BLENHEIM SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 211, 28 March 1881, Page 3

BLENHEIM SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A si’Ki r v r. meeting of tiie above was held on Saturday evening for the purpose of conferring with the Inspector, W. Hodgson, Esq., as to the staff required for the future working of the Borough Schools. The members present were Messrs Dodson (Chairman), Griffiths, Robinson and Terry.

Mr Hodgson presented two tabulated statements lie had prepared in anticipation of the meeting, one of which dealt with a mixed school, and the other with the separation of the sexes. The Committee considered it very desirable that the sexes should be separated, as suggested in the latter scheme, although it detailed additional expense. Til reply to a question Mr Hodgson stated that the two Misses Macklin had not presented themselves at the teachers’ examination. They were however very good teachers, especially tlioelder one, who had great power of organisation. The requirements for certificates were far too high. In reply to another question Mr Hodgson stated that .Mr Tissiman, Mr Macklin, and Mrs Mack--lin obtained their certificates without examination, as provided when the new system came into force. Mr Hodgson was then asked what grade the various teachers obtained should be classed, when lie stated that the head master should be at least D 2, the second master F 8, and head mistress F2. Provision had been made in his scheme for retaining the two Misses Macklin. Mr Griffiths asked Mr Hodgson how he accounted for the unsatisfactory state of the school, to which he replied that it was dillicult to assign any precise reason, hut in his cpinion it was principally caused by M r Macklin attempting to teach the Standard.* concurrently with the High School, and hy the frequent changes of his assistants. These had been constantly changed, and this told against him seriously. Mr Macklin had got through an immense

amount of work ; in fact, too much had been put upon him. lie was a man who thoroughly understood his business, and both he and Miss Macklin had their classes thoroughly under control. The school at present was going on pretty much as it was before. The ('hairman thanked Mr Hodgson in the name of the ('ommittee for his kindness in attending and supplying valuable information, after which the ('ommittee adjourned. |We understand that Mr Hodgson is preparing a system for approval of the Committee which will provide for ihe hoys and girls being kept separate after leaving the infant school. |