TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1566, 17 March 1887, Page 3

TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

■ / Tpe monthly'meeting of the I’emcka JgcbiwbCTommiitee was held on Tuesday evening, Present —Messrs Blyth, Gray, C|oper, and Davis. In the absence of 4 Mr Miles, was voted to the chair. ,| MINUTES, f The minutes ot the previous meeting were read and confirmed. '■V • CORRESPONDENCE. Outward was read and approved. Inward was read as follows : From the Secretary to the Board of Education, stating that be bad audited tbe accounts of the Committee, and found them correct. He added, “ They were kept' most neatly, and in perfect tf order, and consequently were very easy to understand.” From the Kev. T. Jasper Smylhe and Mr R. A. Barker, consenting to be nominated for the vacancies on tbe Board of Education. From the Secretary of tbe South Canterbury Caledonian Society, stating that the Society offered a scholarship of 32 guineas per annum, tenable for two years, open tor competition to children other than those attending the Timarn High School; winner to attend the Timarn High School.*—Proposed by Mr Gray, seconded by Mr Davis, and carried—“ That the Secretary acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the circular from the South Canterbury Caledonian Society re scholarship offered by them.” THE DISTRIBUTION OP PRIZES, A letter was read from the Hon. W. ** Rolleston, dated 16th February, consenting to deliver tbe prizes. The Secretary reported that the amount received at the door at the recent distribution of prizes was £8 5s 6d, «nd tbe expenses for use of hall, etc,, amounted to £1 9s 6d. There was therefore a balance of £1 16s lor tbe incidental fund. Everything bad passed ob most satisfactorily. HEAD MASTER'S REPORT. The Head Master (Mr W. Bryars) reported as follows for tbe month of • February ; Average Weekly Roll—Boys, 192; girls, 160.3; total, 352.3. Average At-tendance-Boys, 148.8 ; girls, 124; total, 272.8. Highest Attendance—Boys, 163 ; girls, 131*; total, 294. It gives me much satisfaction to be able to state that tbe attendance is increasing all over tbe school. Except on one dry in December last, when the examination was being held, the attendance mentioned above, namely 294, is the highest since November, 1883.—With regard to our secondary wbrk I am glad to be able to state that an interest in it is apparently increasing. . There are this quarter no less than 19 pupils, and next quarter I hope fco in, crease this number still further.—After considerable delay, our Cadt-rs have at last been furnished with 20 Curbices (Oavalryj Sniders), and * porresponding

number of belts and ball-bags. As these carbines require to he kept in the build ing, it will be necessary to have a rack, or some such contrivance, in which to place thorn. - - I am sorry to have only £2 3s to hand to the Secretary as proceeds from the sale of tickets for the last concert.

The Head Master also requested that some pens and pencils should be pro-

cure tocme discussion took place on the subject of providing the racks for the carbines, and after considering ways and means it was decided to leave the matter to the new Committee, Members thought the report as to the seconder/ education v-ry satisfactory. It was decided that the school requisites asked for by Mr Bryars be procured. the recent entertainment. The Secretary handed in a statement showing the receipts and expenditure in connection with ilm recent concert in aid of the cadets’ uniform fund. The gross receipts amounted to £9 13s 6d, and the expenses to £5 4s, the balance bring £4 9s 6d. The volunteers had kindly refunded the charge (£1) for the hull, and Mr Coira and Mr Tworaey had given 10s and I2s respectively to the fund, being piano hire and discount. Had it not been for the liberality of these gentlemen the result would not have been so satisfactory as it was. The concert had proved a first-class one, and he thought it was a pity it was not better supported. Members expressed their gratification at the liberality of those gentlemen who had kindly given donations, and thought that under the circumstances the result was as good as could have been expected, The Secretary was instructed to hand over the amount accruing from the concert (£4 9s 6d) to Mr Bryars,

