MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4973, 12 March 1895, Page 2

MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

MONTHLY MEETING. The regular monthly meeting of the Mosterton School Committee was held last evening, Present Messrs E. Feist (Chairman), T. Wagg, C. E. Daniell, W. A, Pragnell. Z. M. Hoar, W. Morris, T, ■ Dixon, W. G. Beard, MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read aud confirmed. FINANCE. | The Treasurer reported a credit balance 1 at date of £lO 7s fid. THANKS. Mr James Eohertson wrote thanking the Committee for support at last Board election. SCHOOL ELECTION. Tito Secretary of the Education Board wrote asking the Committee to report on a resolution of the North Wairarapa Liberal Association with regard to hold-! ing the next School Committee election 1 in a more central building than the Main! School. j The Chairman said, personally lie did® not sec any necessity for making thei change requested. Ho thought tliO; Main School the proper place to hold! the election in, aud householders who' really thought anything of the matter: 'f would not consider it a hardship to at-! tend. Ho would move that the Com- 1 niitteo inform the Board that in opinion tho Main School is the mostV conveuieut place. Mr Beard seconded the motion, lie did not sec any necessity to make a change. Mr Pragnell said that to test the feeling of the meeting lie would move that the election be held in the Drill Hall.

Mr Darnell said while believing in holding tho meeting in a central place, lie thought householders who took a real interest in educational matters, would not mind walking to the school to vote. Mr Dixon.thought the school thebest place. If the Theatre or Diill Hall was used many would attend who were not householders, Mr Beard asked if the North Wairarapa Liberal Association had enclosod a cheque to cover the extra expense of hiring the Drill Hall. The Chairman said the Association had not none so. Mr Feist's resolution, that the Comliiittce consider that the school is the most convenient place, was put aud carried, Mr I'ragnell's amendment not being seconded. RELIGIOUS INSTmjCTtOX. The ltcv. A. C. Yorke wrote asking permission to be allowed to visit tho school on two days each week, as on the last occasion a number of girls had stand, and he thought it would perhaps ff be better to hold tiro classes, one for boys and one for girls. Mr Jackson said if necessary a larger room might be given. Without saying he opposed the granting of two days, bethought it would bo better not. If Mr Yorke liked to come cyery morning before school hours, ho did not see any objection to that, A larger room could be placed at Mr Yorke's disposal, Mr Beard thought perhaps Mr Yorke wished to hold a separate class for boys i and girls. Mr Morris moved that a large room, be placed at Mr Yorke's disposal. The , motion was carried. , INFANT SCHOOL. 1 Miss Kceliug reported that the ati tendance during the past mouth had i been good, averaging 87, with 102 children on the roll. MAIN SCHOOL. The Head-master (Mr W, H. Jack- . son) reported an average attendance of 50a with 598 children on the roll. The report concluded as follows" I think it is my duty to draw your attention to 1 a statement which appeared in the Wai- m rarapa Star's report of the last meeting Tr of the North WairarapaLiberalAssociation, which statement is as follows : ' It was admitted that the morals of tho children attending the School, arc not what they might be.' I have written to tho President of the Association asking if this statement were really made by the Association, but have had no reply." i The Chairman said with regard to the paragraph mentioned by Mr Jackson— ; Mr Beard said he was sorry to inter- , rupl, but it seemed utter nousense to take notice of any matter not before them. If the Wairarapa North Liberal Association or any other body had any. thing to complaiu about, they should approach the Committee, direct, If tlicy had :ot the courage of their convictions, he not think the matter worthy of notice, The Chaiimau said that the para.graph was in the teacher's ronoit. Mr Beard considered the teacher ih' error in takeing uotice of every newspaperparagraph appearing. Mr Daniell agreed with Mr Beard iij this matter. The Chairman said, to shield Mr Jackson, he must say that Mr Jackson had spoken to him about the matter, and he had advised writing to the Chairman ™ of the Association, asking whether tho report was a correct one. Air Jackson said he merely wished to bring the matter directly under the--Committee's notice. Mr Beard said that if tho matter had!. not been mentioned is the report, they probably would not have heard anything; of it. The subject then dropped, A CYCLOSTVLK. Mr Beard moved, that the Committeo' has no funds at its disposal, to purchase a cyclostyle, as suggested by the Head Teacher. Mr Daniell seconded tho motion. Ho 1 was of opinion, that tho £4 could bo bettqr spent on the swings, etc, . Mr Jackson said that tho money 'would ho saved over and over again ia printed matter required. FIEEWOOD. The question of a supply of firewood was left in th? hands ot the Chairman aud Secretaiy, with power to act ACCOUNTS.. The following accounts were passed, for payment :-Z. M. Hoar, 16s 6d; W. C. Cargill, 10s 6d; J. Payton and C 0,,, 19s ; H. Bealj £1; W.F.C.A., £2 8s 10dt SWINGS. iL Mr- Daniell said before the water comes lie would like to see something dono about tho swings. It was resolved that Messrs Dixon and Wagg look iuto the matter, and report at next meeting, and also as to the adyisabilitv of putting up a gate leading from the playground to Chapel Street. TECHNICAL EDUCATION". _ Mr Beard moved, that iu view of the importance that shorthand w/itihg and > typewriting are assuming, the Town S Lands Trust be asked to famish the school with a typewriter. There was no. doubt, that everyone must recogniss that shorthand and type-writing would: soon be necessary to anyone requiring; an office livelihood, and tho cuildrem 1 shouldhave the opportunity of acquiring; ' the knowledge. There stwuld baaa opportunity, with the f und&of the-Town : Lands Trust, to take advantages which. ! perhaps other schools could nofc He thought the Town. Lands the propof body to approach funds for i this purpose. Mr Daniell said ho if j5 yoy pleased the matter had been thought of. He a shoulfl bc in fuy' ar 0 f going fuilier, x? however, and ? A broader grounds , ask- ' ing the lia (ees to help the scholars in education by setting up night IJols to give technical information on various mattevs connected with tho occupations of life. The Chairman said he understood that Mr Beard's idea wi s that it; was better to get something as a stepping stono. . . , < Mr Beard said his opinion was wellknown and thathe believed the funds of the Trust should be expended for the general good of school, and all should be afforded an opportunity of branohing. i out in a technical direction, as far as the funds permitted. He had thus brought

