Feildiug State School Committee.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 283, 4 June 1895, Page 2

Feildiug State School Committee.

« The regular monthly meeting of the above was held last evening. Prtsmt — Messrs H. Worsfold (chairman), A. W. Parker (secretary), W. Carthew, J. Gould, W. O. Haybitt'e, W. G. Shearer, R. J. Thompson. J. Taylor, C. Bray (junr). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read fron the Secretary W.E.8., stating there would be no unnecessary delay iv the erection of additions to the school. The Head Master's report dated June Ist was read showing : " The attendance for last week was 280 and for this week over 300. The attendance (above the infant classes) is now better than it has ever been ; and the school is working in quite a satisfactory manner. A whole i month has passed since the examination. During that time not a dozen children have been admitted to the infant classes. This is one of the thoroughly unsatisfactory points in the school. It has always been so. These classes fill up rapidly a few months before the exam ination, and parents expect that these children will rise a class at the examination. In other words, that they do a year's work in a few months. They do not. If these classes were filled up (as they should be) immediately after the examination, those children would gain a whole year. Yesterday (May 31st) there were 72 children in the infant room ; at the end of the year there will be 140. Several members of the Committee having expressed a desire to know wdiat the percentage was, I have calculated it : — 1895 percentage (omitting exceptions) 89 - l ; 1894 percentage (omitting exceptions) 95 5; average of two years (good year and bad year), vide Inspector's reports, 92 - 3. After mature consideration I have decided that it is inexpedient that another school concert be held during the year. There are two reasons : Ist, The last Committee broke faith with the children in the matter of prizes. The children were indignant — and justly so. That year (1593-4) the children had deserved prizes. This year thoy had neither been promised any nor had they deserved them. When a concert was given in December the children aud the public jumped to the conclusion that the promise was, at last, about to be kept. However, the proceeds were absorbed in the general expenses of the Committee. 2nd, The primary object of a school is the work. — J. C. Hill, Head Master." Mr Haybittle took exception to that passage in the Head Master's report which stated che Committee hid broken faith with the children in the matter of prizes, and asked tl_9 Head Master (who was present at the nquest of the Chairman) thiough the (Jhaiiman, what Committee was referred to. Was it the one immedi&te'y preceding the present Committee, or the previous one ? Mr Hill replied that it was the last Committee, of which Mr Carthew waa Chairman and Mr Haybittle, Secretary. Messrs Haybittle, Bray, Thompson, Carthew, Sheater, and Taylor, resented what they considered an insult to tbe Committee, and thought Mr Hill should eliminate from his report the words objected to. After a stormy discussion — Mr Hill on the one side and tho Committee on the other-- it was Proposed by Mr Carthew, seconded by Mr ThompsoD, That the Head Master's report, being very unsatisfactory to this Committee, they refer it back to him. — Carried. On being asked if he would withdraw the words complaiced of Mr Hill declined to do so, saying that he considered it his duty to draw the attention of the Committee to the promise made that the proceeds of the concert in December last would be devoted to procuring prizes for tte children, whereas such had not been done. He did not intend any implication against the Committtee. Messrs Carthew, Taylor, Haybittle, and Thompson, were decidedly of opinion that no such promise had been made, as the Committee were in debt and sadly in need of pecuniary assistance. They agreed that a suggestion had been made that a second concert should be arranged for prizes, and the concert now proposed would be in aid of the school prize fund. Mr Carthew asked if the Head Master and children were under the impression that the last concert was for prizes, or did they understand it was to assist the Committee. Mr Hill replied that the children thought it was for the purpose of obtaining prizes, but he had a shrewd suspicion the money was intended for general purposes. Mr Carthew said he had publicly stated that the concert was to assist the committee out of debt. Mr Thompson was disappointed at receiving such treatment from the head master, and Mr Haybittle also protested. Mr Carthew said the only courses open to them were : The School Committee must either resign or ask the head master to resign, or that the committee and head master must woik amicably together. They (the committee) had stooped as low as they could to meet Mr Hill. They should give and take to work harmoniously together. He was willing to go half way if Mr Hill would do the same and meet them. Mr Hill said he desired to come to to an amicable settlement. Mr Bray thought it was not the head master's place to come and ,f dress down " the School Committee, and he was not going to submit to it. Proposed by Mr Carthew, seconded by Mr Taylor, That the head master be requested to get up a concert for the prize fund of this school, to be got up within one month from date • and to confer with the chairman and secretary. — Carried. Mr Hill was then asked if he would assist in getting up a concert, and he replied that after all the hostile remarks he would say " No." At the request of the meeting, Mr Hill left the room. The committee then discussed their position, but nothing definite was decided on. | The Visiting Committee for the previous month (Messrs Haybittle and Thompson) reported having inspected the school. The alleged overworking of children was discussed, but as no formal complaints were before the committee it was decided that nothing could be done. The committee then adjourned.