WHATAWHATA. School Matters.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1272, 24 August 1880, Page 2

WHATAWHATA. School Matters.

The monthly meeting of our school committee, which took place a day or two ago, was of more than usual interest. It appears that sor fome little time past, new rules came into force at the school, by which children coming late are locked out,, and as most of the scholars live at some distance, the result of the new regulation has been, that within the last few weeks, nearly every child has been shut out in the wet and cold ; this the parents naturally object to, and the locking-out business was naturally commented upon at the meeting. The master (Mr Boler) was present-, and stated that he was only carrying out the rules laid down for his guidance, by the Board of Educatson' and he also declined to obey any instructions from the Committee, or to any alteration in school hours, etc. Tho master also made several suggestions, which were l-ejected hs an attempt to dictate to the Committee. A resolution was passed asfollows : "That as it is wound impossible, during winter months, to send the children to school before 10 a.m., that the school hours be altered from 9.30 to 10 a.m." It is somewhat doubtful whether this resolution will tiave any effect ; but as the Committee were strongly unatimous in the matter, and between them represented some eighteen of the children, it will be seen that it is not a mere personal feeling against the master. What astonished the Committee mo'-e than a little, was that although Mr Boler could read the rule which directed punishment for late attendance without a satisfactory explanation, yet he was unable, when asked by the Committee, to define what this satisfactory explanation should be. One thing is certain, that parents will not submit to have their children, if they are a little late shut outside nothing could be more absurd than to expect scholars who have niles to come over bad roads, to be exact to a minute in arriving at school ; and to shut delicate girls out, which has been done dnring the recent bad weather, is, to say the least of it, a most uncharitable, and badly befits a a candidate for h)ly orders. — [Correspondent.] August 20.