TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2971, 3 October 1882, Page 2

TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The Committee mot last evening. Present—-Messrs B. B. Waloot (Chairman), Gibson, Holme, Eowley, Jones, Tennant, Bezzant, COEKESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read, as follows : From Dr Hogg, certifying that Miss Hooper, P. T., was under medical treatment. It was explained that Miss Hooper had, since the date of this letter, returned to duty.

From the Board of Eduoition advising the Committee of the payment to their credit of certain amounts.

From J. W. Balfour, representing the Excelsior Cricket Club, composed of “ old boys,” asking leave to play cricket on the school grounds. The premission was granted, subject kr the Club not interfering with the present scholar’s games. ■>From.Mr 0. E. Cooper, asking if Dr Maclntyre might attend school and vaccinate such childreu as had not already been operated upon. The Committee considered Dr Maclntyre’s recommendation, viz., that notice be given in the school of his visit, so that children, whose parents were willing to allow them to he so vaccinated might attend.

There was considerable discussion on this point, Mr Bezzant stating that he strongly objected to vaccination.

It was resolved on the motion of Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr Bowley, and carried “That the Chairman be authorised to arrange with the medical officer, and give such publicity as be may deem necessary in re his visit to the school under the provisions of the “Public Health Act.”

From the Head Master,, enclosing returns of attendance for the past month and quarter. The Chairman said the total average for the quarter, 737, would entitle them to another teacher. The Chairman mentioned that the Inspector had visited the Side School last week, and had then found the Teacher absent from duty and the school jn charge of Pupil Teachers, Such a state of things should not bd allowed to exist.

The Committee requested the Chairman to inform the Teacher that absence could only he permitted when sanctioned by the Head Teacher of the Main School, Under whose supervision all the teaohers were. chairman’s report. : The Chairman reported the following:—’^

He had sent the requisite notices to the police, re enforcement of the compulsory clauses of the “Education Act.” . He had held over the erection of a gymnasium at the ; Side School, until the Committee should; be in funds. They had not , now sufficient money to' pnable them to pay anything away for this.purpose., ■ : < ' He had applied to the Education Office for'wall-cards, but these had not yet come to hand. He farther explained why he had declined to .distribute, the scholarship monies for this quarter. An angry parent of a scholarship bolder had bearded him in his { own, office ;i,and* after behaving impertineht'y, had been ejected . therefrom, On. that ;hei, (the Chairman) had determined to have nothing more to do with paying over these amounts. He had received notification that: the'Education Board, not having completed its arrangements for paying teachers’ salaries direct, wished the Committee to pay the salaries this month, as before. It was moved by Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr Howe, and carried—“ That the Committee should pay the salaries as requested.” The Chairman further expressed his disapproval, of the : action ~ of the Inspector in first laying his report on the school before the Board, instead of before th'e Committee.

