THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE QUESTION.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 47, 24 January 1902, Page 5

THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE QUESTION.

The meeting called for last eveninsr, to consider the school attendance question, was poorly attended, although the importance of the subject warranted the calling of a public meeting. ; ' Tbe chair was occupied by Mr W. J. Mofihtt, who explained, that upon, receiving a letter from the head master he, on Monday last, with other ava ’- able meuibersi;f the Committee, visited the .'school and, after consultation, it was decided on account of the .small number of pupils present to close the >eh<x>l for another week. They had already given five weeks holiday ; l e apposed they would have to give another week during Jubilee celebrations, and then there would be thiee «a four weeks for Imp-picking. The state of affairs was alarming and .most unsatisfactory and it behoved t h eta tj

: a certain the opinions.of parents ami guardians as to the course to be purued. They ail recognised - that small fruits ami imps were important factors in the commerce of the district, but they had also to consider the position < f the school and the educational advantages of the children. , They had, moreover, asked the Education Board to establish a High School and the building was being erected. He was ]"repared to do his duty in the matter, and was of opinion the Board should he asked to re-appoint a truant officer for the whole district. After reading tiie clauses in the School Attendance ■Act, with reference to compulsory attendance, the Chairman invited th ose present t > express an opinion.

In reply to a question form Mr Wrath, the headmaster, Mr Harris, said the number present was 67 out of 155 on the roll. The infant classes were strong, the first standard fairly so. but the other standards -were very poorly represented. Mr J ji-flon was surprised that, considering the wording of advertisement calling the meeting, there were n >.t more present. His experience had been that there was always a" difficulty in getting the children to attend. The attendance was not bad considering'the raspberry picking season. They had opened with less than 70 ; they had kept on and not closed, because bv so. doing the scholars became careless about attending. .It. was a. great, pi tv those who attended, were kept back bv jthe negligent ones, it was also hard on ■tom teachers who were blamed for the backwardness of the : school. He thought the schools should be' opened next week and not-closed again. Thev should bring pressure to bear on the ■ B >ard to appoint a truant" officer : hitherto, when they had ope the attorn, dance improved ; such ah appointment would have great influence upon both parents'and children. If parents did not comply with the act and send the'r

children t > school |y;ythe ;coir- -* vn itt.ee. should enforce-? the* b'ompnWu-y elame-; and ma! e an example of some of the parents. . ~ -. Mr Wm Boyce agreed'with the* Co m-

mittee’s action. He thought it would be -a- great' hardship to enforce He compulsory.clauses dm ir-g f l o as many fan j] bs - 1 oi ed ••forward’' tty making a 1 tt-le money at pickling. Sooner or later they would lave to close the schools till after the hop crop had bedn gathered: : • ■ Mi- Wratt differed from ti e previous speakers,' and considered the schools should have been kept, open .to enable the 67 -who were present to receive tlie benefit bf teaching. They should hot close.: during- Jubilee vveek, although lie would not s-tand in. tlie way of children wari ving to attend,. Mr Quavie' .agreed, with : bhe last speaker, v It would, however, he hard on. the children .to take them away from picking. They should keep the schools open from Monday next, aha ma,l>e up for lost time. • • • . y ' Nome discussion ensued upon, the proposed High School, after which-' Mr' Jorda n proposed, and Mt- Bart- ’ lett seconded. That the Committee he. requested to insert an advertisement in the local paper to the effect that the schools will open, Monday next,-when a full attendance.-is requested ; other-' wise the Cornmhtee walk be Thibetantly compelled f to enforce the cornjyulsoi‘v : clauses of the Act,, \vhieh compel eight attendances in , the week. ’ Also,* that intending High School pupils be requested to .attend on .Monday, '.provision haying been made for instruction to be given. Boyce and Knapp objected; to,the first portion.of'the-motion, the latter strongly objecting to tlie meeting dictating to the Committee, who had the interests of the school at -heart.- as t,i> what it should do. JHr Jor.don warmly replied, disclaiming, y<nch.intention. Jhe motion was .lost, and it was ultimately agreed, on the amendment j of Mr B wee seconded by Mr Wratt, ! Thsit intending II igh School pupils be requested, to sittemi school next Mon day. ' ' It was resolved that the Board be j asked to supply copies of the compulsory ! clauses of the Act for- circulation. !

The following was agreed to on the motion of Mr Jordan, seconded by Mr Boyce, That application be made to tlie Education Board f a-: the -appointment of a Truant Inspect, >r for tlie districts of Motueka. Itiwaka and Lower Moutere and that tlie co-operation of the districts named be invited in furtherance of the resolution.