SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 17 April 1909, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The ordinary meeting of the local State School Committee was held in the old school house on Thursday night. Present: Messrs Hornblow (chairman) Rev. G. K. Aitken (secretary), Betty, Bullard, G. Coley, T. Henderson, and Read and the headmaster.—The minutes of the ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. —The visitors reported that everything appeared in order, and the cleaning was being faithfully carried out. Correspondence inwards and outwards was read and receivedThe Treasurer reported that the Committee, after meeting all liabilities would hand over a credit balance to the incoming committee of £7 T^s> The recen t concert had been responsible for the healthy state of the finances. Accounts amounting to £l6 19s 5d were passed for payment. The headmaster’s report stated that the average attendance during the last five weeks was; 267, 259, 271, 258, and 242. The admissions for the first three months of this year 1907, 10S ; making a total of 263 during the present headmaster’s supervision of the school. There are 47 pupils attending the school now who were pupils when the headmaster took up his duties. The skylights have been painted. On the Ist of last month, Mr Davey, who had had no previous experience in teaching, succeeded Miss Roche, a capable pupil teacher, who was transferred to Normanby. On April Bth, Miss Voysey, assistant mistress, was transferred to Taihape, and the Board notifies that Miss LClinton will take up temporary duties until Miss Slattery can leave Kohi school. On the same date, April Bth, Mr A, L. Wilson, who received his first appointment as pupil teacher in this school, left for an appointment as assistant at Hawera. Miss Henderson, Ohakea, who possesses a Std. VI. qualification, succeeds Mr Wilson, and commenced duties on Wednesday, but as she has had no previous experience, could not be expected to fill Mr Wilson’s position efficiently with a class of Std. 11. pupils, numbering 50 odd, and as the number of Miss Wanklyn’s pupils is getting numerically stronger,'Miss Henderson is assisting Miss Wanklyn. The report concluded by thanking the Committee for its interest and enthusiasm in school matters generally, and for the good work done in and around the school during their term of office, also for invaluable assistance which has always been pleasantly and readily given the teaching staff at all times. The report was received and adopted. The Board’s method of appointing inexperienced pupil teachers to the school was adversely commented on. It was pointed out that although it might be taken as a compliment to the headmaster to “lick pupils into shape,” yet their removal by the Board at a time when they were becoming useful, dislocated the work of the staff. It was also stated that when the Committee had previously protested to the Board it had been “ snubbed;” It was finally resolved, ou the motion of the Rev- Mr Aitken, seconded by Mr Read, that a protest be forwarded to the Board against the system of making Foxton the training ground for pupil teachers. Messrs Coley and Henderson were appointed visitors for the month.

It was decided to consider in committee the transfer of an assistant teacher suggested by the Board to fill the vacancy on the staff, rendered vacant by the transfer of Miss Voysey. After considerable discussion, it was unanimously resolved that this Committee apply to the Board to have the vacancy filled in accordance with Clause 2, section 14, of last year’s Amending Act. The meeting then rose.