CAMBRIDGE EAST SCHOOL COMMITTEE. BOTH TEACHERS TO BE REMOVED.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1810, 12 February 1884, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE EAST SCHOOL COMMITTEE. BOTH TEACHERS TO BE REMOVED.

The usual monthly meeting of this committee was held in the school-room yesterday evening, at 4 o'clock. Present: Messrs G. F. Hosking (chairman), T. Wells, A. Gr. Hughes, E. Hewitt, Jas. Forrest, J. P. Thomson and John Houghtou, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Board of Education Elkctionv- Mr Wells proposed that the committee should vote for Messrs Hobbs, Cooper and Buckland in the above election.— Mr Forrest objected to Mi BuckUnd. — Mr Wells spoke in favour of Mr Buckland and the other two candidates. These gentlemen had all along shown themselves in favour of committees havinsr an equitable say in the management of the affairs of the respective schools.— On the motion being put it was carried unanimously. Remodelmng thb Teaching Staff.— The Chairman said the next business of the meeting was the confirming of a resolution passed at a meeting of the old committee regarding this subject. They were all aware of the differences which had arisen through the piesent arrangement of the teaching staff. It was quite evident that the school could not work, and this experience had proved to them. The present headmaster was not in a position U> superintend the various subjects taugh in the High School. They could not expect a good classical man to stay with them at the salary (£150) at present given, nor with the present arrangement as to headmaster. — A few questions of order having been raised, regarding the course of procedure which the meeting should adopt, Mr Wells interposed, by requesting that these petty questions should be laid aside, and not b3 allowed to retard the practical business of the meeting. There had been far too much publicity given to the many little bickerings in connection with this matter which should never have been known outside the members of the committee and the board. Such things as these when made public property, and discussed in public, as had been the case, did not tend in any way to the welfare or good discipline of the school.— Mr Wells then proposed the following resolution :— " That this committee lespectfully suggest the following for the consideration of the boaid with a .strong leconnuendation that the board give eft'eat thereto. (1) That in view of successfully carrying on the Cambridge High and Primary Schools it is necessary that the head master .shall have educational status to qualify him to teach, direct, superintend, and examine the whole of the subjects taught in the high school ; (2) that an asbihtant teacher shall be qualified to assist the head teacher in teaching the high school subjects, and that it is detiimental to the best inteiests of the high school for an assistant teacher to be in a position to give ins ..ruction in subjects of which the head teacher cannot direct, examine, nor pronounce on their merits ; (3) that this com iuitt<»o view with alarm the prospect of constant changes taking pl«ce in the assistant teachership, if the teaching of the high school subjects must on him depend with the limited salary offered, believing that any man possessing a Univeisity degree will only stay as a stepping stone to a more encrative appointment ; (4) that in older to meet the exigencies of the case the board will lemodel the teaching staff of the Cambudge school by removing the present head teacher and assistant teacher for the purp >se of appointing a head teacher with a Unnersifcy degiee, and one assistant teacher qualified to assist in teaching the high school subjects."' — In speaking to the resolution, Mr Wells said it was now quite evident they could not carry on as at present. They could not have two superiors in one school. One must bo a head master, competent to take cluugeof the whole of the subjects taught in the high .school, and the other must be his assistant. As at present organised, it was contrary to all notions of order, method or discipline, or the successful carrying out of the work of the school. — Mr Hughes a&ked what proof they had of Mr Stewarts inability to teach the subjects of the High School. — The Chairman replied that, as a proof of Mr Stewarts inability, he would quote the fact that that gentleman had presented himself for University matriculation, and had been " plucked." — Mr Hucrhes considered that this was no proof of Mr Stewarts inability to teach the subjects referred to.— Mr Hewitt seconded the resolution. — Mr Forrest then proposed, as an amendment, '"That, in consequence of the past and present unsatisfactory attendance at the High School, and the vast importance of our primary school, which has given so much satisfaction, we therefore do not think a re-model-ling of the teaching staff necessary at the pie.sent tune." In doing so he had to say thas to his mind a great deal of bitterness of a peisonal character had been introduced into this matter of re-modelling the teaching staff. It was the opinion of a large number of people that the twu schools could not be carried on in conjunction with each other. Those who were paiticulaily interested in the High School, and those interested in the primary school held a difference of opinion on the matter. Again, the High School was not a success financially, nor was it in point of attendance. Thirty-five pupils had been guaranteed to the Board of Educ ition to attend the. Higli School. Instead of this only 25 pupils had attended the first quarter, and the attendance had gradually diminished since. He would submit the following statement of finances for their infoimation. For the first quarter the Joss on the working of the High School wad i! 4 14& ; for the second quarter the loss wa* £8 18s ; and for the last or piesent quarter the loss would be £41 125, estimated from the present state of matters. Now, unless these schools were self -suppoi ting, the Board of Education would soon tell them they had no money in hand to devote to district high schools. Their national system of education was primary, and no portion of the grant in aid of this could be devoted to the support of the higher education. Mr O'Sullivan was a good authoiity, and that gentleman had recommended Mr Stewart out of thirty applicants, to the head-m.astership of the Newton Jjast Sohool, and that school was worth £350 a-year. Therefore, if he was not able to conduct the school at Cambridge, where the salary was only £250, surely he would not be able to conduct a school where the salary was £350. But Mr O'Sullivan had said he could, and what better authority could they have. Some gentleman, however, had s.en.| a personal communication to the NewBon Committee regarding Mr Stewart, which seemed to have injured his chance. The wayin which the primaryschoolhadprogressed with MrStewart was, to say the least, highly creditable. — Mr Hughes seconded Mr Forrest's amendment. — Mr Thomson also spoke strongly on the subject of Mr Stewarts lemoval. — The subject "of Mr Wrights, appqintmenf and duties was discussed at some considerable length and with much warmth by some of the gentlemen present. — On the amendment being put, three voted in its favour. The resolution was therefore carried. — Mr Wells then proposed the following resolution ;—"; — " In, view of the board's givmg efifepti to the re-modeUJnpf pesoMiqn, * nls committee do not propose to offer any suggestion to the hoard on either the subject of the grievance between Mr Stewart and the chairman of the late committee, or of that between Mr Stewart and Mr Wright, further than in requesting that a temporary supply be sent forthwith to Thieve ]\f r Wright. — Seconded b,y 3Vsr irorresfy and oarried.

The average cost of railroads in the "United Kingdom ia £41,72} a mile. A QOMMITTEF h^s been formed, headed by M- IJminanael Qonztles, to carry out a scheme for the raising a monument in memory of Balaao. 1 ' Gentlemen, a toast. Fill your glasses. ', May the rich sparkle of this wive, the delicate flavour—" "Be continued ju our necks," suggested o»e of 'the ff««8t8, J aiid th« toast waa imWijed