OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1177, 24 January 1880, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The'following report lias been prepared for submission to the annual meeting of householders to be held on Monday evening : Your Committee for the year now ending present the following report of their proceedings : On taking office, your Qommittep had to make a carpful enquiry into the financial position of the schools, ana, after close investigation, found it necessary to dispense with the services of the drill instructor and the singing master, and to call upon the teaching staff of the schools to give the necessary instruction in these branches of education, and are pleased to. say that in neither particular have tho schools suffered greatly by the change, In February, an application was made by the Rev. A. 13. Todd for permission to establish and teach a Bible class in the High School, after school hours, and after consideration then, and again

at the March meeting, your Committee granted Mr. Todd's request, on condition that the instruction in Bible knowledge should be undenominational, and that the written consent of the parent or guardian of each child in tliepclass" should first be lodged with the Secretary. The class was organised, there has -been no complaint made in regard thereto, and the written appliations for admission during the year numbered 71. During the year the Committee succeeded in inducing the Education Board to erect improved closet accommodation to the North and South Schools, and have strong reasons to believe that the projected new South School and master's residence, a master's residence at the North School, and a janitor's residence at the High Sohool will be commenced at an early date. ; '

During the year the only change in the constitution of the Committee was caused by the retirement of Mr. John Thomas Evans, in whose place Dr. I. A. Garland was appointed. , In the teaching staff, however, a considerable number of changes have taken place. First, as regards the High School, Miss Thomas, who had given much satisfaction as assistant mistress, died very suddenly in September last, and Miss Adams was appointed to fill her place, and continues to do so. A further change has become necessary by the resignation of Miss Cleary, the matron, whose resignation has been accepted. During the first five months your Committee experienced some difficulty in dealing with the differences among the teachers in the North School. As you are aware, the state of things had been going on for a considerable time, much to the injury of the school, and acting injuriously to the advancement of the scholars.

The difficulty, however, was overcome by the resignation of the head and second masters. The Committee had in May last the good fortune to obtain the services of Mr. James Lindsay as matter, and Mr. Forbes as assistant master. The result has been most satisfactory, and the school is now flourishing. In the South School, Mr. Elsbury, who had been appointed but a short time previously, resigned in April. Mr. Flood succeeded him, but he, too, resigned in December, and. Mr. W. M'Donald has been recommended by the Committee to fill his place. After much correspondence, the Board consented to the appointment of a visiting drawing master to the High School, and Mr. Hutton began teaching in November. Your Committee considered that there should be a drawing master permanently appointed for the district, but the Board could not at present see its way to make such an appointment. Your Committee have not deemed it advisable to put the compulsory clauses in force, although aware of the fact that until it is done the Education Act must fail to fulfil the intentions of the Legislature. They think, however, that on the completion of the new South School, it should be done on the conditions contained in our last year's report, as there is no doubt that great numbers of children of school age are kept away from the schools without sufficient reason. A memo, having been sent to your Committee from the Education Board on the fact that the teaching staff of the High School exceeded in number that allowed by the regulations for the attendance, a Sub-Committee, consisting of the Chairman, Mr. W. J. Smith/Mr. Herdman, aud Mr. D. S. Montagu, were appointed to enquire into and report upon the subject, and upon matters generally connected with the school. The Sub-Com-mittee's report is appended hereto, and a letter from the rector in connection there' with. The report and rector's scheme have been adopted by the Committee, and recommended to the favorable consideration of their successors.

[Here follow copies of the report of the Sub-Committee appointed to report upon the causes of the falling off in attendance at the High School, and of the reotor's letters to the Committee, already published.] . By the balance sheet it will be seen that the new Committee will not be entirely clear of debt, but the deficiency is of a very moderate amount. During the year, besides numerous meetings of Sub-Committees, your Committee have held 21 regular meetings, at which the attendances have been as follow : Mr. N. Fleming, 19 ; Mr. Montagu, 20 ; Mr. W. J. Smith, 18 ; Mr. David Hay, 16 ; Mr. Herdman, 14 ; Mr, Evans, 9 ; Mr. Dunlop, 6 ; Dr. Garland, 3. Your Committee cannot conclude their report without saying that in all matters the Schools Committee of Oamaru have received ample justice from the present Education Board, and they have also to thank the Secretary for his prompt attention to all communications between the Committee and the Board. • Neil Fleming, Chaimnan.