Te ArohaSchool Committee

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 425, 4 December 1889, Page 2

Te Aroha School Committee

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Te Aroha School Cummitice was held on Monday evening last. Present: Hey S. Lawry* (Cliaitman), Messrs Ilott, Menzios, and Hcalhcote. Minntes of the previous monthly meeting were read an<l confirmed. Correspondence : The following cir-

cular from the Board of fylucation was read :-—

Auckland, Sept. 30, 1889. " Sir, — The Board desires to cull the attention of Committees generally to the loss which is ocsa^ioned by the irregular attendance of children nt school. The statistics of attendance show that, tor every ten schplars on the school-rolls two are daily absent from schoql. It is feared that many parents allow tbo most trivial causes to interfere with their children's regular attendance. Inasmuch as the funds for the maintenance of education are regulated solely by a capitation grant baaed on the average attendance of scholars, a serious pecuniary loss is incurred through the daily absence of twenty per cent of the children belonging to {he sphqols. But this is perhaps the least important consideration. A much mO'-o serious consideration is the education of the children for whom the schools are established and maintained. Every jntenuption of tegular .attendance tends to hinder the course of a child's training and instruction : the tpacher is discouraged ; and the wl}ole school suffers. The 13oard_ believes $h,a,t Committees may exer-cise a wise influence by impressing on parents the duty of using every effort in their power in order that thoir children may derive the fullest advantage from the system of education whL-h the State provides, and also by upholding the teacher in his endeavour to secure the regular attendance of the pupils under h|s charge. Much has already been done in some districts by the issue of 'Qood Attendance Certificates ' in terms of section 79 of the Act- These certificates are obtainable by t\\\ children of school age attending a public school, and may be issued by the Committee, subject to th,e following conditions ;-— Class I.— rFor any child of school age attending a public school in the district, who, for a period of t\\'el . c months, has been present ev^ry time t\\e f,ohool w^b open, bo'Ji in, the morning and afternoon. Class IE. — For any such child who for alike period has not been absent from such school z^ore than tivc tjin.ps. in all. Any such child attending a public school who has beon, absent from such schooj by reason only of the observance of any fast pr p.they day set aparb for strict relipious observance by the reU^ous t*ody of which, such child is a member, shall notwithstanding such abso cc, bs deemed to have been present aa above provided. But in each BU.ch case sa,tisfac^ .ry cvi lence shall be given by the parent or guardian of such child that mich child was absent only for the cause :ibove. mentioned arid that the day or days of s.ieh ab-ence was o,r \^ere dnjs s.tiiuily set apait for strict observance hy the re\i o £ous bqdy qf whiuij tl\o child in a menih.cv t "\yhere, through the neglect or in-r difference of p-.rcn.ts children a, re encounigeil or permitted lo st.iv away from, sc'ionl, a remetjy is prescribed by sections 80-Dq of the Act, which provide for" oompuNcry attendance. Those |}mvi-»iun^ are to be administered by thu Committee, and uny bo brought into fnraii in any schrnl distinct upon tho'vnte of a m jnrity of tlve Q nnmilU'o uf. suyli di-^rct. Tlic l'onrd trusts (hat your Committee will cijrt'fu'ly cnnsiiiejtlnj snug ••.t'ous c-o-;-tained i;i this uiifijl ir, and tli it th»\% \vi : l o.x it t their infl icnce t.) aron-p parents tr> ;i fuller sense o,f thiiir \oepo:wbilitL>-. in the matter of thu'i- children's cdiiuition — 1 h,avo the honour, to b>->, sir, Yoi\i obedient feei'VHnt I—V^NUKNT l — V^NUKNT E Urcp, Seeretan . To the Ohaiim.m, To Arqha District School Convnittoc. Painting School J^uildiiv^ : A coin municatiou w.as also re ul h f n w tlie Do ir- 1 of Eiiuci'tion,cuclosiuq;coj)Yal"'a Oircul ir is.sued by the JJoar-1 in Ke^tenibi'r last yoar, re pointing' oj school buildings (to the effect that in, future half thvi cost of painting school buildings \vo^ld be charged to the school Committees-), and stating tenders wore being invited for re- painting Te Aroba school l\ouse, teacher's, residence, etc. -41so enclosing copy of the specifications an-J qondifcions of contract. Monthly Certificate : The monthly certificate showed the number on fclie roll for November, IGI, average attendance, 141 (as against 10G and 127 for Octobap montjij. i (At this stage of the proceedings Mr Armifccame in and took his seat). Annual School I^et^ : Resolved on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by M r Ilctt, That the members of the { School Committee, and the head teacher, Mr W. H. P. Marsdon, be appointed the Pete Committee, to make arrangements for the annual school treat, with power to add io their number ; and that the first meeting of the Committee be held on Wednesday evening, December 11th, in the School house at half-past seven. VisTtfng "Committee : Kesalved that tli3 Chairman and Mr Ilott heappointed Visiting Qammittee for the current month. Mr Marpdon reported that the windows in the teacher's residence required ■attention prior to being painted, being greatly warped. It was decided that one of the Visiting j Committee should draw the attention of I the Inspector to the matter, and that he be requested to point out (in his report), to the Board of. Education, the necessity of having this defect at once put right. I Holidays : Resolved that the school break up on Thursday before Christmas day this year, instead of Friday (as usual), the extra holiday being in lieu of ■ Prince of Wales' Birthday, which was not observed as a holiday at the school this year-. Some conversation took place with respect to tbe irregular attendance of some of the children, and the best way to deal with some who had apparently determined to please themselves with respect to attending school, in spite of various admonitions and warnings ; but the holidays being so near at hand, it was decided to take no decided action until the new year with respect to this matter. (/' Accounts : The following accounts were passed for payment : Mrs Erasmus (cleaning school), £1 8s 4d ; J. O'Connor (cleaning closets), £1 10s ; Te Aroha and Ohinemuri News (advertising), 3s 6d. This was all the bvainess. " I