GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2162, 12 February 1891, Page 3

GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The usual monthly meeting of this committee was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening. Present—Messrs R. H. Pearpoint (chairman), 0. E. fcherratt, A. White, J. Williams, J. W. Pye, and W. S. Maslin. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows Prom the South Canterbury Board of Education, (1) advising the committee of £9 2s 6d having been lodged tb their credit for incidentals; (2) confirming the committee’s recommendation of Mr James Colbert to the position of second master in the room of Mr Bell resigned; and (3) advising the comnrD'pp that Messrs J. Talbot, Melville Cray, R. H, Pearpoint, J. Balfour, and 6, H. Rhodes had been nominated for the vacancies on the board, and asking the committee to vote for three persons. i Mr Whiteproposed and Mr Williams seconded, “ That the committee vote for Messrs Talbot, Gray, and Pearpoint,” Mr Maslin moved and Mr Sherratt seconded an amendment “ That the committee vote for Messrs Gray, Pearpoint, and Rhodes ” The amendment on being put was lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it. The proposition was then put, and carried by three votes. THE PUMIi TEACHEBBHIP.

The chairman pointed out that the appointment of Master Seymour Willoughby to the pupil teaehership at the last meeting was technically not legal, as the clause of the Act requiring each committeeman to receive three days’ written notice of the meeting had not been complied with. '1 he quibble, however, was only a technical one, and he believed that if a strict investigation were made it would be found that very few masters had been legally appointed. He thought it would be most unfair to Willough, by after being appointed, to be put out of the position now. He did not think the committee should undo what they had previously done. He would move that Seymour Willoughby should be recommended for the position. Mr White seconded the motion. He thought it would be a great injustice to Willoughby if be wore now done out of the position, Mr Maslin thought that there bad not been sufficient notice of the vacancy given so as to allow of children outside the school going in for it. The chairman pointed out that the subject had been mentioned in the papers, and had been publicly notified in the school. Since the last meeting of the committee Master Gore had made an application for the vacancy and an amendment was moved that he be appointed. ! The amendment not being seconded the chairman seconded it pro forma. Mr Bherratt did not think the matter would have cropped up again in the form it had. The committee had chosen Master Willoughby in all good faith, and it would be wrong now to undo what they had previously done, and put the boy out simply because there was a small legal defect in the constitution of the meetingThe vote was then taken, Gore receiving 1 and Willoughby 5 votes. THE DUX 03? THE SCHOOL. Mr Maslin took exception to the manner in which the examination for the dux of the school had been conducted. He contended that the examination should have been conducted in the sixth standard and not in the fifth, so as to give those in the sixth a chance of showing what they could do. He argued that by holding it in the fifth standard the sixth standard boys had to -do work in which they were a little rusty, and let them be ever so clever they were not able to show what, they were capable of by being confined to fifth standard work. The chairman said the name dux might not- be a right one, considering the examination was held in the fifth standard,, but th© .donor of the medal at the time acknowledged by his presence that-he was satisfied, and the committee should say nothing farther in the matter. After some further desultory conversation the matter dropped. the headmaster..

The following resolution re the head master was unanimously passed previous meeting re bringing all the facts and correspondence in relation to the headmaster before, the Board of Education be carried into immediate effect.” A committee was appointed to formulate the charges against the head master. , TISITOES’ EEPOET.

The visitors, Messrs Sherratt and Pye, reported having visited the school and finding everything going on satisfactorily, with an attendance of 205 99 boys and 106 girls. A trough at the tank had been made, and other email matters attended to. They advised the procuring of a few mugs for the children to drink out of, and the cutting of a small drain to take the li water from the end of the trough. Also that, the cesspool at the urinal be emptied at once. The master had also spoken r« a bell. He had nothing to call the children together with. It was decided to obtain four enamelled mugsand fasten them to the pump with small chains, also to dig the drain required, and call the janitor’s attention to the cesspool mentioned.*

Messrs Maslin and Pearpoint were appointed visitors for the month, PROCEEDS OP CONCERT, The gross proceeds of the late concert were shown to be £8 2s 6d, and the net profit £2 16s lid, which was considered unsatisfactory. ACCOUNTS. An account for £1 8s was passed for payment. DISTRIBUTION OP PRIZES. The chairman said he would most probably be absent in Timaru on Thursday next, when the prizes would be distributed, and it was arranged that if such were the case Mr Maslin should take his place. INSPBCrOR’S REPORT, The following is a synopsis of the Inspector’s report on tbe examination of the school: — Standard Vll—Presented 1 Standard Yl—Presented 11, absent 2, failed 3, passed 6

