MOUNT IDA DISTRICT SCHOOL

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 50, 14 January 1870, Page 2

MOUNT IDA DISTRICT SCHOOL

The statutory anmul n.e ting of the owrersi and occupiers of land and household?!* in fi>e Educational District of Mount Ida, for the ek.« ti»n of a School Committee, and other busines-, took place at the school-house, Naseby, on Monday evening lasL Between forty anil fifty persons were present. Mr. J. M'Namara wis called to the chair. : The Chairman asked the Secretary, Mr. J:. C. Smith, to read report, of retiring Uommittte for the past year. The report is as follows : " The Mount Ida School Committee, iu pre* senting a report of their proceedings during the past year, would express a feeling of regret that it should partake largely of a painful character. They entered upon the duties tf the year with the earnest desire and determination to promote to the utmost the efficiency of the school and the comfort of the master. .They were of course aware fiat difficulties had occurred during the existence of former Conif ; mittees,: but were under the impression that

Petchell had not received fair-play, and were accordingly anxious to snow a spirit of reconciliation; yet, at the very commencement •of tile year, they were met, oil the part of Mr. Petchell, by a spirit of defiance, which omitted t*io occasion of opposition and insult. All their peSorts to do good were rendered useless by'his impracticable character, and obstructive conFriendly recommendations, as well as formal resolutions, produced no effect. % As ipng, however, as the hienibers of the Cbmiiiittee only were affected by this conduct they shade no. complaint. It was duly after loud and numerous complaints of the parents were pressed upon them, and all other means to- re-' drass grievances complained of had failed, that "the Committee applied to the Educational ' J3oar;l, stating that, in view of so much dissatisfaction, with Mr. Petchell, the- Committee •considered that his usefulness as a teacher was gone, and requested permission' to determine his engagement. . When it was -known- that Hislop was appointed by the Board to inTestigate the matter, the following resolution wrs.passed in committee:—'That a public meeting of the parents be called (contingent "upon the approval of Mr. Hislop), in order to, •ehcit opinions relative to their confidence in -'Mr. Petchell.' Mr. Hislop, however, refused to avail himself of the Committee's oiler ; and lifter a brief and superficial examination of the

poinhs at issue, decided in favor of Mr. Pel■c.e ■ s letention.

".The. Committee deem it to notice the various motives attributed to them, but simply state that their conduct has been •dictated by a regard to the interests entrusted to them by the public. " Of the working of the school little can be said beyond the results of individual observation, for Ma\ Petchell has systematically refused or evaded giving any information not imperatively necessary. As no report has been furxushed for the month of December, the following statistics shew, the state of the school in November last:—Pupils, sixty-six : thirtythree boys and as" many girls ; shewing a decrease for the month of thirteen. "In the internal arrangement of the school there i 3 room for improvement. Through a want of organisation, a vast amount of time is wasted. Tiie-work is certainly far too gre'it for one teacher, hut a belter system would

secure greater efficiency. In some, branches children display marked, .proficiency,; and par tic ularly in reading, which is very pure,"and i'ree from provincialisms';..in other things they aje backward, and the necessity ,foi\ an: additional teacher is very obvious. ... The Govern-: nient has signified its willingness to contribute £2-5 a-year to the salary of a. female assistant; but, to secure a qualified one, this amount would have to-be largely supplemented. But jio expense would be too great to secure a F competent teacher, wliose heart is ia the work of instruction, and ia'-whom you can have fall conii le.ic . .^*

"The thanks of the Committee are due to Mr. Herfcslet for his lecture in aid of the

school, as also to those ladies and gentlemen who assisted in various ways at the readings held in the Masonic liall.

"During the year, twenty meetings of the Committee-have b'een held. The members: re.-- : v tiring from office trusting that those who .ceei them may have a yeiy pleasant and prosperous year."

The report was far from being favorably re-. reived by the meeting, and was'stigmatised as bding composed of a ''tissue of lies from be- . ginning to end," &e., &c, and a somewhat warm discussion ensued. -.-.',. •,■•■-..■■;' On the motion of iVlr. John Bremner, seconded by i£r. E. T. George,. Messrs. J.;S: M'lntosh aal J. Lory werei chosen to audit the books.of the Committeefor the last two years. Tiie following gen blemen were then elected members of Committee lor the present year:— K. R033, C.F. Roberts, Walter Inder, Hugh TG-iilespie, R. W. JSotting, Dickson, M. Hunter, J. Lory, arid J. iieeley.- : The meeting then separated. - ;,: ;