TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1702, 23 February 1888, Page 2

TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

*h The monthly meeting of the T«muka School Committee was held on Tuesday evening last. Present— Messrs H. M. Miles (Chairman), G. Lynch, J. Davis, E. Brown, W. Qt. Rutland, and A. Russell. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. COBEESPONDENCB. Correspondence was read From the Board of Education, forwarding names of candidates for the vacant seats (three) on the Board, caused by the annual; retirement of one-third, of its members.—lt was resolved. to vote for -Messrs R. H. Pearpoint, J. Talbot, and M. Gray, , the three retiring members. Prom the same, stating that in future the incidental allowances to the Committee would be reduced 50 per cent. * . ‘ Prom Mr Wagstaff, forwarding quotations for school books and stationery.

master’s eepoet.

Tie Master’s report was then read as follows:

I hare the honor to submit the following report for the three weeks which have elapsed since resumption Average roll—Boys 199, girls 175, total 376. Average attendance— Boya 151, girls 135.2, total 286.2. Highest attendance—6oys 161, girls 141, total 302. This good attendance was not continued with the present week. Yesterday morning kept several, chiefly of the junior children, at home, so that our total was only 257., As regards the number reading secondary subjects, I am .sorry to have to report that very few pupils advance year by year to the higher courses. We have now only ,14 pupils taking advantage of the easy terms arranged fby the Board of Education in this direction. Six of these’' 14 are holders of scholarships, senior and junior, three of each. With two exceptions all these scholarships, were gained by pupils educated hero. We require for the use of our pupils : 2 dozen boxes slate pencils, 6 boxes peus (404), and 7 dozen of the 11 dozen drawing pencils changed. Wo need also.'tf ’set of models fot drawing. I should like you to permit Mr Cross to expend the sum of five shillings in the purchase of a few chemicals for experi-ment^.-r-I have, etc., .. . W. Brtars. ,• It was decided to procure the pens, pencils, etc., asked for, and the matters re models and chemicals were referred to the Chairman to make enquiries. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £3 10s were passed for payment. THE INCIDENTALS AND THE JANITOE. The Chairman said he noticed from the report of the proceedings at the last meeting of the Board of Education that the allowances to Committees for incidentals were to be reduced 50 per cent, so he had taken upon himself to give the janitor, Mr Batterbee, a month’s notice of the termination of his agreement, as he did not think the Committee could continue to pay the amount they were now paying. At the same time he promised Mr Batterbee that he should receive the first offer of the situation, at any salary the Committee might decide they could afford to pay. Hitherto the Committee had received for incidentals £64 a year; under the new arrangements they would receive £32. The present salary of the janitor was £4O. It was now for the Committee to decide the salary they would offer.

In reply to a question from Mr Rutland, the Secretary stated that the amount of donations received from parents for fuel, stationery, etc., did not cover the amount expended during last year by about £B.

The probable income and expenditure for the next year was gone fully into, and the duties of the janitor considered, after which Mr Russell proposed, and Mr Lynch seconded—** That an offer be made to Mr Batterbee to continue the duties of janitor at a salary of £26 per year.” As an amendment Mr Brown proposed, and Mr Rutland seconded—- “ That the janitor’s salary be £3O per annum, and that Mr Batterbee be offered the position; failing his acceptance of the offer applications to be called for the position.” The amendment was carried.

Mr Rutland proposed, and it was carried—■“ That the Chairman and Secretary be appointed to draw up a list of the duties of the janitor, and have an agreement drawn out and signed.”

visitor’s report. Mr Rutland, the visitor for the last month, reported that he had visited the school on the previous day, and found the work going on in a most satisfactory manner. He was highly pleased with what he saw. He did not notice anything requiring attention outside.

The report was considered Very satisfactory, and Mr E. Brown was appointed visitor for the month.

inspecior’s report. The Inspectors report on his examination of the school in November was then read. The following are the results given

Standard Yll.—Presented 7. Standard Vl,—Praseoted 20, absent 1, excepted 2, failed 11, passed 6. Standard V.—Presented 27, excepted 4, failed 10, passed 13. Standard IY.—Presented 32, absent 2, excepted 1, failed 9, passed 20. Standard 111. —Presented 61, absent 6, excepted 3, failed 30, passed 22. Standard ll.—Presented 40, absent 2, excepted 2, failed 12, passed 24. Stan* dard I.—Presented 32, absent 1, failed 1, passed 30. Preparatory—Presented 134. Total—Presented 353, absent 12, excepted 12, failed 73, passed 115. Per* oentage of passes, 32.5. Percentage of failures, 38,8. Class Subjects (marks 0 to I®o)—Drawing 54, history 56, geography 77, elementary science, object lessons, etc., 71, total 258 ; percentage of class subjects 64. Additional Subjects (marks 0 to 20)—Bepititioi and recitation 14, drill and exercises 16, singing 15, needlework 14, subject matter of reading lesson* 17; eddititional marks 75. Class Standard Vll.—The pupils of this class did very good papers in the work of Class Standard VI. Claes P.—Th« Preparatory classes are taught with care, and on the whole with good results. The results ef the examination are not satisfactory. Good order prevails, and the children are well mannered. Jas. Gibson Gow, M.&., Inspector. The following are the teachers;— Head Master, Mr W. Bryars, B. A.; Standards VII. and VI., Mr H. Cross, M.A.; Standard V., Miss I*. A. Brown; Standard IV., Mr M. McLeod; Standard 111., Miss G. Eowe; Standard 11,, Master W. Ackroyd; Standard 1.. and Preparatory Classes I. and 11., Miss H. M. Ladbrooke, and Miss M. Bussell and H. Sweet.

The following explanatory reporl from the Head Master was also read: With regard to the Inspector's report on the school, 1 have the honor to state in explanation of the miserable passing ir one or two of the Standards, that aftei the previous examination held in 1886 1 ran the risk of premoting several who hud failed then, though not badly, tc satisfy the demands of the Inspector, anc thus was compelled io present manj pupils in a Standard higher than they were fit for, with the disastrous result only too easily seen. In the Second Standard it will be noticed that while only two girls failed out of nineteen presented there are ten failures of boys in a total of twenty-one. The explanation of this is that in' the previous year, 1686, several boys had been drafted up from the Preparatory divisions into the First Standard, to Ve<*p down the average age complained of by the late Inspector, and as these were all very weak passes, then they Buffered just now.—l have, etc., W. Brtars. After » discussion it was proposed by Mr Lynch, seconded by Mr Butland, and carried —“ That this Committee regret that the examination report is not more satisfactory, and beg to forward to the Board a copy of the Head Master’s letter dealing with the subject, which this Committee considers sufficient explanation.” WITS AH3) MEAffB. The Committee then considered ways and means at some length. An estimate of the receipts from ordinary sources and the expenses during the next two months showed that a considerable sum of money would have, to be raised by A speeial means. Mr Butland said the Committee should throw the responsibility of carrying on the school on the Board of Education. The Chairman said the Board of Education could not help itself. Its grant had been reduced. Mr Butland said if the Committees threw the responsibility on the Education Boards pressure would be brought to bear on the Government, which was responsible for the present disgraceful state of affairs. Other members spoke strongly on the inadequacy of the Committee’s allowance for incidentals. It was then proposed by Mr Bussell, seconded by Mr Lynch, and carried—- “ That the Secretary be requested to arrange 'a concert in aid of the : incidental fund of the school, to be held in the Volunteer Hall on Thursday, the 22nd March, the price of admission to be 2s and Is, children half price.” Several members of the Committee promised their assistance. A vote of thanks to the Chaiaman terminated the proceedings.