inspector's report. The Inspector’s report was read as follows : Summary of Presentation and Pass Results.—Standard YII. : Presented 5. Standard YI.; Presented 15, excepted 1, failed 6, passed 8. Standard V. : Presented 28, absent 4, failed 15, passed 9. Standard IY.: Presented 26, absent 3, excepted I, failed 6, passed 16. Standard III.: Presented 40, absent 4, excepted 3, failed 10, passed 23. Standard 11. ; Presented 55, absent 2, excepted 1, failed 5, passed 47. Standard 1. : Presented 33, absent 1, failed 1, passed 31. Preparing for standard 1., 131. Total: Presented 333, absent 14, excepted 6, failed 43, passed 134. Percentage of passes 40, percentage of failures 29. Estimate in Percentages of the Instruction in the Class Subjects of the several Standards, regard being had both to the quality and to the distribution of the attainments exhibited. —Drawing—Standard VI. 50, Standard V. 40, Standard IV. 35, Standard T II. 50, Standard IT. 55. Geography—Standard IY. 60, Standard 11. 75. HistoryStandard YI. 47, Standard V. 37, Standard IV. 67, Standard 111. 80. Science and Object Lessons—Standard YI. 60, Standard V. 65, Standard IV, 55, Standard 111. 85, Standard 11. 75, Srandardl. 85. General Estimate of Additional Subjects (marks from 0 to 20). —Repetition and recitation 14, drill and exercises 12, singing 12, needlework 12, subject-matter of reading-lessons 16. Total additional marks 69. Character of Work done in Standard VII. and Preparing.—Standard VII.— The pupils of this class passed with credit in all' the subjects prescribed for Standard VI. Preparatory Classes—This department of the school is well conducted. The pupils know the words In the Reading Books, but do not group them well. They are good writers, and are accurate, though rather slow, in counting. They sing heartily, and are very attentive during examination. General Remarks.—l regret that 1 cannot present a more favorable examination report on this school as a whole. Several of the classes are entitled to praise, particularly Standard I. and Standard 11., and in a less degree Standard IV. and Standard 111. Of 24 scholars in Standard V. only three passed in all their subjects, and two of the three *ere bare passes. Standard VI. fared no better. In looking at these results it must be borne in mind, though it does not wholly account for such serious failure; that much of the Head Master’s time is devoted to the teaching of secondary subjects ; and here J think it well to suggest that the Head Master should feel reasonably assured of a scholar’s ability to’ grapple successfully with the difficulties of the Standard subjects before he is permitted to begin secondary work. The discipline of the school is good, and the pupils are wellmaanered. Jas. Gibson Gow, M.A., Inspector. visitor’s report, bto. Mr K. F. Gray, visitor for the month, reported that he had visited the school, and everything so far as he could see appeared to be working satisfactorily. The children seemed to be very /diligent, and everything was in good order. Be afterwards visited the lavatories, and found them in a very bad state, I'he taps seemed to be quite out of order and the drinking cups were gone. The floors were covered with water, and after j the water flowed oat of the door it laid in pools, consequently the children to get to the lavatories bad to wade through it, After considering the matter he had come to the conclusion that it would be best to do away with the taps outside the basins, as it was from these the water flowed over the floor. He also thought the water was bad, and that the tanks should be cleaned out. The Chairman said he believed the taps that Mr Gray recommended taking away were placed there for the convenience of the jaintor, Xt was agreed that if sdeh w&s the case other arrangements could be made. A long jdispussion followed, members all agreeing th#t the tapks should be* seen to at opce, as nothing could be worse than impure water, and it was pointed out that some of the schools were provided by the Board of Education with filters, JJlti? mately it was resolved, on the motion of

Mi seconded by Mr Davis— Th »t Vloi-ers Gray and Blyth be appoin eii visitors for the ensuing rr onlh, and that they make a thorough examination of the water supply of the school, and he given power to have done whatever i hey think necessary to remedy the present state ot the lavatories and to ensure a supply of pure water for drinking purposes.” The dilapitated state of the fences and the ventilators was referred to, but no resolution was passed thereon. It was thought that the children needed more supervision when in the playground, but members could not see bow teachers could exercise it. As things were at present the Committee’s allowance for incidentals would always prove insufficent. ACCOUNTS, Accounts to the amount of £6 4s were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.