TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1046, 21 December 1882, Page 1

TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the above Committee took place in the schoolroom last Tuesday evening. Present —Messrs Mackay (Chairman), Davis, Bussell, and Brown. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. EXAMINATION. The Chairman said, as doubtless all were aware, the examination of the school took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, 11th and 12th insts. He thought the Committee would receive the report before the termination of their terra of office. PHIZES. The Chairman stated that £9 5s had been collected tor the purpose of purchasing prizes, and the total amount spent was £lO 10s. It was decided to try and procure the balance by farther canvassing. COHUESFONUENCE. Correspondence was then read ; Outwards, six letters. Tlie inwards included :—(1) From the Board of Education, stating that the sum of £2O had been placed to the credit of tba Committee, (2) accepting the resignation of Mr Bethunc, (3) approving of the Committee’s action in reference to the Gtod Templars’ Hall, (4) in reference to the date of the examination, (5) stating that the Board acceded to the recpiest of the teachers and would for the present pay the the salaries through the Committee instead of direct, and approving

of the Committee’s action re payment of October salaries ; and one or two letters of minor importance, head master’s report. The following report was read : ‘ I beg to submit my monthly report on the school. Number on roll—Boys, 201 ; girls, 171 ; total, 372. Strict average—Boys, 150 ; girls, 124. Working average-—Boys, 156 ; girls, 130 ; total, 286. Highest attendance—Boys, 170 ; girls, 148 ; total 818. The working average for the present quarter is 270. This number entitles the school to a fourth assistant at £6O, or instead of that two pupil teachers, whole united salaries do not exceed that amount, may be employed. The Inspector would advise that the latter plan be adopted. I also thiak it is the better way, chiefly for this reason—Miss Florence Brown has been teaching for some time in the school,and shows considerable aptitude for the work. Her appointment, along with a young pupil teacher, would conduce to the good of the school much more than any fourth assistant that would be likely to be got at the small salary.’ Mr Wood also strongly recommended the appointment of Mrs Rowe as second teacher. Since he had been in charge of the scoool the lady had done excellent work, and was eminently fitted for the post. THE TEACHING STAFF. The Chairman stated that the present average attendance entitled them to a fourth assistant, or two pupil teachers, and it now sested with the Committee to say which they preferred. Mr Russell pointed out that the head master was in favor of two pupil teachers. The Chairman said the difficulty was to get a teacher at the salary offered. Mr Davis thought it would be right to leave the matter to the new Committee. The Chairman pointed out how short of teachers they row were, Mr Russell was of opinion that the matter should be dealt with at once, Mr Davis reiterated his former

opinion

Mr Brown thought that if the Committee knew the school was lacking teachers, something should be done by the present Committee, as the school meet prior to the election of the new Committee. The present Committee should see that everything was in working order. Mr Davis again spoke. As they had got along so well with the present staff up to this he thought they could manage a tew weeks longer. They were only one teacher short. The Chairman said the school should have had another teacher long ago. When the last returns had been made up they were five short of the number of pupils required to entitle them to a fourth teacher. The consequence was that they had been kept five months one teacher short, This was the result of sickness among the scholars and other circumstances over which they had no control. Mr Wood had told him that the work of the school was too arduous and the teachers were fagged at the end of the day. He thought that the Committee would not be going out of the way to ask the Board to make provision for the other teachers the school was now entitled to, so that it might reopen with a full staff. The present arrangement was not fair to the teachers. Mr Davis said that £6O was allowed for a fourth teacher. Had the Committee any power to divide the amount between two pupil teachers ? The Chairman explained that they had. He had seen Mr Hammond (Secretary to the Board of Education), and Mr Wood bad pointed out to that gentleman the difficulty of getting an efficient fourth teacher at the salary ottered. Mr Hammond agreed that two pupil teachers would bo better than one fourlLi teacher.

Mr Brown moved— 1 'That the blaster’s report be adopted, and that the facts be placed before the Board of Education for their approval.’ Mr Russell seconded the motion, and it was carried, Mr Davis voting against it. Mr Davis remarked that they were acting as though they were making a will and leaving a legacy to their successors.

Mr Russell said that they had a perfect right to deal with the matter. The Chairman suggested that they should recommend Miss Brown to the Board as a pupil teacher. Mr Russell said that Miss Florence Brown had taught for 15 months in the school for nothing, and had taught well. He had very great pleasure in moving—‘That Miss Florence Brown be recommended to the Board as one of the pupil teachers out of two to be appointed on account of the increased attendance.’

Mr Brown seconded this, and it was carried. Mr Brown remarked that he was afraid the Board would be behind hand with the second teacher, Up to the present he had noticed no advertisement inviting applications. Proposed by Mr Russell, seconded by Mr Brown, and carried— { That the Head Master be requested to submit the names of candidates for the other pupil tcachership with his report and recommendation thereon.’

Mr Davis thought everything was cut and dried.

Mr Brown thought the Committee had sufficient confidence in the Head Teacher to abide by his recommendations, He was the person who had to work with the teachers appointed, and it wculd, therefore, be to his own in terest to only recommend suitable applicants. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £lB 10s lOd were passed for payment. THE ANNUAL RETORT. The Chairman said it would be necessary to appoint a Sub-committee to draw up the annual report and balancesheet, and to hold a special meeting prior to the annual meeting of householders to receive it.

Mr Davis proposed— ‘ That the Chairman ami Mr Bolton audit the accounts for the past year.’ It was pointed out that the auditor of the accounts must not be a member of the Committee, Mr Russell said there was no fee. The Chairman : Not without it is paid out of the incidental fund. Proposed by Mr Davis, seconded by Russell —* That the Chairman and Mr Bolton be appointed to prepare a report of the- year’s proceedings and a balancesheet, to be submitted te the Committee for their approval at a special meeting to be called on Tuesday, 16th January.’ Carried. Proposed by Mr Russell, seconded by Mr Davis, and carried— * That Mr Rout be appointed to audit the accounts and that the remuneiation for so doing be £1 Is. RE APPROPRIATION, Proposed by Mr Brown, seconded by Mr Russell, and carried—‘ That the sum of £2O originally granted by the Education Board for planting trees, but afterwards appropriated to the incidental fund, be now set apart for the purpose for which it was granted.’ THE LATE MR MENDELSON.

Mr Davis then mentioned that he thought something should be done by the Committee in the way of expressing their regret at the untimely decease of the late Mr J. Mendelson. Mr Russell said he had come to the meeting prepared with a resolution to that effect. He would hand it to Mr Davis for his approval. Mr Davis having road the same expressed bis approval. He then proposed, and it was seconded by Mr Russell, and carried uuanimnuslv—- ‘ That the Committee regrets keenly the loss of our valuable member, Mr Julius Mendelson, who was removed suddenly from our midst by an act of Divine Providence, as by bis energy, and genial manner as well, Ins loss to the Committee is incalculab’e, and the Committee sincerely sympathise will, the widow and family of deceased ; ami in the opinion of the members it is desirable and in good taste for the Chairman to write a letter of condolence and sympathy to Mrs Mendelson, the same to be drafted by the Chairman with the assistance of Mr 3. Brown.’ On the motion of Mr Brown it was resolved —‘ That a copy of the resolution should be forwarded to Mrs Mendelson.’ This conclu.ied the business of the meeting, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. I