GREYMOUTH MAIN SCHOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 July 1932, Page 5

GREYMOUTH MAIN SCHOOL

MEETING OF COMMITTEE TRANSFER OF PUPILS OPPOSED At the monthly meeting of the Grey Main School Committee held last evening there were present, Messrs R. A. Barrowman (chairman), A. V. Olliver, H. Herring, J. Tennent, R. J. Williams, A. J. Fairmaid, G. Herring, and W. Scott (Secretary). A deputation, consisting of Messrs F. E. Stent, G. Ellery, C. Burr and V. Barton, from Blaketown residents, waited on the committee to protest against the transfer last Tuesday, of the children of Standard 11. in the Blaketown School, to the Main School. Mr. Stent said there was strong feeling in Blaketown against the transfer of the pupils. He understood that there were over eighty children attending the Blaketown school, fifteen of whom were in the second standard. It was a great deal further for children to go to school to Greymouth, and this was a hardship, particularly at this time of the year. He believed that owing to the bad weather’ only about eight of the children had attended at the school, and he did not see that the Main School attendance would be in-ci-eased much, until after the next three months, the worst months of the year. Various parents in Blaketown had informed him that they were not in a position to provide their children with proper footwear for them to go to Greymouth. At Blaketown it was different, as the children had, at the most, only half a mile to walk. The parents of the transferred pupils had also to provide lunch for them as they could not possibly walk home, have lunch, and be back in time for school, and a cold lunch in such weather, as the present, was not in the interests of the children’s health. The trouble appeared to be that the Education Board would not provide the extra teacher necessary ■ for the Blaketown School, with the result that one had to be sent there from the Main School, or the children transferred. There had been considerable difficulty in getting the school at Blaketown, and it was now up to the committee to keep it there. Mr. Ellery said that a petition had been taken round Blaketown, and eighty-five parents of children attending the Blaketown School had signed it, as a protest against the transfer. They did not wish to place the blame op anyone in particular, and all they knew was that the children of Standard 11. had been told to report at the Main School within so many days. The roll number at Blaketown for the term ended May 6, was 88, with an average attendance of 81.1, the attendance being affected as the result of children being absent with whooping cough. The ages of the children to be transferred ranged from-seven to nine years.

Messrs Burr and Barton also spoke against the transfer. The Headmaster (Mr. J. Graham) said that he had been

ORDERED BY THE BOARD to send one of the teachers from the Main School to Blaketown, but, as at Blaketown they had not a large enough average attendance to keep a third teacher, he hesitated to carry out the order. If he sent the teacher to Blaketown it would mean that at the end of the term she would be dismissed, owing to insufficient average attendance, and there would be no chance of having her re-appointed to the Main School. He therefore, asked the advice of the Inspector, Mr. S. J. Irwin, who said that the only thing to do, in order to save the teacher, was to transfer the pupils of Standard 11. at Blaketown to the Main School. He saw the Chairman and some members of the Committee about the matter, and then ordered the transfer. He pointed out that, if a teacher were to be sent from the Main School, the only possible one, would be from the Standards I. and 11., and this would then leave a class of 82 in charge of only one teacher at the Main School. This would not be fair to the pupils or to the teachers, and in addition, there was not a room in the school large enough to accommodate such a large number comfortably. He acted in all good faith in deciding on -the transfer. as he considered it was in the best interest of both schools. The reason why he had had to make the transfer at the present time was because he had to send to the Board the classification schedule. Mr. Stent said the people of Blaketown would like to assist Mr. Graham, but not in transferring the pupils. Efforts should be made to have the Board appoint another teacher. The Chairman: We have been trying to impress on the Board for the last eighteen months, the necessity for another teacher, without success.

The Secretary said that since 1928 the roll numbers at Blaketown had been going down. Mr. Williams said he would like to enter a protest against the action of Mr. Graham in speaking to only some members of the committee and Mr. Irwin, and then carrying out the transfer. It was not right that only a few members should be consulted. The matter should have been placed before the whole committee. He was quite disgusted to know that so much work was done by some of the com.mitt.ee, without the knowledge of the rest of them. He was of the opinion that the children should be left at Blaketown, at least, until the weather ‘improved. He moved that the pupils of the second standard at. the Blaketown school continue there, until some scheme other than the transfer is devised.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Tennent. He said that the school was established at Blaketown to keep the second standard there, and the Committee would be breaking faith with the Blaketown people’ if they allowed the transfer. He would like to enter his emphatic protest against the children being brought to the Main School, and considered that every pressure should be brought to bear on the Education Board, and even the Minister of Education, to see that the pupils were left there. The Secretary: If the children remain at Blaketown, must, we transfer a teacher from the Main to the Blaketown School, unless we can get another teacher from the Board ? Mr. Graham said that that was the position. He had received instructions to transfer a teacher to Blaketown. The transfer of pupils would be only until the end of the year.

