TEMUKA HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1177, 22 November 1883, Page 1

TEMUKA HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

~ The monthly meeting of the above Committee took place in the schoolroom last Tuesday evening. Present Messrs Gray (Chairman), Brown, Kirk, Blyth, O’Halloran and Aspinall. MINUTES, The minutes of the last ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Outward and inward correspondence was read and considered. Among the former were several letters to the Board re school furniture, maps, books, stationery, etc. Inward—From the Board of Educa : tion re obtaining temporary assistance as Mrs Rowe was unable to fulfil her duties ; and stating that additional furniture for the school is in preparation. : Prom the same, enclosing rent for Head Master’s house for July, Prom Mr Gurr, Acting Inspector, re inspection of school. Prom the Board rc teachers’ salary for the month, From the same enclosing incidentals for fourth quarter. Prom Mr W. H. Jones, contractor for the school furniture (three letters). Prom Mr Meager, stating that he was appplying for an appointment at Napier, and applying for a written certificate re his teaching abilities. From the Board of Education inforining the Committee that no head teacher of a District High School will be allowed to retain his position unless he is a graduate. After some discussion on the letter, it was proposed by Mr Kirk, seconded by Mr Brown, and carried —“ That the matter be left to the Chairman, and that he interview Mr Wood and report at next monthly meeting.”

HEAD master’s REPORT

The following is the Head Master’s monthly report of the school : “ Number on roll : Boys, 197 ; Girls, 160 ; Total, 357. Average attendance : Boys, 164 ; Girls, 124; Total, 288. Highest attendance (Oct. 30) ; Boys, 171 ; Girls, 132 ; Total, 303. Number of pupils left for Convent school : Boys 34 ; Girls, 43 ; Total, 77. ” There is still a very considerable amount of irregular attendance on the part of some of the pupils. Should you desire it I shall be glad to furnish you with a list of all the scholars and their, attendance for the past two months, so that you may see those who attend regularly and those who do not. I have to report that, Miss , Ladbroob commenced iher duties in school on Monday the 19th. —I am, etc, “ John Wood.” . : ; THE PLANTING GRANT. The letter from the Board of Education (the discussion of which was held over from last monthly meeting) re the £2O granted some time ago for planting purposes was then considered, and it was proposed by Mr Brown, and carried unanimously—“ That the money having been granted for the specific purpose of planting, the Committee will take every care that the amount is judiciously expended for that purpose, at the early part of next year,” He thought it well that the Board should be made to understand that the Committee had no intention of parting with the money, while at the same time they would take care that it was judiciously expended. Every penny of the grant would be required for planting purposes. mu meager’s application. It was proposed by Mr O’Halloran and curried —“ That Mr.Meager’s application for a testimonial be granted, and that the matter be left to the Chairman and Secretary to deal with.” THE SECONP MASTERSHIP. The applications for the second mastership were (hen considered, and it was proposed by Mr Kirk, seconded by Mr Brown, aiid carried unanimously —“ That the application of Mr E. W. Gurr, for the post of second master, be recommended to the Board for their approval.” The Secretary was instructed to inform the Board that Miss Helen Ladbrooke commenced her duties as infant mistress on Monday the 19th December. The Inspector’s report was then laid on the table and considered, and fromjt we take the following

