SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 2971, 27 February 1875, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

LYTTJBLtONc ~.\ M

A meeting was held on TOnwgfJgM Present-Misaji fl. B. Webb &&$ 1 arange, Hawkins, Wood? AllwHgß"*"*- Hg Donald and Bouse. " • a. Be**'ll Correspondence was read js»al"fi§ asking for a full statement of uw** B*'8 *' k date « .a-****!! TheTeturns required were orasn** «. made o«t by the secretary. $ m Another letter was also * e n_™s* ,l _ti Board, asking for estimate m for the ensuing year. ''abV^ms Arepcrt from Mr W. L. w^^rm master, was then read. It ran &J~~t fj§ '♦To the Chairman of the JgrtfeeltQ'*; M '•School "Committee. #8 ••Sir,—l have the honor to *£" « there are at present 600 «^ DdnS MiH books, with an average If

11 1 beg to call the attention of your committee to the unsatisfactory state of tbe saasroom,it is, as at present arranged, almost usdess for, the purposes intended. I would suggest the removal of tbe present stationary desks and tbe substitution of three moveable ones. The room would then be available either for class teaching or for drawing lessons, and work of a similar kind. Owing to the narrowness of No 1 room it is absolutely necessary to make the classroom as convenient as possible. "There is no access to this department from the playground, other than by tbe ™«in entrance, which is extremely mcon*enient. Would it not be possible to erect a gtaircase in the rear of the building. «In No 2 room, Mr Ross is compelled to arrange each of his classes in two divisions inconsequence of tbe want of space in front of the desks; I need hardly say that this division of sufficiently small classes detracts, in a great measure, from their advancements A class-room for the sole use of this department is absolutely neceesary. "No 3 room, seated for 146 children, is altogether overcrowded, having a gross attendance of 295, with an average of 218. Sren with the relief afforded by the Partial use of tbe committee-room and tbe Vestibule, tbe confdsion caused by the presence df so many infants (over 100) renders effective teaching out of the question. The remark as to division of classes in No 2 room aßolies with eaoal force to this department. It is needlessfor mc to point out to your committee that due provision for icfant teaching has been entirely overlooked. I would suggest tbe erection of a detached building, properly fitted with gallery, &c, for the infants. It is not likely that this branch of the school will decrease in number. Would it not be possibleto utilise the space between tbe wings as a hat and cloak room ? < the present accommodation being both in- i snfficient and inconvenient—ln fact, in No 2 room, the boys are compelled to keep their caps in the desks. _ »The furniture, especially in No 1 room, isunsuitable, being made on one uniform plan for children of all ages; I may say that the first cIMS find the desks too low and too narrow. The teachers also complain that there is not sufficient space for them to pass behmd.fhe children for the purpose of assisting them in'theirwriting and other exercises. v I have to recommend that a sum be set SKdeifOT* the [purchase of a small reference library for the use of the teachers, pupil teachers, 7 and -senior "scholars—the school cannot even boast of the possession of a dictionary 7 :":-7 7-v' y j 'yAA "Owing to the short notice I received, ' this report is necessarily incomplete. "I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient XXX' 7' : ";«W.'L. EDGE." « Lyttelton s ß«tongh School, "February 24*^1875^ _R_e report $saa: considered seriatim and approved by the Mid ordered' to be forwarded to the Board.. / It was then proposed, seconded, and oMrifcß-"M'Thatmowing to the number of scholars on Ihe books there is not sufficient accommodation for them, and Tit .ip. imperative to provide % and that therefore it to proposed; dw sachet a detached building 60ft by SOft for an infant school, the estimated costbeing £2500."