, inspector’s report on the main ' SCHOOL. The report, with the teachers comihents i thereupon, being laid on the table, Mr Gibson said he had drafted a resolution to form a basis for discussion. He moved, and Mr Rowley seconded—- “ That after considering the report of the Inspector upon the Timaru Main School, the Committee is of opinion that to remedy’the evils complained of the following course should be viz; —-The internal management of the whole school (including the Side. School) should be placed under the absolute control of the Head ■ Master, with full authority to distribute the staff as ho in bis opinion may deem; most advisable, and he alone shall be held responsible for the regular attendance, and proper conduct of his staff ; and in the event of any of the staff being absent from duty, from I 'Sickness or otherwise, he shall at once report the matter to the Inspector or Chairman with a view to having the vacancy filled as'soon as possible. That the Head Mistress receive the necessary notice to terminate her engagement, and the Board be requested to advertise 'for a competent successor. That owing to the crowded state of the infant school the Head, Master be requested to draft (say fifty to a hundred) children to the higher school, as the Committee is of opinion that owing to the large number of children being taught in this department, the work is altogether beyond the capabilities of the staff, and would suggest that as soon as circumstances will permit, a second mistress should be appointed to this department. That the attention of the Board be again drawn to the urgent and absolute necessity of .alterations! being made in the large room of the infant school; and the Committee wonld advise that the present gallery be taken down and modified, and made the same as those at present in use in the infant classrooms, and the room divided into four compartments by contains suspended and travelling upon hop rods, the onrtains to extend the same distance across the room as the galjery. This would leave the room free for assembling the children in, and make admirable class rooms.” Mr Howe criticised the . resolution just moved as in some points superfluous. He also considered the infant department was most unjustly treated. The Chairman, said he thought the arrangement‘of the staff was thoroughly defective. The school had before been placed under the Head Master, by reso-‘ lution of the Committee. Mr Gibson said the terms of that resolution had certainly never, been 1 carried'put by the Head Master. He also objected to the Committee’s interference with the attendance of the staff,-—for that the Head Master, not the Committee, should be responsible. As for the irregular attendance of pupilteaohers at their lessons (complained of by the Inspector), he traced that to the absurd burdening of the curriculum with useless elegies. He thought the Inspector’s report, was unjustly vague, and placed the Committee in an entirely false position. There was something behind the Inspector’s report, not stated. He thought that gentleman should have been particular in bis statements, and said plainly what he meant. Ho would not wish to disparage Miss Forbes. She had undoubted good qualities, but she had evidently set the Master at defiance. If the Inspector in his report had been vague. Miss Forbe’a in her reply had shown that she could give him points and beat him hollow in vagueness. He considered; the infant school in a thorougly bad state. It had steadily deteriorated since Miss Quinlan had left. Miss Kippenberger was not to blame for that, however. Mr Howe asked whether the management of the school was not under the control of the Head master. Should not tbe Committee ask the Head Master why the. instructions previously given him had been disregarded ?

■ The Chairman read portions of the Head Master’s remarks showing that M ss Forbes had set him at defiance, and refused to acknowledge his authority in any way.

Mr Howe thought the sections of Mr Gibson’s resolution dealing with the various points should bo formed the subject of separate motions. Mr Tennent thought the Head Master had not maintained his position as he ought to have done. It was his duty to maintain discipline, and he bud not done so. The Head Master ought to be so informed, and told that if, in future, he did not assert his authority, the Committee might take further steps. Mr Gibson had failed to censure the Head Master, as he ought to have done; and he would like some censure added. However, he would second Mr Gibson’s motion, as far as it went.

Mr Gibson justified the terms of his resolution.

Mr Bizzant was earnestly desirous that Miss Kippenberger should have the best assistance in her (the infant) department.

The Chairman explained that the motion provided for that. The Chairman considered the resolution did not go far enough. The Head Master, he considered was very much to blame for the state of things. The feeling between the Head Master and Mistress, was well known everywhere. < The Head Master bad never taken bis proper position as head of a large school. He was more like one of tho staff. He had never realised his positionias head ; and he believed, never would. He felt that either one or both should go,, and he was inclined , to believe it would be better that both should go. The thing could have been nipped in the bud if the Head Master had asserted bis position.

Mr Gibson attributed Mr Scott’s backwardness to the modesty generally accompanyihg merit. Mr Bowley thought in any case it could be no harm to notify the Head Master of the Committee’s opinion. The Chairman said the arrangement of the staff was . monstrous. Mr Scott kept all the best teachers, the other department were allotted inferior and fewer teachers. Miss Kippenberger, he considered, was most uutairly handicapped. Who was to blame for this mat-administration ? The Head Master; and he trusted his remarks would be reported that his opinion on the subject might be seen. , The resolution, on being put, was carried. - It was farther resolved—“ That a copy of the foregoing resolution be sent to the Head Master, and his attention be drawn to the Oordmittee’s wishes therein expressed. : :i accounts.' Accounts amounting to £3 13s 3d were passed for payment. YIBITOBB. Messrs Howe and Bezzant were appointed Visitors to the Main School, and Messrs Waloot and Gibson to the Side School. The proceedings then terminated.