KAKARAMEA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 497, 4 February 1880, Page 2

KAKARAMEA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The following report was read at the meeting held on the 2Gt!i January Annual Report of Kakakamea School Commit \V. H. Watt, K<q., Chairman Wanganui Education Board. KIR, —I have the honor to report on proceedings of rhe above Committee for the year ending Dec, IS7O. Your Committee mule office under very discouraging circumstances, great unwillingness to accept the po.-kion being manifested by honseiioulders attending the meeting, and tor several months of their term had to contend with various drawbacks, such as inability to procure a clerk, resignation of members, and also of Chairman ; so that for some time the affairs of A the Committee were pretty much in tlu£ state popularly understood by the teim, “ sixes and sevens.” bince, however, obtaining the full number of members, Chairman and ch rk, the Committee have worked very harmoniously, and they hone they have discharged their functions with about the overage amount of ability and intelligence. EXTENSION OF SCHOOL PREMISES. The duty of completing the play-shed and addition to the teacher's residence, begun by the former Committee, was the iirst work of importance that claimed your Committee’s attention. This, owing to the fact of the sum voted for the work being altogether inadequate, has been a labor of some difficulty. Happily it is now liaished, and all accounts connected therewith settled ; and though the buildings are but little improved, architecturally, the additions must uo doubt be of great utility and convenience alike to pupils and teacher. ATTENDANCE DURING THE YEAR. The average attendance for the year is somewhat below that of last year, being only 33, and considering the number on the roll, is much lower than it should have been. The compulsory clauses of the Act do not rca iiy touch lJit matter of invgnlar attendance ; rather the reverse. Those clauses have been enforced in this district, hence the number on the roll (4b) ; but not compelling regular attendance, hence the low average. It is true that elsewhere the Act encourages regular attendance by the granting of what arc terun-d, “ good attendance certificates,” but. nunc such liavo been, or under existing circumstances are likely to be required in rids district. Hut whilst the compulsory clauses fail to a lie cl irregular attendance, irregular attendance affects most injuriously the position of the school, and has besides the wry anomalous effect of iucreaain'j Ihr. dijjk-nihj of the master’s work, ami at the same 1 ime /essc.iihvj the amount of his remuneration. Surety, then, some plan should ho adopted to remedy the evil. Your Commit toe. are well aware that irregular attendance is an exceedingly difficult matter to deal with, but; as nothing lends in ay to neutralise the effect of leaching, or more di -astrously ! militates against, die standing of a sohooi, ! it, is an evil that should be boldly grappled i with.

EX AM IX AT lOX OF TIIK S'it'jOl.. Thu annua! examination of the school not vet having taken place, I Iks Committee are not in a ito n-i ; but they deem it: equally uniDilmiiiir and unfair llial, it should have been postponed. The Committee isiti;*iot! u» give the children a treat, am! lu award pi:z«--s ; but in consequence of the postponement oi ibo examination, llns has not boon male ; and, if done at all, it will now devolve noun '.ho now Committee, who will also have that dmy to perfoim mice, should the matter be rcctilicd next, year. MIUTAKV DIIILL. Military drill is kept up ui.,h uur.'mitling ardour by the teacher (Air Brown), wno, by attending to this very necessary branch of a colonist's education, is mo aiding excellent material fur the country's dett-nc.; —niaiei'ial ihat will j'cjoice ibe hearts oi. finuro drill instructors, should the rising generation, like their unfortunate fathers, be obliged to serve as militiamen or Volunteers. FENCES AND ECHnoi. FirjtXnTttlC. The fence enclosing the school ground is of that description known as ‘‘ditch and bank,” ami hei.ee. it is extremely liable to be broken through by cattle. In order to obviate the necessity of attending to tacit gap, as made, the tminmitlcc thought it advisable to let the trimming and maintenance of it by tender, and were fortunate in hading a reliable person willing to undertake the duty fur the modest sum of L’-l per annum. It. is now in a good stale of repair, as is also tiic school furniture general ly ; but a tank is much wanted, as well to prevent .sloppiness about the .school as to preserve a of ’.valor ior t.Aie cmi'.Niren, who at present are dependent upon a spring at some distance train the school. The buildings, too, excepting the iatc additions, arc much in waul of a coat of paint, and the (Jommittee would suggest that the balance in baud, supplemented by your Board, might be vciy judiciously applied to that purpose. THE TEACUnn. Your Committee are pleased to report that they have got on very smoothly with the teacher, whom they have ever found most obliging and equally ready to assist the Committee, or to accept any .viggesthm of theirs that appeared to be for the bemdit of the school. They are, therefore, much concerned to learn that ids salary whl suffer a considerable reduction under the new scale of bonuses adopted by your Board.

Your Committee wish to record lh.-ir appreciation ut the niuf.ona promptings:-; and courtesy displayed hy your *3oard s Secretary (Mr A. A. Browne), in replying to communications from the Committee, whether recpicsting information or otherwise. Accompanying the report is the duplicate abstract of accounts, duly audited, and should your Board desire inform?.: ion upon any matter omitted, or fuller information upon any subject tone‘ace upon, your 'committee will be happy tu fonva; d 'U- - an., &c., * ’.mu... Purure-r, lion. Sec.