TE AROHA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 160, 10 July 1886, Page 2

TE AROHA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The usual munlhly meeting of the above committee was held on Tuesday evening last. Present : Messrs Vause (chairman), Dobson, Ilott, La very anil Alder. Minutes of the previous monthly meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The head teacher reported as Follows respecting- irregular attendance on the part of certain scholars : — The attendance during the past quarter has been exceedingly variable. Beginning- with an average of 110 in Aptil it dropped to 57 in June. The smallest number absent at ally time during the quarter was 21, while the greatest was no less than 111. This will give an idea of the broken state of the school, and of the extreme difficulty with which the woik was carried on by the teachers. Herewith I forward list of children who have been needlessly absent more than half time for the quarters ending 30th June and 31st Maich. Many others have been absent, but as their absence was caused by sickness other unavoidable cause I have not included their names in the list. Elberta Smith, total number of attendances for half year ending Juno 30th, 23 ; Gertrude Smith, do., 9; George Mackie, do, 18 ; Osborne Smith, do., 32 ; Mary Everitt, do., 39 ; John Home, do., 53 ; Charles Everitt, do., 68. Considerable discussion took place with respect to what steps had best be taken to enforce bettor attendance. Ib was stated that the parents of several of the children named had been written to, and also spoken to by members of the committee requesting them to send their children moi'e regulaily, but they appeared to pay little heed to the request. On the motion of Mr Lavery, seconded by Mr Dob°on, it was resolved, 1. That the Secretary be requested to send written notice to the parents of the most irregular attendants, requesting them to semi their children to school ; 2. That in future leo;al action be taken by the committee where necessary to en~ force attendance. The teacher reported the number on the roll at present 129 $ average attendance for the month 67.2- The prevalence of whooping cough aiid. other juvenile ailments in a, great measure accounts for the small attendance lately. A communication was read from tho Board of Education in reply to an

application from tlio committee requesting- them to provide fenders, fire iron 6 ?, gravel, etc., staring 1 the Board Tvere of opinion these articles should be paid for 1 out of the school funds. It was resolved, that the articles required be obtained, and that another* application be made to the Board re--questing them to defray the cost. A circular was read from the Board' of Education accompanied by a list of gentlemen nominated to fill the vacancy on the Board occasioned by the resignation of Mr Lawry, viz :— Messrs Samuel Bright, Thofl. Campbell, Geo. Taylor Keetly, and Richard Udy. The election will take place on the' 16fch inst. - liesolved that the Tote of tbe committee be given to Mr Udy. Kesolved : That the suggestions contained in a circular recently received from the Board re the appointment of an Arbor Day bo approved of, and that the committee agree to adopt any day the Board may decide on for the purpose. Messrs Lavery and Ahier were appointed visiting committee for the current month.