OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 9 October 1880, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the Schools Committee was held last evening, when there were present Messrs. Fleming (Chairman), Stevenson, Forrester, Mollison, Mitchell, Smith, and Bee. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A memorandum was read from theRector of the Distript High School* pointing out the difficulties that ha& been experienced in the school owing to a substitute not being, supplied; by the Board. letter on the same subject was read, stating that in consequence of the examinations for certificates being fixed for iVes wlier this year, it would be unfair to ask a pupil of the Normal School to come to Oamaru, and that the whole of the teachers to whom he had made application had declined,to come to, Oamaru. After some discussion i,t was resolved, " That the Secretary write to. the Education drawing its attsn* fcion to the fact great inconvenience has o£cagio»e.d, to, tbfc District High 1

School through the non-appointment of ;of a substitute for Mr. Fidlor during hj; absence at the college examination ; that the attention of the' Board be drawn to the fact that th*s Committee assented to Mr. Fidler's application for leave 0 f absence oil the distinct that a substitute would be provided bv the Board ; further, that the intimate the desire of the Committee ta be informed definitely what course the Board purpose adopting iii future in re. gard to the appointment of substituted for teachers on leave of absence, ai)( j point out that the course under review would not only tend to cripple the aohool but to prevent teachers in future appearing at the University Examinations." The following report from the Rectorof the High School was read : . Sir, —I have to report, that since the partial examination of the High i-chooi by h er Majesty's Inspectors last month, I have been enabled to make various new and advan. tageous arrangements of the classes. I may state broadly, that, though the result of that examination does not show a very high p er . centage of passes, lam satisfied, when thefrequent changes of teachers in some of the. most important classes have been ta'cen into, account, that a large amount of gooy work has been done. In several of the classes there are pupils who have passed two standards, or nearly so, during tins *cssj on The result of the examination has enabled me to form a class of advanced pupils who. have passed all staudards. These, undermy personal tuition, now form the beginningof such a class as might bo expected in a High School. The girls who passed tho fourth and fifth standards are under tho charge of the matron'to prepare for the fifth and sixth. Mrs. Grahame contian.es to teach the French classes, and, as nearly all of tho advanced class take French, I conduct her classes for the hour. The boys who passed the fourth and fifth standards arc placed with the first assistant, Mr. Fidler, who has. the help of a pupil teacher. Mr. Gilford has. charge of the new Standard IV. class. The. second and third standards are respectively conducted by Miss King aud Miss For ens,, These pupil-teachers have been, by the' written consent of the Inspector, in charge: of Standards I. and 11. At the past examination, 93 aud 89 per cent, of their pupils passed. They have, therefore, been advanced with their pupils. Miss Adams teachea Standard I. in two divisions. The Infant Department, under Mrs. Crawford and two pupil-teachers, continues to do well. Whoa the Inspector's report is officially to me, it will be open to the Committeo s As yet, it is unfinished.—l am, Sc., Robert Peattie, Rector,. It was resolved to write to the Education Board, asking that the Committee might be furnished with the Inspectors' reports upon the condition of the schools •as soon as they are ready. It was also resolved that this Committee approves the principle adopted by the Rector of establishing a class in the District High School for those pupils who have passed the sixth standard, but would 1 , suggest that the greatest care be exercised! in furthering the efficiency of the classesi in the standards. Mr. A. Weir wrote as follows:—"! send herewith a copy of Dr. B. W.. Richardson's Temperance which I would bring before your notice with a view of having it introduced into the public schools of Oamaru. I understand that the Education Boards in Christchurch and New Plymouth have sanctioned its introduction into the schools under their supervision. I also enclose, two articles bearing on tha subject of,' temperance being taught in schools, nnd| think, if the matter meets with your favorable consideration, and those books are introduced into onr schools, it would be tho means of instilling into the minds of the children the great advantages to be derived from total abstinence." A copy of Dr. Richardson's Temperance ! Lesson Book was laid on the table. It was resolved to suggest to Mr. Weir.that he should bring the matter under thft notice of the Education Board. Mr. Smith mentioned that a sum of money had been placed to the account ot the Committee by the Education Board,, but that no particulars had been forwarded, and it was impossible to say what the sum represented. It was decided to write to the Bonrfi asking that particulars of payments migttfc on all occasions be supplied to the Committee. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.