GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1890, 11 May 1889, Page 3

GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The usual monthly meeting of this committee was held in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening last. Present —Messrs W. S. Maslin (chairman), J. Eiordan, O. E. Sherratt, H. R. Howard, W. Walton, W. Shiers, and J. W. Pye. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. SCHOOL REQUISITES. A number of blocks, &c., tor tho use of the Geometry class were laid upon the table. MARKING EOR PRIZES, In reply to a question the chairman explained at some length the system that had been adopted by the master in marking for prizes. It was decided to adhere to the same. RAISING THE SCHOOL STATUS. The question of raising the status of the school was brought forward by the chairman, and the subject was fully discussed. Finally it was resolved “ That steps be at once taken to carry out the recommendation of the householders in the Geraldine school district to raise the status of the Geraldine school to that of a District High School.” It was al so decided—“ Th at the Board of Education be requested to urge on the Enabling Bill, and get included therein all school reserves within this school district the property of the board, not necessarily for sale, but also to enable such reserves to be exchanged for others should such be requested by the householders.”

The chairman was requested to write to the board upon the subject, and ask if any further sum had been allocated by the board for erecting a new school at Geraldine, and to ascertain if the interest accruing on that already earmarked had been added to the amount. The chairman said he would write and would also see the board’s secretary on the matter. HEAD MASTER’S REPORT. The Head Master’s report was read as follows: The attendance , for the past four weeks has been as follows ; 212.9, 200.9, 184.9, and 177.8, yielding an average of 19-1, a decided drop from the high averages prevailing last quarter. I have twice furnished you with lists of persons liable to prosecution, but nothing has been done of an effective character. If some of these people lived in Temuka they would be prosecuted without fear or favour, but Geraldine has hitherto lacked the nerve to bring transgressors to hook. Depend upon it, so long as people know they can transgress with impunity the compulsory clauses of the Act they will continue to do so, and so long will these clauses remain a dead letter. I hope the new committee will take up the matter with

decision. It is likely that colder 1 weather may supervene before next meeting of committee, and the fuel is done, or nearly so. J. Aitken, B.A. It was resolved —“That this committee intend in future to carry out the compulsory clauses of the Education Act, as school arrangements are necessarily upset through parents neglecting to send their children to school regularly.” VISITORS. The visitors for the past month reported having visited the school, and finding everything going on satisfactorily. Messrs Pye and Walton were appointed visitors for the ensuing month. MISCELLANEOUS. It was decided to invite tenders for a supply of Westport and Newcastle coal and black pine firewood. The chairman was requested to obtain a

temporary supply of fuel if required before the next meeting of the committee. The meeting then terminated.