MASTERTON SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3968, 20 November 1891, Page 2

MASTERTON SCHOOL.

The monthly meeting of the Masterton School Committee was held last (Thursday) evening, there being present Messrs E. Feist (Chairman). J. Williams, Z. M. Hoar, C. E. Daniell and W. M. Easthope. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer reported a credit balance of £te 2s 6d.

The Education Board wrote, stating that no power could be given to ministers to impart religious instruction during school hours.—The Secretary was instructed to inform the Riv R. Wood of the reply received from the Boaid.

Tbe resignation of Mr J. Symep as school cleaner was received.—lt was resolved that Mr Symes be requested to continue cleaning at £2 12a per month, an increase of 8s per month on his tender price. An application was received from Mr S. Bartlett for the use ot the school site in Victoria-street until the school was erected, at a rental of five shillings per month.—On the motion of Mr Easthope it was decided to ask the permission of the Board to rent the land for grazing purposes. The head teacher reported the number of children on the roll as 606, the average attendance 534, and the percentage of attendances 88. The attendance at the school had not been satisfactory since the examination. This was to be regretted, as children absenting themselves lost the foundation of the general instruction. The ur.nunl examination had been held by Inspectors Lee and Fleming, and the results of the drawmg examination had been received.

Miss Keeling reported that there bad been a great deal of sickness at the infant school during the past month, which had affected the attendance, the average atiendan.ee , being 75. There were 100 names on the roll. The following acpounts were passed for paymont:—Smith Bros., (dambells, 19s; M- Oaselberg Co., £\ 6s Id; J. Charlton (repairing organ), £2 10a.

Mr Easthope said he understood there had been a general change in the books at the sobool. He would like to know who authorised this change ? Mr Jackson stated that the change was made by tke Education Board. Mr Easthope considered the Committee should have been consulted in this matter. The Committee had been treated with the greatest dis courtesy, jersonajly' lie did not think the change was desirable. He would like to point out that his children had come to him and demanded l'2s Bd, and stated if they did not get the books they would be cane!,

The Chairman thought this matter should be cleared tip.

Mr Jaokson stated that the children had never been threatened with caning by his authority. He would like to know one of his staff who had held out such a threat.

Mi" Easthope replied that numbers of children had made the same demand to their parents as his had. There appeared to I'nui to be something wrong in the whole system. The nrjg'e jfor the books was also jenprmoujj.

Mr Daniall favored a variety in ecbppl bppks, although he thought the ppiflisa sbguld b§ye De en more moderate.

The Chairman requested %U Easthope to put his complaint in the form of a resolution.

Mr Easthope then moved that tb§ Education Board be requested to import its school books, and sell them to Committees at cost price. Mr Williams seconded.

Mr Easthope : I know one man who had to put his hand in his pocket for"'t\W days' wages to provide his children with bgcks. • Mr Jackson : That shows the number of children he had. :

The resolution was then put and parried;'and Mr Beard having been appoint* J visiting member, tbefseeting adjourned.