ELECTI0N OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES. Cambridge District School.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1338, 27 January 1881, Page 3

ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES. Cambridge District School.

The annual meetiug of the householders of this district was held hi the schoolhouse on Monday afternoon. There was only a moderate attendance, and the Rev. H. Bull was voted to the chair. After the usual preliminary business, the Chairmau of the retiring committee read the following :—: —

committee's report. In submitting their annual report, the Cambridge District School Committee have to congratulate the parents of the district on the progress the school has made, the total number of children on the roll being 191, the average attendance being 129. An addition to the staff of teachers was made by the Board of Education appointing Miss M. G. Young, as assistant teacher, but that young lady has resigned the appointment after holding it for four Tnontns. Hey sister, Miss Linda J. Young, has been appointed in her place, and will commence the duties when the school reassembles on the 24th inst. The present staff consists of one head teacher and three assistants. On the application of the Committee the Board of Education granted the sum of ten pounds, which was supplemented by donations, for the purpose of fencing the back part of the school grounds or overhanging cliff abutting on the Waikato river. Both the front and back of the school grounds are now securely fenced with puriri posts and Holi.irfc Town p.-il-ings which will last for a great number of years. The Committee has also purchased a bell for the school and had it elected for use in the school grounds. At tho standard examinations held on 15th November by the school Inspector, the number on the roll was JSS, 100 wcie presented for examination viz :—-32: — -32 boys and 48 girls. Out of that number 80 p;iv Bed v'u., 43 boys and 37 ix'nh, 9 were absent from home cause. Taking 1 into consideration that every available child present was presented for examination, the result is veiy satisfactory indeed, showing that the number passed equals 62 percent-, of the average of the wlrolo school, including infants. Before the school closed for the Christmas holidays the Itcv. Willis and Ball conducted examinations on subjects which the children h/id been taught, so as to award piizes to the most efficient in their class. The examinations have been most satisfactory, and the prices will be awarded in a day or two. The thanks of the Committee and the parents of the children arc due to the head teacher and assistants for the very able and efficient manner in which the school is conducted. Alkvr, Hkany, Chairman, The following "report" w?s also read from the head-master . — Sir, — I bcfc to submit tho annual report of school work for 1880 : — Your committee will icmumbcr that I took, charge at tho opening of the .school after the Christmas holidays. In the report I sent to tho inspector of schools, I wsih compelled to speak of the \eiy indifferent state in which I found the school ; there was existing a veiy urgent need of a thorough re-oi'g.ini&tition, and ns early as possible I put the .school in working order. I will now summarise the information under the dilTcieut heads. Inspection — The school has been twice inspected during tho year, iu.liuie by Mr R. J. O'Sullivan, who reported very favor, ably ; and in November, by Mr Ponsonby PtMcocko, who conducted the examination in the btandauK TVnchinar staff — The teaching staff had to bo supplemented in August by another assistant, and MNs M. Young was appointed. I ■wish to express my tricat satisfaction with my assistants, all of them have faithfully done their duty, and I think the committee are to be congratulated on possosinjr so efticent a staff of .assist." nfs, Mi-<s M. Alford passed her examination in la&b m trch, and Miss Tristram is at present in Auckland trying to IMS' I bolt Ln December, Mi s s M. Young lesiirned, and her sifter, Miss Linda Young, has been appointed in her place. Attendance. — The attendance has been much larger than in any previous yen r. The highest altendipre for any one day registeicd up (o J.iuuaiy, 18S0, was 123 ; but this has been beaten by the average for the year. The highest attendance for the year is 101. The following table Blums the attendance- for the respective quarters of 1879 and lsS<\ as well as the iucroase :—

The committee -will, I think, agicc with mo that the mcie.iue is extiaordin.iry, when it is remembcied that three quarters of 1880 more than equal four of 1670. The {rain will he appreciated. Accomodntion, Appaiatus, &c. — In conBequonce of (ho great increase of attendance, the bchool is very much crowded, and another room is much wanted. The floor space at present is 1300 square feet, the roll number for last quaiter 191, making an average of (j* 8 square feet per child. The Bo.ird Regulation «nys that there shall be 9 square feet for each child. It will thus be seen that we are very iunch orercrowded. The appliances are generally speaking, adequate. Standard Examination — Ninety-one children were pies<ented for examination, and out of these eighty passed, equalling per cent. When it is remembered that every available child, good or bad, was presented, the result musfc be considered satisfactory. This is better shown by the fact that the number passed equals 62 per cent, of the average attendance of the •whole school, uiclndoig hifanln. In conclusion, permit me to express my obligation to the committee and yourself, for the consistent manner in which you have supported me in my work. Your obedient servant, Ralph D. Stlwart, Ales. Heaney, Esq., Chairman, Cambridge School Committee. After some little discussion the reports were adopted. The meeting then preceded to the election of a committee for the ensuing year. Out of thirteen arentlemen nominated for the office the following were elected: — The Rev. H. Bull and W. Evans, Messrs Heaney, Nixon, Mackintosh, Morris and Houghton. A short discussion took place on the subject of the Education Act, resulting in the passing of a resolution cordially approving of its provisions. The meeting then terminated.

At a meeting of tho uewly-elected committee, held subsequently to the above, Mr Heaney was re-elected Chairman.

18-0 1880 istqi. ftliqr. 100 o 91 o I h ( y 10, 1 1 'Ko i^H ,S I 12;' i I\o q A\(>i.ikc lot il. o| 9 I JO O Incrcisi 28 d l v> 1 1 I^l 27 « I T>\'l Total nl tendance leifiMercd in) ,0, 0 . n ,, 1879 J 38 ' I)J2 Ditto Ditto ISSO .31,922 Incieas-e 16,330