In reply to Mr. Tennent, Mr. Graham said that the committee would

have to find £3O to get another teacher for Blaketown. Replying to Mr. H. Herring, the [Headmaster said he was quite likely to be dismissed if he did not comply with the Board’s wishes. In answer to i Mr. Fairmaid, Mr. Graham said that the average attendance at Blaketown was not sufficient, according to the rules of the Board, for another teacher to be appointed there. If one were sent there from the Main School she would be dismissed, and would then be lost to both schools. Messrs H. Herring and Olliver also spoke against the transfer, and the motion of Messrs Williams and Tennent was then carried unanimously. Mr. Stent said that the committee could rely on the utmost assistance from the Blaketown people in their efforts to get an extra teacher. When the deputation had withdrawn, Mr. Graham said there was no chance of getting another teacher. The only thing that could be done was to transfer a teacher from the Main School. He had had his orders and would have to carry them out. Mr H. Herring moved that Mr. Graham ignore his instructions, and keep the teacher at the Main School and that the Board be notified that, in so doing, Mr. Graham is acting according to the committee’s instructions. Mr. Tennent seconded the motion He said that he had every confidence in Mr. Graham, as he knew also had the other members of the committee, and he would like to see him given carried unanimous-

15 Mr Williams said that Mr should have informed the Committee that he was making the transfer. Mr Graham: I did inform the Ci Mr Williams: What is the good of the Committee if the Chairman a Headmaster are going to ru , show? The whole Committee should lijLV© boon consulted. ‘The Chairman said he did not know that the transfer had actually taken place, until he was told by some Blaketown people. In reply to Mr Williams, the Headmaster said that he had power to arrange the teaching staff as he wished. The Chairman said that all matters in connection with the schools, had been before the Committee, including the letter ordering the transfer of a teacher to Blaketown. The transfer of the pupils had been an urgent matter, and that was the first time it had been discussed. The Secretary said that if the pupils were transferred from Blaketown to the Main School to keep up the average, and maintain the teacher, they could be returned at the end of the year, and continue for another twelve months as at present. No teacher would then be lost. The hardship was merely a temporary one.

HEADMASTER’S REPORT. The Headmaster, Mr J. Graham reported as follows for the month: Roll number—Main, boys 301, girls 281, total 582; Blaketown, boys 49, girls 42, total 91. Average attendance —Main, boys 275, girls 253, total 528; Blaketown, boys 41, girls 34, total 75. In both schools, in the Infant Department especially, the attendance has been seriously affected by an epidemic' of colds. During the month teachers and pupils have been very busy assisting to raise funds in-aid of the Hospital and Schools’ Queen. To date £lB/7/- has been collected from the sale of tickets. The Pound Day, held last week, was a great success, and I desire to thank all parents and others for their contributions. The choir (ninety voices) under the able baton of Mi’ F. J. Tempero, continues to do very good work. Several practices per week are being held in order to prepare items for the Shakespjearean Recital on August 2, and also for the local Competitions held during the spring vacation. Mr N. B. Clarke, accompanist, is rendering valuable assistance. We specially desire to thank Mr H. Herring for supplying to the choir printed song sheets which facilitate in no small degree the work of the choirmaster. For the winter months a Pupils’ Cocoa Club has been formed, and all who desire may obtain a hot cup of cocoa at noon. The urn supplied by the Committee is proving itself very beneficial to the Club and the school generally. Requirements: The fire grate in Mr Tempero’s room requires replacing.— The report was adopted. On the motion of Messrs Williams and Tennent, it was decided that Messrs Herring, Olliver, and Fairmaid act as a sub-committee to report as to the best method of honouring the memory of the late CoE W. S. Austin, who had served the school for many years, both as a teacher and as an inspector.