Standard Y—Presented 23, absent 6, excepted 1, failed 5, passed 11 Standard IY—Presented 23, absent 7, failed 6, passed 10 Standard lll—Presented 38, absent 6, excepted 1, failed 3, passed 26 Standard ll—Presented 24, absent 5, excepted 1, failed 4, passed 14 Standard I—Presented 33, passed 33 Preparatory Standard Presented 90

Percentage of passes 41, percentage of failures 17, percentage on class subjects 59, additional marks 77 Remarks —Instruction of Standard YII and preparatery: Standard YII —One boy, absent. Preparatory Class 1 he preparatory pupils made a fairly good appearance in all the work professed, but owing in a large measure to tbe exceptional conditions under which tbe school was carried on during a great part of the year, they were rather restless and inattentive. All things considered the pass obtained by this school is a good one. Order and attention are very fair, and the manners are good. Jab. Gibson Gow, M.A., Inspector.

WOODBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the above committee was held on February 7th, 1891. Present—Messrs Dean (chairman), Hammond, Fiefield, Webb, and Gick. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read as follows : From the Board of Education, stating the incidentals for the quarter ending 31st March, of £5 7s 6d, had been placed to the credit of the committee. From same, notifying that Mr Greayes had been appointed to the Waimalaitai school, and asking as a favor that Mr Greaves be allowed to leave at once, and tbo board would send out Mr Archibald as locum tenems to relieve him. From Mr Cooling, as follows: —“To the Chairman Woodbury School Commute*. Dear Sir, —I have been requested to write your committee, asking you to take into consideration the resigoaiion of Mr Greaves, and respeclfully ask him to reconsider the mat'er; also, if jour committee think it advisable, to draw up a petition to be signed by the householders of this district to the same effect,"—Letter acknowledged. ANNUAL REPORT. The chairman then read the Inspector’s annual report of the standard examination, whichJwßS considered highly gratifying to the committee, staff, and the householders of the district. [This has already been published in this paper], MR GREAVES' RESIGNATION.

The chairman stated that having received Mr Greaves’ resignation it would be advisable to obtain that gentleman's views. MrQreaves was in attendance, and stated he had only just received tho official intimation of hie appointment, and asked for a little time to consider the matter, and be wou’d give the committee » decided answer on Monday evening, the 9th inst. Resolved—“ That the request of Mr Greaves be granted ; at the sane time this committee are unanimous in expressing their feeling by the following letter to Mr Greaves ; Dear Sir, —Our committee bearing of your appointment to the Waimataitai school most respectfully ask you on behalf of householders and committee to re-consider the matter, as we are perfectly aware Hint the school and district would sustain a very serious loss should you decide to leave os. We have received a letter this evening written by the authority of several householders asking our committee to draw up a petition to you, soliciting your stay amongst us.—We are, etc., J. H. Dean, chairman, and members of Committee."

ADJOURNMENT. The chairman stated ha would adjourn the mee'ing until 7 p.m. on Monday, the 9ch iuel. me greaves’s decision. Un the meeting assembling on the 9th the chairman read the following letter ; “The Chairman Woodbury School Committee. “ Dear Sir, —In accordance with my promise I hasten to inform you of my decision re the Waimataitai appointment. From various untoward circumstances 1 find myself face to face with a very strong antagonistic feeling and strong opposition, which would tend to render my management of the school almost impassible, and for this reason, and also on acoonct of the very kind expressions from your committee, I have decided to decline the appointment. —I am, etc., “Joseph Greaves.” It was resolved—“ That this committee is extremely gratified at the decision given by Mr Greaves, and trust the time is far distant that he will sever his connection with this school and district. 1

REPAIRS. The chairman was requested to attend to certain repairs as early as convenient. The usual vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.

HILTON SCHOOL, The ordinary monthly meeting of the Hilton School Committee was held in the schoolrom on Monday evening last. Present —Messrs R. Skinner (chairman), Beattie, Kelland, Bradley, Ryan, Leary, and Rooke. The sum of £4 5s was received from the Board of Education, being amount of incidentals for the current

quarter. The inspector’s report was read, and members expressed great satisfaction with the excellent results of the standard examination. The following is an abstract from the report; —Standard VI. : Presented 8, abaen* 1, excepted 1, failed 1, passed 5 Standard Y.; Presented 9, excepted T, failed 2, passed 6. Standard IV. : Presented 12, absent 1, failed 3, passed 8. Standard 111. ; Presented 14, excepted 1, passed 13. Standard 11. I Presented 9, passed 9. Standard I. : Presented 9, passed 9. P., 16. Totals : Presented 77, absent 2, excepted 3, failed 6, passed 50. Percentage of passes, 64 ; percentage of failures, 10. it was decided to hold the school treat on the 26th inst., and Messrs Ryan and Beattie and the chairman were appointed to carry it out, Messrs Beattie and Kelland and the head master were requested to select the priz as. The meeting then adjourned.