SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 94, 8 July 1902, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

' The ordinary monthly meeting of the Motueka School Committee was held last evening. Present: Messrs Knapp, Wratt, Ryder, Quayle, Bart-' lett and McFarlane.'" In the absence of the chairman Mr Knapp was voted to the chair. Minutes of previous meeting read and adopted. Accounts amounting to £2 11s 6d >vere passed for payment. It was resolved that Messrs Miller and J. Egginton’s accounts be forwarded to the Board for payment. Letters were received from the Ngatimoti and Orinoco School Committee stating that they intended taking no steps re the appointment of a truant officer; from the Nelson Education Board re late conference of School Committees, stating that the Board would be pleased to assist the Commit tees in the matters discussed at their meeting; acknowledging receipt of letter re acknowledgment of Mr Low’s services, and stating that the Board to recognise any claim for services; also that the Board had no authority re payments of grants direct to the chairman, such payments having to be placed to the credit of the Committee at the local bank ; informing the Committee that the sum of Os 6d, amount voted for filling in at the teacher’s residence, had been forwarded and placed to the credit of the Committee. f A letter was received from Mr T. G. Malcolm re fees due for supervising scholarship and agreeing to accept a reduction in the usual charge on account of the straightened circumstances of the Committee. It was resolved that the parents of pupils who went up for examination, be asked to subscribe the amount pro rata. ■ It was agreed on the motion o.f . Mr Bartlett, seconded by Mr Quayle, That the Chairman interview the Postmaster re the Committee’s account. With reference to the letter from the Government re the public holiday on the 16th July, Arbor Day, it was agreed on the motion of Mr McFarlane, seconded by Mr Ryder, That the school children have a holiday on the 16th, provided trees can be procured -for planting on the flat adjoining Trewavas’ section, at the end of the Beach road and that the teachers be asked to accompany the children. Mr Wratt stated that he was not at the last meeting of the Committee when the resolution was passed fixing the opening of the schools for halt past nine. He was strongly opposed to the alteration and understood a petition was being signed protesting against the step. He had asked a number of parents in his locality and the majority were strongly in favor of opening the schools at nine. As the worst of the winter had gone by he proposed that the proposition be recinded. The Chairman said that hitherto he had always given way to those residing at a distance, but after giving the matter some consideration he felt positive by taking the step they had done they were conferring the greatest good upon the greatest number, and for that reason he supporte?. the change. Since the Committee had decided to open half an hour later he had been told complaints had been made to their chairman. Mr Ryder seconded the proposition. A number of people had spoken to him objecting to the alteration. The children's time 2'vas more valuable to the parents “in the evening than in the morning and he felt sure there was a large majority in favor of the schools opening at nine o’clock, although it might be difficult for some families in

the township to get their children to school at the time mentioned. Mr Bartlett maintained that the resolution passed should be carried out to the letter until a further alteration was made. The Committee had been congratulated upon the splendid idea bf altering the time, which was more suitable to the- infants who have to walk to school and also to the parents who have to get them ready; as for the older scholars they used bicycles and horses to get to school. The Headmaster had some trouble to get them there at nine, whereas when the schools opened half an hour later there should be no complaints as to lateness. The new departure should be given a trial and if it did not answer they could revert to the old order of things. Mr Quayle said he had not heard of one objection to the opening of the schools half an hour later. He thought some of the children who were not strong should be considered and for that reason he supported the schools being opened at half past nine. Mr McFarlane said he supported the alteration at the last Committee meeting in good faith as he considered it was made for their benefit. He had heard that outsiders had objected and as the Committee were pledged to do their best for the parents he thought their opinion on the subject should be obtained. Having been granted permission to speak the Headmaster, Mr Harris, said he did not object to the hour of opening, but said it was far better for the children to have a three hour session in the morning and a shoiter one in the afternoon as better results could be obtained. The moti >n was put and negatived, Messrs Wratt and Ryder being the only supporters. A proposition by Mr Wratt, That a circular be sent to the parents, asking for their opinion on the subject, was not put to the meeting, the majority being in favor of giving the later hour a trial. The Headmaster stated that he had made out the retnrns for the past quarter and he found they were entitled to another probationer and he therefore asked the Committee to apply for a second pupil teacher. This was 'the first quarter the attendance had been large enough to entitle them t > make the requisition. On the motion of Mr Bartlett, seconded by Mr Wratt, it was resolved that application be made to the Board for an extra pupil teacher. The matter of attending to the drainage of the school grounds was**feft in the luands of the Chairman and the Master to deal with. This concluded the business.