MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2073, 20 August 1885, Page 2

MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The usual monthly meeting of the Com ; mittee was held last night. PresentMessrs Boddington (Chairman), Lowes, Gird wood, Woodroofe, and Hogg. The Treasurer reported a credit balance of £l9 17 3. Correspondence was read from the Education Board re desks and cupboard for the temporary school, stating in reference to the application for standard desks for the North school that the Board adhered to the report of the Committee. From Miss Keeling, applying for a pupil teacher to assist her, and stating the attendance last week was 56, and there were now 80 names on the roll. • 1 Mr Girdwood asked how it was that the school was given the name of side school. It was never intended to be in connection with the other school. The promise from tin l . Board was to start a temporary second ' school until the Committee obtained a site for the erection of a< permanent second School. Several children had been sent away from the Infant School because they were over seven, yet in the other school a child might belong to the Infant class up to nine years.

The Chairman said Mr Girdwood was somewhat in error in his remarks. The Inspector had entered instructions to Miss Keeling in the log book to transfer children to the other school who were fit for the Ist Standard, or at 7| to 8 years. ■ Mr Girdwood wanted to know who had given the infant school the name of " side school." The Chairman said he did not think the name mattered much. Mr Hogg said it was named a side school against the wishes of tho parents and the resolution of the Committee, and endeavors were being made to make it such. Mr Lee had given instructions for the children to be trotted up to tho other school for examination instead of coming down to them. This was not fair t» Miss Keeling. He was paid to do the work, and if he could not walk , down to that school, the Committee would put their hands ill their pockets and pay for a cab for him, rather than send 60 or 80 children a mile to be examined. He only stated these things upon hearsay. The Chairman said it would be more in order if they had Mr Lee's instructions before them before criticising what he was supposed to have said.

After some further discussion the matter dropped.

, It was resolved that the Board be requested to appoint a pupil teacher to the infant school to assist Miss Keeling. The teacher's report was read showing. 495 on the roll, and an average attendance of 372. In the examination 32 had passed in the freehand drawing) and 5 in geometry. It was resolved to request the Board to furnish pictures and kindergarten apparati for the infant school, as applied for by Miss Keeling. Miss Walton, in consequence of illhealth,'sent inhe'r resignation as pupil teacher, and in accepting it, the Committee expressed their regret at Miss Walton being obliged to resign on account of ill health.

It was resolved, That the Board be requested to appoint a pupil teacher in the place of Miss Walton, resigned. The Chairman stated in reference to the recent examination that ho was glad to say that Masterton still maintained its position against the city schools in freehand drawing. 32 had passed for Masterton, Thorndon had 17, Mount Cook 13, and the Terrace 11. The Chairman also reported that the Town Lands Trust had granted them a sum of £2O, also that the rents accruing from two Trust acres which were to be used for providing a school picnic, and the balance for prizes, might be expended in giving the children over a certajn age a trip to Wellington to see the Exhibition if the Government could be induced to convey them at a low figure, Mr Woodroofe thought the funds arising from this source could not be used outside the object for which they were given. Accounts amounting to £l2 3s 4d were passed for payment, and the accounts for gravelling the grounds were certified to. It was resolved to remind the Board of the promise contained in the letter of February 12th, That a sum be placed on the estimates for a second school for Masterton. Mr Woodroofe moved, and Mr Girdwood seconded, That offers be invited by advertisement, from persons willing to dispose of one acre of land suitable for a site for a second school in the North of Masterton.—Carried. Mr Boddington was appointed visiting member for the ensuing month,

Extremes meeting.—The Major (to nephew, who wants taking down a bit, he thinks:) "What! you here, Percy! ain't you rather younp to be going to balls?"— Percy: "What! and you here, too, uncle! I should have thought you'd given up this kind of thing long ago!" '