“Report of examination held ov.Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 12th and *l3th', 1883. Headteacher Mr Wood, mistress (wanting), first assistant Mr Meager* pupil teachers Misses Brown, Russell, F. Brown, Morton, and Rowe. Number on the books 417 ; number present at examination 279; number presented in the standards, 165 ; average attendance, 273. Standard VI : Presented 10, passed 8 ; Standard Y: Presented 14, passed 115 Standard IV : Presented 27, passed 17 ; Standard III: Presented 50, passed -35 ; Standard II: Presented 33, passed 15; Standard I : Presented 31, passed 30. Total presented, 165; total passed, 118. .Percentage gained, 70.3. Notwithstanding the ditficulties’the teachers have had to contend .against through illness, this school has' passed a very fair percentage of the number of candidates presented for the several standards, viz., 70.3. Most of those who have failed have done fair work in some subjects, but they have not been able to do sufficient to gain a pass, proving that the work compassed has been done well. The third and second standards are the very weak ones, but some good work has been done in both. The reading of the sixth, fifth, and fourth classes is very good, being slow, deliberate, and rendered with excellent emphasis. In the third and, second classes it is rather inferior, in the first only fair, but in the preparatory first very good. The spelling and dictation of the sixth and fifth are on the whole good ; in the fourth far too weak ; in the third girls good, but the boys of this standard are only fair. In the second spelling is weak, but in the first and preparatory first it is very good. With the exception of the first and preparatory first the writing throughout the school must receive more attention. The work retained in the school is too limited. Copy books should be kept in hand until the inspection is over. This subject appears to be only practice instead of a lesson, as it must be to secure good writing. The arithmetic of the fifth, third, and first classes is excellent, but in the other classes more or less weak. Grammar is well taught throughout, but I dosire the teachers to give more time to composition. Abbot’s “ How to write clearly” is a good work to base their lessons upon. The Geography in the sixth and fifth classes is very good, in the fourth and third fair, but in the second failures were numerous. The History of the fifth and fourth is excellent, but iu the sixth and third weak. Sewing, a most important feature in girls’ education, is poorly presented. Darning and patching were not found in the school, but I have directed the teachers in this matter. The discipline must be improved, the order of the school and behaviour (in some instances) of the pupils are faulty. Some slight alterations are necessary to enable the teachers to work in- comfort, especially in the large room, where something must be done to deaden the sound. I think a dividing curtain would have the desired effect. The registers are correctly kept. Reference to them will show that many of the pupils aro very irregular in their attendance.

“John Gurr, “Inspector.”

Mr Kirk thought the report showed that very fair work had been done, and Mr Brown said that it was very satisfactory. The Chairman said he thought that the Committee should testify their approval of the prompt manner in which the result of the examination of the school had been transmitted t» the Committee, and pass a resolution to that effect.

It was unanimously resolved—That the Committee desire to express their satisfaction at the result of the examination by the Inspector, and with the promptitude with which the Inspector’s report : has been sent into the Commits. And the Committee congratulate the staff on the high percentage of passes gained, considering the attendant circumstances.” Tne Secretary to forward a copy of the resolution to the Board,

visitors’ report

Mr Kirk reported that Mr Aspinall and himself had that ,day paid a visit to the school, and Mr Wood had pointed out, and they had noticed, the want of a large curtain in the long room to deaden ( he sound, The Inspector had lepdrted on the same matter, and was ot opinion that it would attain the object sought. Ho knew of a school in Christchurch where there had been one placed and it was a great improvement. He also re ported that the furniture of the school was not at all adequate to requirements, more especially in the infant department, for which no new furniture had been received. After a discussion it was resolved—“ That the Secretary make application to the Board for same, and r also inform them that the school requisites, ordered some time ago, had not yet been received. The Secretary was further instructed to remind the Board that the account sent in for the rent of the Good Templars’ Hall had not yet been settled. THE HOLIDAYS. I It was decided that the school should break up for the Christmas holiday's on

the 14th of December and reassemble on the 22nd January.

•Itwas further decided that the disV tributioTl take place on the 14th December, and that the parents, guardians, and friends of the children benhVited tc be present. , ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £2 13s 4d were passed for payment. THE SCHOOL. BELL. The said that he had informed Mr Lee that the bell now hanging in the old school, belonged to the Committee, and he thought that with the addition of a few pounds of copper which it would lose in recasting, it would make an excellent one. The matter was left to the Chairman to attend to. VISITOBS, ETC. Messrs’ Blyth and Bolton were appointed visitors for the ensuing month. It was decided to hold the next monthly meeting of the Committee on the second Tuesday in December, and the meeting adjourned with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.