SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S JOKE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 90, 11 December 1912, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S JOKE

“A little nonsense now and tlicn is relished by the wisest men” —and sometimes even by. members of a school committee (states the ‘limaru Herald’). At a meeting of the Vv aimataitai School Committee, members laughed long and heartily over a little jok< which had been perpetrated on two of its members at a, previous meeting iu holding thorn to an offer to give two special prizes for writing. The offer was at first made jocularly (so the members in question said), hut next morning, to their.-astonishment, they found their offers in print; and at the meeting they were further astonished to find them enshrined in the official record of the minutes. The headmaster said that lie had given it out to the pupils that these prizes wore to he given, and the children looked upon the donors as heroes, the members in question protested that they only intended their offers to hold good it all the other members of the committee also offered a special prize each. After a great deal of good-natured banter

at tho expense of the two discomforted members, Dr. Cox rose and gravely pointed out that tho question was one of serious national importance, but at this time of tho year, when private expenses were so heavy he must decline to he drawn into the net. (Renewed laughter). The upshot of the discussion was that one member after another promised a special prize, with the exception, at first, of Dr. Cox. each donor being heartily applauded. Then it was suggested that the ‘Herald’ reporter should give one as a penalty for publishing the fact that two members of the committee had offered special prizes, this proposal emanating from one of tho aggrieved

The reporter readily fell in with the suggestion, and Dr. Cox, amid iciiewcd applause, said lie could hold out no longer; if tho reporter was going to give a prize he would give one also. As an outcome cf the little joke tho Wai.nataitai School children will benefit to the extent of nine special prizes. Just how tho prizes are to bo allocated has not yet been decided.