Meeting of School Committees.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2861, 16 April 1878, Page 2

Meeting of School Committees.

Representatives from the several School Committees of the Thames met at the Borough Council Chambers last night at the invitation of the Kauaeraaga Committee to discuss the question of the advisability of bringing the compulsory clauses of the Kducation Act into operation in this district. There were present •—Dr Kilgour, Messrs Eenshaw, Davies, Power, Speight, Mcllhone, Steedman, Wick, Stoney, Spencer, A Horn, Scott Hunter, Farrell, Grigg, J. B. West, and Palterson.

JDr Kilgonr having been voted to the chair, Mr Grigg, at the request of the meeting, consented to act as secretary to the conference. The Chairman explained that the meeting had been summoned by him in pursuance of a resolution armed at by the Kauaeranga School Committee requesting him to do 10. The main object of the meeting was,to discuss the bringing into operation in the Thames district of the clauses of the Education I Act known as the " compulsory " clauses. Of course,, such clauses could only be brought into operation by the vote ofeach committee acting separately, but it was highly desirable that if they were adopted in one district they should be adopted in all. The Kauaeranga Committee had not as yet discussed tbe questions, so that there was nothing of a set character to bring before the meeting, and they were not committed as yet one way or the other. There were other important subjects in connection with education which, would, no doubt, be brought before the conference by different gentlemen present. For instance, the mode and necessity of calling the present meeting together suggested the question whether the management of a number of the Thames school districts might not with advantage, be Tested in one committee in place of the great number! at present existing. Then, again, there was the matter of cumulative voting at the election, of members of committees, against the continuance of which rery decided opinions were held by some present^tp matter.which would be sure to evoke discussion. The Chairman cited a further number of subjects which would probably be brought under the notice of the conference, and concluded by celling upon any of the members of committees present to lay their views or resolutions before the meeting. Mr E. H. Power proposed the following resolution:—"That, in the opinion of this conference, it is desirable to bring the compulsory clauses of the Education Act into force; and that the various school committees on tbo Thames be requested to tak? uni fed action with such a view." Mr Mcllhone seconded the same.

Mr Speight said tie did not apeak on behalf of the Kauaernnga School Com* mittee, but he did not repudiate the position taken by that Committae. The clauses of the Act were permissive, and were clearly at the disposal of the several committees. The ■ Act was not doing what it was intended it should do He referred to the action of the .Kauaerauga school district in 1873, when it was found there were 950 scholars in 22 schools in that district. At present there were,only 545 children at the Knuaeranga Schools, and 300 attending five private schools. From these statements he deduced the fact that the education in the district was not attended to as it was in 1873, and the private schools had been choked off in the meantime. From the census of 1876 he found that there wore about 3000 who came under the meaning of the Act. He was unable to get the returns from the late census, but he took the census of '78 for the basis of his remarks. In these returns it was stated that there were 37 per cent, of the children in the Colony who did not attend any school. If the compulsory clauses of the Act were brought into force it did not follow that parents who did not send their children would necessarily be brought before a Police Magistrate, for he was of opinion that the very fact that such clauses were in force would cause its provisions to be carried out. There was an argument being used against bringing the clauses into effect that there was not at present school accommodation. They were all aware that the Government had promised-to provide funds for future school accommodation, and he was sure that »f more accommodation was required, it would'be forthcoming. From the facts that he had stated it would be found that while education was not as general as it was in 1873, when prirato schools were numerous, and as such had, by the present Act, been choked oft, no other provision bad been made to educate the children in the district, which were far more numerous than in 1673. Mr Grigg remarked that there were a greater number of private schools in the Kauaeranga district than those mentioned by Mr Speight, and enumerated several, lie thought that if the facts stated by Mr Speight were to be taken as true, it would be necessary to enquire into the present position of educational matters \n the several districts. He referred to the Act and the compulsory clauses, and showed that the Act was not in every respect workable. He would, however, support the bringing of the said clauses into effect. I ■ '

