be not approved of." A division was taken on the question as follows :—Ayes, 3—Messrs Stanton, Burger, Barrowman ; Noes, 3—Messrs Seddon, Campbell, Voysey. The Chairman gave casting vote with the Ayes, and the resolution was therefore carried.