THE INVERCARGILL EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

Southland Times, Issue 1833, 19 December 1873, Page 2

THE INVERCARGILL EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

♦ ■ At the meeting ofthe above Committee on Wednesday evening, Messrs Watson, Calder, Lumsden, Mitchell, Kingsland, Harvey, and Mentiplay were present. Mr Harvey occupied the chair. Mr Hislop, Inspector of Schools, being in attendance, several subjects were discussed, and it was asked whether the teaching-power of the Grammar School was in proportion to the number of pupils attending it. Mr Hislop said that the art of teaching was the art of managing large numbers effectively, but a great deal depended on the nature of the subjects taught. As far as he could judge at present, he thought that the teaching-power of the Invercargill Grammar School was as strong as that of any of the other schools. But the new Head Master would soon be here, aud he (Mr Hislop) would advise the Committee to obtain his opinion on the subject of teachingpower. A memorial from residents in Harrisville, Gladstone, and Bay Eoad, praying for the erection of a school in their neighborhood, waa placed before the Inspector, who, after reading it, left it in. the hands of the Committee for them carefully to consider, and affix a resolution to it on the educational requirements of the town, before he should place it before the Board of Education next month. Mr Kingsland said he believed there were three or four hundred children who were without education in Invercargill ; and Mr Hislop observed that he never contemplated supplying the educational wants of Invercargill by the erection of the Grammar School alone. It was merely a beginning. The question of teaching the pupils gymnastics and military drill was discussed. Mr Hielop said that in Dunediu the officers of the Militia and Volunteer Department drilled the boys on behalf of the Colonial Government, and he understood that the Government had taten

charge of the military drill of all the youth of the country. The Board of Education had not hitherto made any grant for drill in schools. Mr Kingslairl asserted that our boys and girls went walking up and down the streets at an angle of 45 degrees, and all for ftie want of a little training. With regard to country pupils coming free by railway into town, Mr Hislop thought that only two classes of children should T>e allowed this privilege, namely, those who were nearer a railway station than a local school, and tboge who, though nearer a local school than a railway station, have attained a certain degree of scholarship, and wish to get at the Grammar School a higher education than the local school can usually be expected to furnish. A deputation, to consist of Messrs Colder, Luinsden, and Mitchell was appointed to wait upon Messrs Turn- < bull and Bastings some time during the proposed visit of the latter gentlemen to Invercargill, for the purpose of bringing before them the existing state of school accommodation and the general educational requirements of Invercargill and suburbs. The Committee adjourned at a little before 10 o'clock.