GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1829, 15 December 1888, Page 4

GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of this Committee was held in the schoolhouse on Wednesday evening last. Present—Messrs ,W. S. Muelin (chairman), J. fliordab, J. W. Pye, N. Dunlop, aod C. E. Sberratt.

MINTJTKS. , ■'■•■ The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed,. •

INSPECTOR'S REPORT*

The inspector's report upon the annual examination of the school was read as, follows; "' StnDdard VII. : Presented 1. Standard VI. 'Presented 13 ; passed 13. Standard V; : Presented 19 ;'absent 0; failed .7, passed. 10, r -Standard IV.: Presented 42; absent 3, excepted 1; failed 9, passed 29. Standard III.': ! Presented 39; absent 8. excepted 1; failed 8, passed 22. Standard XL: Presented 34; absent 0, excepted 1; failed 5, passed 28. Standard I.: Presented 26 ; absent 1, excepted 1; failed 0, passed 24. Percentage of passes, 48; percentage of failures, 18. Class subjects * Percentage on olass subjects, 65 ; additional marks, 84. Remarks.—Standard VII.. oridi boy •:' Thisi Boy did fair papers io the work of class Standard VI. Preparatory Glass: The infant classes are very carefully ' and, with the exception of reading, all the work professed is very well done. The school has passed a 1 good exumination. The order, attention! and tone of Bchool are very good. Jas; Gibson Gow, M.A., Inspector. From the above it will be. seen that the percentage of passes, according to the old reckoning, is 84. The commiitee expressed themselves as thoroughly satisfied with the result of jthe examination. They considered that the praise of the parents was due to jthe teachers for the faithful manner in which they had carried out their duties. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. Tbe chairman stated that the Bubcoramifclee appointed to draw up a scheme for securing a more equitable distribution of prizes had considered the question thoroughly, andi were opinion that ithe plan suggested by.the bead master should be adopted, with the addition that in 'the case of a total failure of a pupil a further 20 marks should be deducted. _ The plan suggested by the head master is ae fol|ows:_l. At present the marks 'are award'od on' the basis of class places 11. The places in each subject are qiiite distinct frem' all others—a pupil maybe f dux, e>c, in one, c!a*s subject without being so in another. 111. Two marks Are awarded for each time a pupil has dux in any subject at the close of!the lessou for the day, and'one mark for each time a pupil has second duj at the end of such lesson. IV. The dux and second dux in any subject for one day begin bt-lo* all the ofcbeis in that subject the next day, the dux of yesterday beiDg at tbe foot to-day, and the second dux being second from the foot to-day. V. Ten murks are promised for each subject in which the pupil shall pass at the annual exsminatien. ■'By'these means (I) a healthy emulation is introduced into; the work of the class ; (2) the weak and dull are not discouraged by .eeing the mmils perpetually standing «t the top, down if they en ; .(3) • ""J" 1 ?™ .mount of difficulty » o&red to he brighter pupil h regaining he top, o! ; the class ; (4) a fair value is pb"f inspector's examination by placing a pre nvum of 10 marks on the pass for each subject, as already explained. BjppjJ • childto have under this lyrtom of -J*. iugalnrge majority of marksM ™J that even a deduction of 20 marks tor failures in tw.osubjects at the, Inspe tpr lamination still leaves the the top of the prize Fit, the inference to that that child has been enormously more diligent than any of its class rantes. The head master said that he wasaware it w»s customorv to judge the value ofa school by the percentage,; of, pu-e■ and failures at the inspectors ex-minati6B| but. while not denying to a certain value, he *« of opinion that £OO much stress might be, and •o«etl«ljej tainiy was, laid noon it Ho thought that habits of diligence, obedience, and punctuality, and a good general grasp; of Lme.hing likely to be of "P-J" 0 " '» after life, were in themselves a valuable acquisition, even if the pupil were never -l? P M. an examination all the time it was at school. A child snob as described above is not likely to fail al th*r examine.ion, but some >nch children have been known to rid so through some physical \ weakness or nervouanesa-qiite a common thine to most children at tne < annual examination-ard instead of being deprived of the reward of a years hard w,ork from such a cause, by eucb HVJ« *sV proposed, a child who can *ive a I handicap of 20 marks and yet stan<T first 'on the list delves the ! pr. Z e asa solatium for wounded feelings in failing to passlthe examination it had worked so hard to The suggestions were adopted with the alteration mentioned above.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence was read as follows,:— From the Minister of Education, forwarding copies of ■■statement' relative to ■mount expended in school buildings. From the S.C. Board of Education, enclosing a resolution ■of"the Board's; to the effect that a further sum of £3OO had been get, aside towards the cost of the erection of a' new schorl at Geraldine.The Chairman stated that there was now a sum of £SOO available for building Ihe school, but that nothing could be done until Parliament met, when the question of site would be settled. head master's bepokt. . ; The Head Master's report showed !an average attendance of 214, which was considered very satisfactory. ' ' HOIIDAYS AND OONOEET. It was decided that the school should break up fori the holidays on the 20th inst., and that the children's concert; be held on the 21st inst. ' MISCEILANEOUL The Chairman reported that he had had a now sneker pot in .the pump, the eld ene being worn out. ! Messrs" Dunlop and Sherratt were appointed visitors for the \ Accounts amounting to £1 8s 8d were passed for payment, and" the meeting terminated. ''"