TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1106, 17 May 1883, Page 2

TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Ihe ordinary monthly meeting of tho above Committee was held last Tuesday evening. Present—Messrs Mackay .(Chairman), Brown, Pearpoint, Gray, Kirk and Bolton. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting v» ere read and confirmed. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOL*. A letter was read from the Rev Mr Hamilton stating that a deputation of the ministers of the varieus denominations would wait on the Committee at a. later hour that evening to request the Committee "to allow them to give religious instruction before school hours instead of alter. A letter was read from the Chairman of the Rangiora School Committee in reply to one from the Temuka School Committee, stating that they had always allowed the reading ot the Scriptures in their school, Since 1877 they had allowed three, and at one time five, half hours per week, from 11,30 to 12 o'clock Leing the time albwed. The teachers of the school always imparted such instruction, and although there had been changes since the system wag initiated no complaints had been made in this respect. Some friends of the movement had offered to remunerate the teachers for their trouble but the offer was rejected. The ministers were at liberty to attend at the hours stated, but they were content with the existing arrangements. The Rev Mr Hamilton, representing the Prssbyterian* Wesleyim and" Episcopalian denominations, waited on th« Committer to urge the request set forth in his letter, and ;said they had taken advantage of the kind offer of the Committee to give religious instruction in the school in the afternoon, and now wished the Committe to grant permission to them to teach in the morning instead of in the afternoon, and for two reasons. There was in the district a spirit of that which he might term < Americanism.' The children had no respect either for their parents or" teachers,'and he in concert with the Revs Gordon and Wills hid come to the conclusion that the repetition of the Lord's prayer in the morning, and the reading of a Bible . lesson with them, would give teachers a hold over them which they would not otherwise then?; conduct in the school it would greatly improve. It would give the children a steadiness for the day which would show itself both in and out of school. He spoke as a teacher of some experience.- He took charge of a school of rebellious children, and simply by having a prayer in the morning the children became noted for their good behaviour. The Episcopalian minister of that town had told him that the children had neve? made the least recognition or him prior to his taking charge, while after a short time of his instruction they did so of their own freewill. The ministers hoped to give the children a lesson in the fore part of the day. In fact the children were just like sponges, At the end of the day they were full and could not take any more into them. On the first d&y that he taught in the school the number attending the class was 23, and on the last day it was 39, so that the Committee could see that they were progressing, and that the parents were in favor of the movement. . The teacher said he had no objectiou' to the lesson being given in the riior'riing, but thought it would bo rathoigjtrgcod thing as it would bring the children to the

mark. They proposed to have it before lessons. The teaching was undenominational, and no doctrine would be taught. He, with the other ministers had agreed on a course of lessons suited for the children, and if there was any striking moral contained in the lesson it would be brought home. The Kev Mr Gordon had said he would attend the meeting but he (Mr Hamilton) did not think that he knew it took place that night. The Rev Mr Wills was away in Geraldine. Mr Pearpoint wished to know if the teachers would take up the matter would the ministers be satisfied? Mr Hamilton said they would, None of the ministers wished to add to their work in that way, nor wished fornotriety. It was simply to get the children more respectful, and he thought the Bible must do it. He thought it would .be a great advantage if the teachers would take it up. It would be a {Treat thing for the clergymen as they had sometimes to come a long way to give instruction to the children,

