OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 909, 15 March 1879, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The ordinary meeting of the Schools Committee was held last evening at the Secretary's office. There were present — Messrs. N. Fleming (Chairman), Montagu, Herdman, Evans, Smith, Hay, and Hardy (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Committee proceeded to consider the letter from the Rev. A. B. Todd, submitted at last meeting, requesting permission to -use the Grammar School for the purpose of giving undenominational religious instruc-

tion for an hour or so a week. Mr. Montagu said that the Rev. Mr. Gifford had intimated to him his desire to follow the same course as that proposed by the Rev. Mr. Todd. He (Mr. Montagu) had drawn up the following resolution on the subject :—" That the Rev. A. B. Todd's application to give, at the High School, after school hours, undenominational religious instruction to pupils of that school be acceded to ; that the Secretary be instructed to write to that gentleman to this effect, with the proviso added that no children be taught without the written consent of their fathers or guardians, previously conveyed to Mr, Todd, who shall once a week hand same notes of consent to the Secretary for placing along with the school records." He thought there could be no objection to adopting the course he proposed, and in order to prevent any unpleasant feeling arising, he had inserted the proviso necessitating the obtaining of the written consent of fathers or guardians of children before religious instruction could be given to them. Mr. Evans seconded the motion. The Chairman thought that the adoption of the resolution proposed would lead to no end of trouble. The whole of the ministers in town would probably follow the Rev. Mr. Todd's example, and the result would be that the schools would be occupied for a considerable time, and it would be impossible for the woman to clean them until night. The children ought to get away from the schools when their ordinary les.s.oris were done at three o'clock, Jt would be cruel to keep them there after that, and on the score of humanity the Committee should decline to grant the request. Much as he was in favor of Bible reading in schools, he could not agree with the course proposed to be pursued. He did not think was the manner in which the should be achieved. He wo.u}d not, however, vote upon the question unless it came to a casting vote, beoause he did not think a Chairman should exercise a double vote. At the same time he might state that the Committee had not the power to grant the sshoolrooms for the purpose named. They were vested in the of Education, and the consent ci that body should be obtained. Mr. W. J. Smith said he would certainly oppose the motion. If the use of the school buildings was granted to one minister they would, have to grant it to the whole of the ministers in Oamaru, and the step might lead to unforseen difficulties. He would therefore move as an amendment, " That this Committee regrets that it cannot grant the request." The amendment was not seconded, and after some little discussion of a desultory character, Mr. Montagu's motion was carried.

A letter from, the Secretary to the Education Board was read, forwarding a copy of a memorial from the Rector of the High School and the head masters of the North and South Schools asking that the services of the music-master and drillinstructor might be continued, and stating that the Board did not maintain such teachers in Dunedin, but that the drillinstructor simply received an allowance of Is. per day from students of the Normal School, while instruction in music was given by the teachers, as shown in the statement enclosed from the head master of the Normal School. The Chairman said it now became necessary for the Committee to decide whether or not the services of the musicmaster and drill-instructor should be retained. He could not see how the Committee could possibly pay the salaries of those officers unless they raise'd the money by subscription. A short discussion took place, during which all members expressed their regret at being forced to adopt one of two unpleasant courses. Mr. Herdman proposed, " That the Secretary inform the music-master and drill-instructor that the effort made to obtain funds to pay their salaries from the Education Board had been futile, and the Committee therefore regret that the notice for their dismissal cannot be withdrawn. " Mr. Smith seconded the motion. Mr. Evans moved as an amendment that the services of the music-master and drill-instructor should be continued, but this was not seconded, and the original motion was carried. Mr. D. Fleming, headmaster- of; the Noth School, wrote forwarding a copy ofthe Inspector's report, and enclosing a.

copy of a report he had sent to theft tion Board some time since, cont ■ charges against certain teachers i' n 8 school. " 1 hij It was resolved, on the motion 0 f i, Montagu, seconded by Mr W 1 " That Mr. Fleming be informed th n ' Committee regret that he should hav "' an appeal to the Education Board 0 '" first instance, instead of to the Comnvl" 1 ' and request that the charges made letter be detailed to the Coram'itte" 1 submitted for their consideration ! ' ' atl ' Mr. Peattie attended, and subiiiitt Hf the approval of the Committee a sol fees for instruction at the night sch i The scale of charges was approved °f the consideration that the holdiii °' evening classes entailed no exnmoa ' the Committee. P **** After discussing several matters hj, Committee rose. ' "