SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 99, 27 April 1903, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORTS.

•Annual reports of the following school committees will be presented .*t the householders' meetings to-night, in addition to those already published:—

NEWMARbJET,

The committee will report that the average attendance xor the quarter was 251 (against 235 for the corresponding quarter oi iast year) out oi a roll number of 287 scholars. This average, if maintained, would entitle the school to an additional teacher. The inspector's reports had been very favourable. It was hoped that the Board of Education would provide additional playground in place of that taken for the erection of the cooking school, and that a

shelter shed would also be built. The report comments upon the fact that during the past two and a-half years the whole of the teaching staff has been changed.

REMUERA.

The report here will state that put of a roll number of 415 the attendance has been from 350 to 370 during fine weather. The total number of scholars increased by 30 during the year, but owing to epidemics at the end of last year the attendance fell, and the Minister ordered that ttye staff should be reduced Since February, lioAvever, attendance had recovered, and it was hoped that the reduction would not be insisted on. The committee had informed the Minister of the improvement. The Bible classes of the Revs. G. B. Monro and W. Beatty, M.D., continued to earn the thanks of the district, and the cadat corps was gradually increasing in membership and popularity. The report inticipates that an early growth of the school attendance will necessitate an increase of accommodation. The finances are in credit to the extent of £30 3/5. ■ ,

DEVONPORT,

At this meeting the committee's report will refer feelingly to the death of the chairman (Mr Oliver Mays), in connection with the Avork of the school, the report will announce an increase of 35 scholars, making a total of 075, and will anticipate the early appointment of a SAvimming teacher for the boys. Regret will be expressed at the epidemics of infectious) disease, Avhich reduced the attendance for some Aveeks. In regard to the need of increased accommodation, which has existed for tAvo years past, the report states that in December last plans Avere submitted by the board, but the committee did not consider they provided for sufficiently increased accommodation, and recommended that the present infant school should remain as a technical school, and a new one be erected in rear of the present main building. The board's architects had previously submitted plans which greatly enlarged the infant school accommodation by increasing the workshop buildings and the remoA'al of the old teacher's house to effect the same, the technical school haA T ing Avorkshops OA-cr the infant schools. This scheme Avas heartilr endorser! by the committee, but never carried out. As a substitute the board proposed to make the teacher's dwelling into a classroom for infants, and to extend the wing of Standard V. classroom ns indicated. The committee decided that if the board could not carry out the additions on the loAver ground as submitted to them, the Minister for Education should be approached on the subject, but no satisfactory ansAver has yet been received, and the fact remains that some of the infant classes haA r e been compelled to receiA r e their tuition in the cellar adjoininer the carpentry class, sacks being used by the headmaster to keep their ff>et .from the cold concrete. Concerning the dispute betAveen the committee and the board over the appointment of an infant mistress, the report states that the had no complaint to make on the score of qualifications of the lady of the board's choice, being quite satisfied with her long experience and suitability fOY the appointment, but they neA'ertheless condemned the arbitrary action of the board in overlooking the unanimous request of the committee, made after 'thorough inquiry and canvassing of the qualifications of the Indies Avhose names Avere sent in. The committee felt that their functions ought not to be confined to the mere payment of accounts ''for cleaning and stationevA', and that beinf on the spot they had a better means of knoAving wltat the requirements of the school are on these occasions.. Some of the cremmittop. folt so strongly the Insult of the hofird in flisrePMniiTijcr their, solicited selection, that they resi«Tted their positions and trusted to the meetinsr of householders endorsing their action in the matter.