Mr Power and Mr Alloin supported a suggestion in favor of asking for correct returns of the number of children in the districts from the Registrar Gcucrul. Mr Kensbaw said he did not think they were sufficiently advanced in tbis district to bring the compulsory clauses into

operation. He differed from Mr Speight'i deductions from the fact of their being 37 per cent, of the children not attending school in the colony, for he would be sup* ported when he said there were not 37 per cent, of the children of the Thames who "were not attending school. He thought from even one fact, that a difficulty would be found in bringing the clauses into effect, namely, the position it would place the children of Roman Catholic parent! in. By their superiors these children were forbidden to attend Government schools, and many of such might not be in a position to pay the fees charged in the schools provided by their church. Mr A Horn agreed in a great,, measure with Mr Henshnw's remarks, he thought the clauses would press very heavily upon JRomn? Catholic children ["Not at all," remarked Mr Mclihoue, "we will show you—we are cducaf ing our children and don't care for your clauses."] He would beg to move the following amendment :— " That the members of school committees here present undertake, in their respective districts, to discuss the question of bring* ing into operation the compulsory clauses of the Education Act, and to take inch action thereon as may be deemed necessary." . : , ■ ' *' ' '■ ■■ ■'t'i Mr Spencer seconded the amendment, and thought that before the clauses were brought into operation great care should be taken.

Mr Davis said with reference to th/P 1 amendment it was useless, for under, the Act each school committee had the power to bring the said clauses into effect, and, there was no use in referring the matter back to each committee. He bad hid a great deal of experience in the working of the Act, and he was convinced that the . clauses should be brought into 'operation. Ho saw every day children playing about tbe streets that should be at school. If the poorer class of children i were neglected, why they were the' very children that the-Act was pasted for, as it was never intended that the children of the rich were to be educated at the public expense. It might not be necessary to bring the clauses into operation in the Farawai or other district!, but he felt convinced that such a course was neeea« sary in the Waiotahi and probably in the Eauaeranga Districts.

Mr Mcllhone said he had great diffidence in touching this question; bat as his chairman had opened and gone into the matter, he would follow. He supported, the views, of Mr Speight, and believed that education wai not attended to as well as it 'was inv'l97B; He referred, to t?:c, rcaarks about Homan Catholics,. apd ie could assure tLose present that tir-ro .vrcrc no Catholic children within vrhciso reach there was not a free school, lio had no second opinion on the ; matter, but had always been of opinion.. that the clauses referred to should be brought into opera' lion. ' Mr Scott Hunter did not believe that the, fact of clauses being brought into operation would frighten people into sending their children, while it was also said that the penalties would not be in* flicted. Such a course would be absurd. Mr R. Farrell said ,he was not. altogether against the clauses being brought into operation. He thought if the whole district were formed into one school district'instead of seven, it might be well if the clauses were brought into operation. He pointed oat the fact that under the Act the power to bring the clauses into operation' was the only power given. He suggested that the : whole of the School Committees should recommend the Government to amend, the Act, so that the seven distriots should form one. ' -

Mr Scott Hunter stated that in hii opinion the majority of the children kept from school were such children as their parents were unable to properly clothe, or required to assist in the support of tLe family. - Mr Grigg said if the eauie was as Mr Hunter represented there were many persons would come forward arid assist such persons. Mr Steedman said he was in favor of bringing the clauses into operation, but it ought to be done judiciously. : He was more inclined to have the question discussed in the several committees, and the result brought up at a future meeting. He was convinced that in the Tararu district there were not 5 per cent, of the children who were not attending school. He was sure that the bringing of the present Education Act into force was one of the greatest boons the Government had given to the country. Mr Eenshaw said he was always 'a friend of the present school system. He was very pleased to hear from Mr MeIlhone that provision was made for the free education of all Boman Catholic children. He had been misinformed, and had thought that only those who were able to pay could take advantage of the facilities offered by the Catholic Church. (Those who are able to pay have to pay for those who cannot, remarked Mr Me* Ilhone.) A motion for adjournment was proposed by Mr Mclihone, but was withdrawn upon it being stated that it would hare the effect of burking further enqury inta the question. The amendment by Mr Allotn was then put to the meeting and caAe rl t ri- was also the resolution by Mr Poire:*. Mr Grigg proposed that this meeting. be adjourned till this nigt'c fc,:i' coaksiG seconded by Mr Power and carried. A vote of thanks to the Chair oonoltded the business,