1 ip tlio question of a scholarship some i tunc a?o, but the peonlo ot Masterton did not seem sufficiently interested to go into the matter, and, the Town Lands Trustees did uot appear large-niinded enough to deal with the subject on , broad grounds. In introducing the question of obtaining typewriting and short hand instruction, he did so. as a beginiJttiig. because both boys and girls would, ityioso branches liayc an equal chance. In reply to Mr Darnell, Mr Beard thought that the teaching of tlio typewriter was a matter of detail. If the teaclierscould not teach it,otlier arrangements could bo made. i Mr Danicll said he thought the proposal rather crude. As a Town Lands Trustee he would not feel disposed to vote .£25 simply for a typewriter to lie on tlio shelf because it could not bo tanclit. Mr Beard said that in asking for a typewriter they would also ask for provision for the instrument to be taught. In reply to Mr Danicll, Mr Jackson ' said it would be as easy to arrange a class for type-writing as for Latin, outside the ordinary school work. Mr Pragncll said that lie thought they were bound to come back to the niglit school, and that they must approach the Trust on this point. Tlio said tliat us a Town Lands Trustee, he should suggest JL'r , Beard waiting on the Trust. Mr Beard said ho thought Mr Danicll misunderstood liim. He did not wish nijvthing provided for one section of the community only, Did Mr Danicll think the Town Lands Trustees would support aboard a technical platform'as he (Mr well) suggested? Mr Danicll said that he thought the Trust would take the matter up if pro- » perly approached. Mr Beard thought there was little chance of providing classes for all the trades and for chemistry, typewriting etc. That would mean i'iSlW or £ a year lor teachers. Mr Daniell did not think what lie suggested would entail any such expenditure. After further discussion Mr Beard gave notice of motion for next meeting re the typewriter. He should be glad toco-operate with any other member to extend the request for assistance from the Trust provided they did not make the scheme so large that it killed itself. Mr T. Dixon was appointed visiting member aud the meeting closed.