TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 229, 29 January 1880, Page 2

TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The following is the report of the Temuka School Committee, read by the Secretary at their annual meeting on Monday night “Gentlemen, —In compliance with clause 64 of the Education Act, 1877, your Committee submit for approval this their annual report, and in doing so congratulate the inhabitants of the district on the efforts of your Committee during the past year, both as regards increase in number of children attending the school, and also of the great harmony that has t! ronghont existed between your Committee and teachers, and between Mr Mclntosh, head master, and Mrs Rowe, head mistress, with the other teachers. During the year there has been an addition to the staff by the appointment of Mr Smith as second master, and for the year now ended Miss Young has presided over the infant department w ith great satisfaction, assisted by Miss Klee and Miss Brown. “The schorl has cor s’derably increased in attendance since your Committee took office. The numbers on the mil at (ho commencement of 1879 were : Boys, 152 ; girls, 140 ; total, 292 ; while for the corresponding period of this year they are : Boys, 189 ; girls, 184 ; total, 373. This increase of 81 has been very steady and gradual, and affords most satisfactory evidence of the esteem in which the schorl is held ; and also of. the number of now families who have come to reside m the district. The aveiage attendance of children was greatly reduced by the sickness prevaleti iluring the first quarter of 1879, and it is sincerely hoped that the

prosed year, which lias opened so wi'il, may iot be marnd in like manner. The Bdu-aiimi Hoard, at the urgent request of your Committee, ar* now erecting proper lavatory accommodate During the Committee's term of office a new classroom has been added to the school, and has bo n found of groat convenience ; t is, however, strongly recommended, in view of later; addition or improvements, that no more money should bo spent upon the present building, but that the increasing requirements of the school be met by erecting permanent buildings upon the site obtained for that, purpose several years ago.

“ The school was inspected in the month of Juno last hy Mr Hammond, Inspector of Schools, who spent several days in the school-, and reported most favorably noon the organisation and method of teaching. Tiie annual standard examination was Infld in November, and although the report has not yet been received j the Secretary of the Board of Education has furnished your Committee with an abstract, which reflects creditably upon the teachers and pupils of the school, and prizes have been awarded in accordance with the number of marks obtained at this examination ; but your - Committoo exceedingly regret that the Inspector has neglected to furnish the full report of bis examination of the school, which has seriously interfered with the efficient working of the school; and, in the absence of the report, your Committee are unable to give a detailed statement ns to the progress of the school. Your Committee has held <1 living the past year twelve monthly amt throe special meetings, all of which have been well attended.

“Your Commitice endeavored,in a modified form, to introduce the compulsory clauses of tho Education Act ; and it is earnestly recommended that, during the current, year, the Art in this matter be stringently enforced, as not only arc many children irregular in their attendance, but a considerable number have been removed and sent to work who have not reached the ago of 15. “ Several applications have -boon made to the Education Board for furids to fence the new school grounds, aivl it is greatly regretted that your Committee has been unsuccessful in obtaining the means for this necessary work. It is much to he desired that the grounds should be fenced without delay, in order that they may bo prepared for planting during tho ensuing winter. The n-ccipts and expenditure for tho past year have been as follows : -