GREYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 July 1915, Page 2

GREYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MONTHLY MEETING

An ordinary meeting of the Greymouth District High School Committee, held last night in the Education Board's office, was attended by the following: Messrs R. Williams (Chairman), R. C. Forsyth, E. Guinaess, F. Barrowman, W. Parfitt, W. Boucher and J. Tennent. THE NEW SCHOOL, Messrs Tennent and Barrowman reported having waited on the Chairman of the Board in regard to a promised grant by the High School Board of Governors ta regard to construction of new Distrjpt High School, stating that the Chairman favored the'Committee's suggestion and that the Government would be approached with a view of having an Empowering Bill passed by Parliament to legalise the passing of the vote promised by the High School Board of Governors for the new building.—Approved. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The Chairman reported in regard to closing of school through sickness, and also in regard to granting use of school , building for Presbyterian Sunday School examinations.—Approved. 3 RECTOR'S REPORT. The Rector, Mr A. A. Adams, reported as follows: — "Primary Department.—Average roll number 270 boys and 265 girl*, total 535; average attendance 222 boys and 213 skis, total 435; average number of nbs'.atees, 100. "Secondary Department.—Ave'ago .'oil number 29 boys and 31 girls, U'Ufl 60; average attendance 26 boys and 30 gn'ls, total 56 ; average number of absentees, 4. . "Blaketown.—Average roll number 58 boys and 58 girls, total 116; average attendance 51 boys and 50 girls, total 101; average number of absentees, 15. "Miscellaneous.—Miss Skoglund resumed her duties on the 7th." The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. From Rector, thanking Committee for leave of absence.—Received. From Rector, in reply to complaint made by Mrs Lochore, alleging brutal punishment to her son inflicted by the headmaster. Mr Adams stated that two member* of the school staff reported a serious cape of stone throwing on the part of pupils of Standard 111. while they were proceeding frorri school: Stones were free. fJ thrown at various objects including tl 1 residence of a lady who forced to*i come ont and remonstrate with the bovs. Next day he (Mr Adams) gnve earn ofithc boys concerned on the hJJm This punishment was meted out m S? school. The stroke of the .trap on «3 same boy's-neck a week later was not given as punishment at al nor'had he or ariv other pupil been punished because of hesitation or stammering in answer to a . Son Mrs 'Lochore'* real grievance * was obviously that her son was punished i for-a "misdemeanor committed after school hours." "She is, happily, one o a very small number of persons now giving who hold that as soon as A pupil MjSmissed front school, he has carte blanche to misconduct himself at will' -Received. The Chairman - reported that Mrs ifchore had interviewed and written mm on the above complaint, and had referred to an account for £1 medical charges for attention to her son. Thef letter, also stated that she was directly requesting payment of the doctor's account from Mr Adams. - Mr Guinness moved that a copy of Mr Adams'' reply be sent to Mrs Lochore.--Seconded by.Mr Boucher and carrjsd, _ Mr Barrowman moved that the Chairman i of the. Education Board be asked to inform the Committee when a schbol master's jurisdiction over scholar* commences and ceases.—Seconded by Mr Tennent andteamed. • The reported in, regard, to leakage of attendance as between. High School ':-i and)Technical School, statins; that. 100 ■ pupils attending' *the -'. High School were enrolled-in r the cookery and woodwork classes.;l3fany of' those attending regularly at the ordinary school, however, did not ' attend regularly at Hk\ technical classes. '•.'■' Enclose,d.,wa«.a list;oi! absentees from the Cechiiical • •; A f letter from Mr Col Ville Cooli. on the ■'■,'.,above matter also received. Mr moved that the Committee recommprfd Mr Adams to assemble, the scholars at the main bidding.pn> the davs set. apart for ■'•• technical ; instruct l '*!**.:, fid inarcu|f||ißm in-,a•';body to the Technical .

School—Seconded by Mr Boucher and carried. A letter from the Education Board stated that another annual election of Board members would be held before the new Act comes into force.—Received and resolved to nominate Mr H. J. Jiignell as a candidate for this district. A further letter was received from the Board in regard to presentation of Seddon and Watkins' Memorial Medals.—Received. ' Mr Guinness moved that the presentation of medals take place at the main school during school hours; that the Mayor be asked to make the presentation; and that the public be invited to attend. —Seconded by Mr Barrowman and carried: GENERAL. Mr Parfitt moved that an Honors Board, containing the names of all expupils of the school who had enlisted for active service, be erected at the High School, instancing that a similar procedure had already been taken at the West Christcniirch school, and suggesting that the unveiling of the Board take place at the opening of the new school. The motion was seconded by Mr Forsyth, and, while the suggestion was approved, the majority of-members were of the opinion that the matter should be delayed till a later date, as the war, to use Mr Tennent'g phrase, was "only in its infancy." Mr Tennent said complaints had been made to him in regard to horses trespassing on the .school ground. Mr Barrowman thought such complaints should be made to the Committee in writing by the aggrieved persons.

No resolution in this connection was passed, in view of the resolution already on the books. The l 'nairman stated that the matter of organising sewing classes at the local schools so as to provide srticles, such ashandkerchiefs, etc., for v^-Tided soldiers., slipped his memory, but he would attend to the matter immediately. '