DISTRICT SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 140, 30 May 1911, Page 7

DISTRICT SCHOOL COMMITTEE

NAPIER. In the Napier Alain School last evening a meeting of the Committee was held. Fresent: Air. C. H. Edwards (chairman), Alesdames Al. Fossey, FL Oldham, and Al. E. Theakst-one, Messrs E. P. Smyrk. J. C. Thomson, J. H. Thompson, Rev. J. K. Archer and Dr. Caro. THE HEADMASTER’S REPORT. The Headmaster (Air. J. Hislop) reported that the school had reopened yesterday, after the term holiday, with an attendance of 725 out of a roll number of 780. Since last meeting the average attendance had been 728. The storm and flood were responsible for the drop in the attendance. —Received. CORRESPONDENCE. Air. J. Vigor Brown, ALP., wrote stating that he had received a copy of the resolution passed at the annual meeting of householders dealing with the manner of electing members to the Education Board. He stated that he would have great pleasure in doing all that was possible in supporting the resolution when it came before the House. — Received. The Education Board wrote notifying the committee that the interior painting of the school would be done as soon as the board’s painters were available. —Received.

The Education Board wrote stating that the matter of providing fire escapes had been referred to the board’s foreman to report upon. —Received. In reply to a letter from the committee, the Borough Council wrote stating that the blockage in the sewer in Alilton road near the Main School had been referred to the Borough Engineer to have the matter dealt with. —Received. BOYS ON MILK-CARTS.

Air. R. T. Bailey, factory inspector, wrote stating that he had forwarded the question of boy labour on milk-carts to the Chief Inspector for his opinion. A further letter was written stating that under the Shops and Offices Act boys were eligible for work on milkcarts from 4 o’clock in the morning, and that nothing could be done in the matter.

Dr. Caro said that he had inquired from the headmaster, and found that there was no perceptible difference in the work done by the milkboys as compared with that done by the other pupils. The Rev. J. K. Archer characteristically stated that this was “All my eye.'-’ ’While giving Bible instruction he noticed a boy who had been out on the milk-cart, and he was certainly not as fresh and bright as the others. The majority of the members of the committee were of this opinion, and it was decided that the matter should be deferred for future consideration, so that an amendment of the Shops and Offices Act could be brought before the Government. GENERAL. For the supply of stationery, Messrs. Howe Bros.’ tender of £34 16/6, being the lowest, was accepted. The visiting committee reported that two of the rooms had developed very bad leaks. Also that the platforms at the back doors needed attention as an accident might easily happen from their rotten state. A slip had occurred. All these and one or two other minor matters were received and are to

be referred to the board. The inattention of the janitor in looking af.ter the school properly, was also commented upon and it was decided that a letter be seat drawing his attention to the fact. The matter of petty pilfering in the school had of late increased very greatly and something should be done. The merry-go-rounds had some slight Breakages and were of no use. A letter to De sent to the Mayor asking for some duplicate parts. This report, which was very full and interesting, was received. Airs. Fossey and Mr. J. C. Thompson were elected a visiting committee for the coming month. Miss L. A. Smale, who has for a long time been a pupil teacher at the Napier District School, was elected to the position of assistant lady teacher rendered vacant by Aliss Hannay’s promotion. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. Air. G. Crawshaw, the secretary of the Education Board, wrote forwarding the inspector’s report on the result of his visit to the school. He also requested that matters mentioned in the report as needing attention should be brought before the notice of the headmaster. In the Inspector’s report it was stated “that the difficulty of satisfactorily organising a school of such large classes has been dealt with as well as circumstances permit. The work appears to be equitably distributed among the members of the staff. All registers and records are kept in accordance with requirements.” The regularity was very good. The tables and schemes of work for the term just ending are all in working order. Order and manners and behavious of pupils in and out of the school are highly satisfactory. Playground supervision is exercised by teachers in rotation and is efficient in operation. Room and out-offices are clean and tidy, but the interior of the building is badly in need of paint. A schedule of the examination passed by the teachers of the school was also submitted. SURPRISE VISITS. Before the report of the visiting committee was read the Rev. Archer stated that the methods of school inspection in his opinion were very unsatisfactory. The members of the committee made a point of visiting the school once at the end of each month. All knew when they were coming ; he did not say there was preparation, but there might be. The speaker stated that he was a member of a school board in England and he had a right to visit the school at any time he liked. The chairman in reply stated that there was a fixed idea in the minds of some members that they could only visit at certain times. They could visit any time they wished. Dr. Caro said he was glad this' matter had been brought up, as last year he understood clearly that he would be intruding if he visited the school other than at the end of the month. The meeting then adjourned.