Mr Kirk asked Mr Hamilton if he thought many would attend ? Mr Hamilton thought they would. When be was a schoolmaster they used to open school at nine. This was the only 'school in Canterbury that he'knew of which opened, at half-past nine. He hoped they would allow the use of the school in the morning. In the afternoon they seemed in the way. At the last lesson the janitor was sweeping up in the next room while the lesson was going on. In reply to another question Mr Hamilton said each minister would take separate mornings. They had laid out a course of lessons. These were simply moral lessons, and the minister would simply point this out. The same childred would be taught by the different ministers. Mr Pearpoint having remarked that '/ the parentsmrould see that the- children attended the morning. Mr Hamilton said that in the afternoon it rested entirely with the child himself whether he attended or not. He would say 'l'm off,' and away he went. If it were in the morning the parents would have something to do with it. —~ After some further discussion, Mr Hamilton was told that the Committee would carefaUy-eonsider the application, and he then withdrew. A* a later hour the matter came up for consideration, when it was resolved, after a very long discussion in Committee, to consider the same at a special meeting to be held on Friday evening next. HEAD MASTER'S REPORT. ° Sir—My report on the school for the last month is as follows : No. on the roll—Boys, 220; girls, 202 ; total, 422. Strict average attendance—Boys, 145 ; girls, 117 ; total, 262. Working average—Boys, 159 ; girls, 131 ; total, 290. Highest attendance (on April 144 ; total 317. The attendance has been very ctHkkli broken by the wet weather. On the week ending 4th May. the school was open only four times. Before the wet weather began, those pupils who were reported at last meeting as being irregular in their attendance, were all attending much better, Miss Henderson, from Christchurch, haß had charge of the Infant Department for the last three weeks. All the teachers have been present during tho month. I enclose a cheque for the following amounts received from j the pupils : £2 8s for fuel, and £2 6s for school requisites.—l am, sir, vour's respectfully, John Wood. correspondence. The correspondence was then read. The inward comprised :—(1) From the Board of Education re the appointment of a teacher in the room of Mrs Rowe, indisposed ; (2 and 3) in reference to school requisites ; (4 and 5) stating that a sum for incidentals and salaries for the month of April had been paid to the credit of the Committee. MR STEWARD'S BILL. A circular was read from Mr Steward, M,H.R., Waimate, stating that he intended bringing in a Bill during the ensuing &ession ot Parliament dealing with School Committees, and probably with Boards of Education, and requesting the careful attention of the Committee to the schedule of questions annexed. Several members having favorably referred to the Bill, it was proposed by Mr Pearpoint, seconded by Mr Bolton and carried—' That the Chairman Messrs Gray, Kirk, Pearpoint and the mover be appointed a SubCommittee to report at a special meeting of the Committee on Friday, the 19th inst, at 7.30 p.m. on Mr Steward's list of questions,' THE HEAD MISTRESS. The Chairman said that Miss Henderson, of Christchurch, was now

teaching in the school, and was giving every satisfaction. NOTICES TO PARENTS. The Chairman said that although the matter of obtainining forms to be sent to parents to fill up on any of their children absenting themselves from school had been brought before the Board, no action had been token in the matter. The Committees had them in North Canterbury. Mr Pearpoint remarked that it was a very good plan and ought to be adopted ihere. It had been carried out in Geraldine, and although at first it was thought to be inquisitorial, when the parents came to undersold it thoy had not thought it so. In many cases the children absented themselves without their parents knowledge, and this prevented that sort of thing. It was decided to remind the Secretary to the Board of Education of the mutter. FUEL. TJie Chairman said that in some instances parents had Hot sent the money (Id per week for 12 weeks) levied by the Committee for the purchase of fuel etc., during the winter. Their incidentals were so small that they could not get on without this, and he thought that the parents should be reminded of the matter. If the request came from the Committee instead of the Headmaster it would give it more authority. After some remarks.from the members of the Committee it was decided that the Chairman be authorised to pro r cure circulars to the effect that a levy of one penny per week be made on each child for luel during, the coming winter. HIGH SCHOOL. The Chairman said that all would be glad.to notice that the school had been made a lligh School. The fees would be the property of the Committee. He thought it would be a great gain to the school, as from the extra fees they would be able to get either more teachers, or give the teachers higher salaries. He had made a calculation, and thought they would gain about £SO a year. Mr Gray remarked that they had Mr L-rclii}' I'v thank for this. SUPPLY OF FUEL. ' Two tenders were received for supply of fuel, and that of Mr E. Brown was accepted. • FENCING. ; It was resolved—' That a letter be written to to the Board of Education, asking what steps they intented taking in regard to fencing in the new school grounds. . It was pointed out that the buildings •were in danger from stray cattle, and that no planting could 1 be done until the fencing was erected. VISITORS. The and Mr Pearpoint were appointed visi tors for the ensuing month. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £B 4e lOd were passed for payment, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks io lo the Chairman. 'mM^——Mß