SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3940, 16 October 1891, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the Masterton School Committee was held Inst evening. Present—Messrs Feist (Chairman), Ea9thope, Hoar, Williams, Perry and Daniell. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer reported the receipt of £2 from Miss Keeling for sale of rpquisiteß, and a bank credit balance of 7s 9d.

The Education Board wrote, explaining that they had not yet received from the Government the amount of the building grant, and could not therefore proceed with the erection of the infant school. —Received.

The Secretary of the Masterton Town Lands Trustees wrote, stating that a grant of £6O had been made, but that the funds of the Trust would not permit of any further grant this year.—The Chairman said he considered this satisfactory, and the Secretary was instructed to make ap - plication for the first instalment.

The Secretary of the Masterton Town Lands Trustees wrote stating that the furniture of the School of Design had been handed over to the head master.

A communication was received from the Rev. K. Wood with referencs to the imparting of Bible knowledge in the schools. The Chairman said he had consulted Mr Beard on the question of reading the Bible in the school, and they had concluded that it was not desirable to interfere with the present school hours. They would ba ghd to accede to the request of ministers on condition that the Bible instruction was given after hour?,

The headmaster stated that by the regulations of the Education Board five hours' secular instruction had to be given. Mr Easthope pointed out that in other places greater concessions than that asked for by the ministers o Masterton bad been made. He would move that the Education Board be asked if they are are willing, provided that the Committee and headmastet are agreeable, to grant half an hour per week from the school hours for the imparting of reilgious instruction. Mr Daniell seconded.

The headmaster said that if they gave half an hour's religious instruction they would have to drop some extra subject such as singing or draw* ing. Mr Williamslooked upon the matter in a broad light. He thought the question would affect the whole of the schools in the colony. It was an attempt, to his mind, to override the education system of the colony. He thought if religious instruction was to , be given it should l e regulated by the State. He considered the Committee would be thoroughly exceeding their I duties in acceding to the request of the Rev. Wood. The Committee hud not the power to make the change.' He would not like to stir up religious strife between the various sects in the town, and he could not therefore support the granting of the request. The Chairman pointed out that the instruction would be unsectarian.

JVli- Easthope said they were not asked to gi?e permission for the teach ingof any particular religious principle. What they were asked to do was to give permission for the teaching of Christian morals by the various Ministers. He could see no objection to this, Mr Daniell s*id if the matter would result in denominationalism none would mo'.e bitterly oppose it than himself. If they started sectarianism it would do more harm than good. At the same time he had ho objection to the resolution.

Mr Perry asked if they could not give np the school for half a day to the Ministers.

The Chairman : That is not asked for.

MrDaniell suggested that wbat was required was the school discipline. The Chairman pointed out that it would be quite optional whether the children remained for the religious instruction.

The headmaster stated that the very children who would require the religious instruction would be those who would not remain.

Mr Easthope: I cannot help think - ing that the Education Board should draw up a series of lessons. The headmaster: It may not be generally known that Christian morals are now taught in the schools,

After further discussion it was resolved that the Education Board be informed that application had been made by three clergymen of Masterton to be allowed to give religiouß instruction for half an hour a week, and be asked if the Committee has power to grant the request. tkacher's report.

The head teacher reported the number on the roll to be 613, the average attendance 527, and the persentage of attendances 86. The perceutage ot attendances was higher this year than last. The annual examination would take place on Monday next. He bad received from the Town Lands Trustees some scientific apparatus. He drew attention to the fact that the broom in the paddock adjoining the school was spreading on to school property. It was decided to point out to the Town Lands Trustees that the broom was becoming a nuisance. HARMONIUM. The Chairman was authorised to ascertain what would be the cost ot repairing the harmonium in the main gcliool. 4,ccoyN?s. Ac,counts amounting to <£}9 lis Id were passed tor payment when funds would permit. INFANT SCHOOL. Miss Reeling reported 103 names on tba roll of the infant school, and the average attendance for the month 80, She had ascertained that durobells could be purchased for 17s tid and suggested that tbey be procured, It was resolved tbat thirty pairs of dumbells be procured. TRUANTS. The Truant Officer (Sergeant Hannan) sent in duplicates ot families served with truant notices. The headmaster stated that nearly the whole of the children whose parents had been served with notices were now attending school. fa two cases it was resolved to enforce the lsw. by iasujng summonses. VISITING MEMBER. Mr -J. Williams was appointed visiting member for the month and the meeting adjourned.