TE AROHA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 109, 4 July 1885, Page 2

TE AROHA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The usual monthly meeting of the above was held on Wednesday evening last* Present — Messrs G. Wilson, J. Ilott, J. A. Dobson, R. Mackie, and W« Hethrington. In the absence of the Chairman Mr Gibbons, Mr G, Wilson was elected to the chair pro tern. Minutes of the last meeting were read i and confirmed, I In his usual monthly report, Mr Marsden, head teacher, referred to the great irregularity of attendance on the ! part of some scholars, as follows :— " Continued irregularity on the part of many cliildi en/ Diakes complaint again I necessary. For the past quarter the number of absences is 9818, while that of attendances is 9969. Such irregularity, as I hare pointed out before, tends to destroy the efficiency of the teaching of the school. Fully one-third of the children hare been absent nearly half time this quarter." We append s list of the worst cases for the quarter ending 30th June, 1885 :—: — | Gertrude Smith, absent 80 times ont of 112; Elberta Smith, absent 76 times out of 112 j Williiim Wilson, absent 66 times out ol 112 ; Thomas Cook, absent 59 times out of 112 ; Osborne Smith, absent 87 times oat of 112 ; Thomas Hector, absent 90 times out of 112 *, Mary Quintan, absent 105 times ! out of 112. > ' • . After some discussion it was proposed, by Mr R. Mackie, and seconded by Mr G. Wilson, "That the Compulsoiy Clauses of the Education Act be enforced with respect to the absentees.' 7 Mr T. H. Smithe sent in his resigna- | tion as a member of the Committee, which was accepted ; and it was decided to defer the election of a new member until next meeting. I The question of introdocingHDr Richardson's Temperance Lesson Book,:*! a class book for use in the schoal, was once more brought up and discussed. ■ Proposed by Mr Ilott, seconded by Mr Dobson, "That Dr Richardson's Temperance Lesson Book be brought into use in this school." Amendment proposed by Mr Hcthrington, seconded by Mr R Mackie, 44 That the book be not introduced." On t>eing put to the meeting there voted for the amendment Messrs Hethrington, Mackie, and Wilson. The amendment was declared- carried. , Mr Marsden, having stated that he considered very few of the children were sufficiently advanced to understand the I oook, and generally as opposed to its introduction, appeared to decide some neinbers in voting for the amendment Ivho otherwise would not have done so. , .' Mr Dobson consented to undertake __ .Ue secretaryship until h new secretary was elected. :