SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 378, 15 February 1908, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

• ♦ A meeting of the local Stale School committee was held in the Library on Thursday night'. Present :—Messrs L. W. Wilson (chairman) G. Coley, M. Perreau, Baker, Hennessy, Level fraud Henderson. ~ '

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Chairman said he had spoken to the Headmaster in reierence to the cadets, and was informed that if the committee sent a note to Mr Goidon, who was in charge of the cadet corps he would no doubt supply the information desired, although it was not necessary for him to do so. —Mr Levett pointed out that the committee was not complaining about the cadets, but desired information as to the efficiency of the corps. —Mr Hennessy thought it would have been a simple matter for the headmaster to have obtained the information asked for as Mr Gordon was responsible to the headmaster. He moved, and Mr Coley seconded, that the headmaster be asked to obtain a report from Mr Gordon. Correspondence was read from the Secretary of the Board stating that as no attempt had been made to form a garden at the local school, the tools as supplied by the Board be forwarded to the Aramoho school.—Mr Coley failed to see that gardening operations could be successfully carried on at the local school as the ground was unsuitable. He moved that the tools be forwarded to Aramoho, seconded by Mr Hennessy.—An amendment by Messrs Baker and Perreau, and supported by the Chairman that the tools be not returned in view of the fact that gardening would be started at a later date, was carried.

The Headmaster reported that since the holidays the average attendance had been very good, viz., 224, 240 and 245 ; Mr-Bainbridge was cashiered by the Board at the end of the month, and his position has been filled by Mr D. Robbins, of Hawera.

Mr Frankland’s resignation as Secretary, owing to his departure for America, was accepted, and an appreciation of his services recorded. Mr Baker consented to act as Secretary for the time being, and was authorised to sign cheques. A letter was received from the Board stating that the Committee’s communication re classification of scholars had been referred to the Chief Inspector, which led one committeemau to remark “ that that was all they would hear about it.”

The Board also wrote stating that Mr Fraser would inspect the fencing required, and report on same at next meeting.

, A parent wrote complaining that the headmistress had punished her child with a strap on the hand causing a blood blister, and further, that the child punished was not in the teacher’s class, and asking whether the teacher mentioned had the authority to punish children.— It was explained that the headmistress had power to punish scholars. It was decided to forward the letter to the headmaster.

It was reported that upwards of odd had been collected for the purpose of purchasing prizes for the children, of which £6 bad been expended. Mr Coley said the whole of the money was collected for a specific purpose, and could not be otherwise diverted. In his opinion every child in the school should receive a prize.

The Chairman said he was safeguarding the funds of the committee.

Mr Coley said to transfer any of the money for other than the purchase of prizes was nothing more no less than obtaining money from the public under false pretences.

Mr Levett suggested that the balance of the money should be spent by giving the children a treat in the playground and inviting the parents to be present. He did not agree that every child should receive a prize as that would kill the incentive to industry by the lazy scholar. After further discussion it was resolved that the school prizes be distributed at the local school on Wednesday afternoon next, 19th inst, and that the balance of the prize money be spent in t^e purchase of fruit etc., for the children.

Accounts amounting to £7 6s rod were passed for payment.

It was decided to wait on Mr Stevens M.P. in reference to the classification of scholars.