WAITOHI FLAT PUBLIC SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1275, 9 December 1884, Page 3

WAITOHI FLAT PUBLIC SCHOOL.

A meeting of the Committee was held at the schoolroom on Wednesday, December 3rd. Present—Messrs Talbot (Chairman), Moore, Scott, Fraser, Cunningham, Anderson and Hullen. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that an application had been made to him since the last meeting for the use of the room by the Salvation Army, and that he had granted it temporarily until the Committee met.— The action was approved. The application was then considered, and it was agreed that Mr G. Anderson, of Pleasant Point, the applicant, be informed that he may have the' use of the room on Sunday evenings at a charge of one shilling per meeting, if held weekly as at present, fresh arrangements to be made if the meetings are held less frequently. Mr McCormick applied for the use of tho room on Friday evening for a dance meeting. He wailed on the Committee to support the application, and tbatsaid a number of young people wished to have a dance after the close of the Bine Ribbon meeting on Friday evening. He himself belonged to the Blue Ribbon Army, and his request was supported by several others who belonged to it, ns well as a good many outsiders, Mr Anderson strongly objected, as a meeting of the Blue Ribbon people was of a religious character, and he banded in a written protest from the Blue Ribbon Committee against the application being granted. After some consideration it was decided to refuse the application on the ground that the Blue Ribbon Committee have the use of the room for that evening. The. Secretary to the Education Board advised having paid to the Committee’s credit the incidental grant for the current quarter, viz., £4 16s. Mr Vilant Graham wrote enclosing £L 17s 2d, due to the Committee on account of books, etc., sold by him while acting as locum tenens. Mr Watson handed in 18s 7d, received by him from sales of books. He also handed in his report of the school for the past two months, attached to .which was a list showing the attendance of each child. The roll number is now 70, being an increase of 8 since the last report; the the working average is 48.121. The attendance list still shows a few bad cases, but there is a general improvement. The Inspector's report of the annual Standard examination was read.; also a letter from the Board inviting comments thereon. Tho report is very unsatisfactory, but exonerates the present teacher from blame in the matter. ~ The promotions are 41 per cent, of the whole number examined, and. 50 per cent, for those who have made 250 attendances during the year. The Inspector remarks—.“ These results puzzle me very much. They are astonishingly low, and 1 fail to find a satisfactory explanation in the irregularity of the attendance. Mr Watson has only been in charge a few months, and I am unwilling to rest the blame on him. He impressed me rather favorably, and seemed to bo well acquainted with school arrangements, and the requirements of the Standards. The children oo their part are neat, orderly and well-conducted, and I sincerely hope they will meet with more success on a future occasion. The instruction given to the infants is quite satisfactory.” It was resolved that a reply be sent to the Board, regretting the unfavorable nature of the report, and agreeing with the Inspector that the present master should not be held accountable. The attendances are now much improved, and the Committee are sanguine that better results will be shown next examination. It was decided that tho school should break np for the Christmas holidays on Friday, Dec. 19th, and commence again on Monday, January sth, It was resolved that tho annual sports and treat’should take place about Christmas : in the meantime tho children to solicit subscriptions in aid from parents and others. The Committee moots again on Wednesday, the 17th, to make arrangements. Accounts amounting to £1 15s fid were passed,for payment, and the meeting terminated.