SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 225, 27 February 1875, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

LYTTELTON. A meeting was held on Thursday night. Present—Messrs H. R. Webb (chairman), Grange, Hawkins, Wood, Allwright, and Drs Donald and Rouse. Correspondence was read from the Board, asking for a full statement of liabilities to date. The returns required were ordered to be made out by the secretary. Another letter was also read from the Board, asking for estimate of expenditure for the ensuing year. .. , , A report from Mr W. L. Edge, the head master, was then read. It ran as follows : “ To the Chairman of the Lyttelton “School Committee. n gi rj I have the honor to report that there are at present 600 children on the books, with an average attendance for the last four weeks of 440, “ I beg to call the attention of your committee to the unsatisfactory state of the classroom, it is, as at present arranged, almost useless for the purposes intended. I would suggest the removal of the present stationary desks and the 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 the main entrance, which is extremely inconvenient. Would it not be possible to erect a staircase in the rear of the building. “ In No 2 room, Mr Ross is compelled to arrange each of his classes in two divisions in consequence of the 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 necessary. “No 3 room, seated for 146 children, is altogether overcrowded, having a gross attendance of 295, with an average of 218. Even with the relief afforded by the partial use of the committee-room and the vestibule, the confusion caused by the presence of so many infants (over 100) renders effective teaching out of the question. The remark as to division of classes in No 2 room applies with equal force to this department. It is needlessfor me to point out to your committee that due provision for infant teaching has been entirely overlooked, I would suggest the 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 possible to utilise the space between the wings as a hat and cloak room ? the present accommodation being both insufficient and inconvenient—in fact, in No 2 room, the boys are compelled to keep their caps in the desks. “ The furniture, especially in No 1 room, is unsuitable, being made on one uniform plan for children of all ages; I may say that the first class find the desks too low and too narrow. The teachers also complain that therei is not sufficient,space for them to pass behind the children for the purpose of assisting them in their writing and other exercises. “ I have to recommend that a sum be set aside for the purchase of a small reference library for the use of the teachers, pupil teachers, and senior scholars—the school cannot even boast of the possession of a dictionary. “ Owing to the short notice I received, this report is necessarily incomplete. “ I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, “W. L. Edge.” “ Lyttelton Borough School, “ February 24th, 1875.” The report was considered seriatim and approved by the committee, and ordered to be forwarded to the Board. It was then proposed, seconded, and carried—“ That owing to the number of scholars on the books there is not sufficient accommodation for them, and it is imperative to provide it, and that therefore it is proposed to erect a detached building 60ft by 30ft for an infant school, the estimated cost being £2500.”