Hawera School Committee.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2348, 9 February 1893, Page 2

Hawera School Committee.

A meeting of tbe Hawera School Com. mittee was held on Wednesday evening • present — Messrs. Brunette, Jackson! Martin, Whitiington, and Patkinßon (chairman). It was reported that there waa a net balance on the prize fund and entertdf; ment of £14 18s, bat more than this ram would be required to pay for tbe improvements which had been moied'oni. Tbe report was adopted. Mr. T. Hutchison wrote forwarding the resignation of his seat on the committee Mr. McNanght wrote asking fot a testimonial. The committee resolved to give a testimonial to the effect that Mr. MoNaught had served in tbe/sohoot about six weeks, and that the commitWtV had no record of anjr complaint against

A similar application was received from Miss Prendergast, who iad served for about three years in tb* Behool. The committee decided to gift a certificate to the effect that Misb Prendergast's work was very satisfactory; that Bheseouredft good percentage of passes; ani that her conduct and example were of value to the 800001. Kesolved that the chairman prepare and forward to Mr. Mair a testimonial expressive of the highest appreciation of his services. ' * The head teacher asked for definite instructions as to what was to be 'dons in the matter of supplies of stationery for sohool. The quarterage- money came ia* very irregularly, and was insufficient in amount ; and if the ohildren wereleft to*' ?n?? n ?? ly J - t i em , selv6B the various qualitiei\ led to difficulty. * Mr. Branette thought that thenarentß might very well find the trifieJHKsd by quarterage money. * »^-*» Mr. Jackson objected, and said that as the education w«b supposed to be free there should be no charge of the kind. He also complained that the books were changed too frequently. He moved thai the board be informed that the- parents of children objeot to pay quarterage. ]£ r. Brunette said that some people cfi* not~«ina paying-high fees to a private school, bufe objected to pay even for stationery used at a public sohool. Mr. Martin thought the point was that some parents paid and others did not, and the former naturally objected to keep on paving. - , r The motion not having been seconded, The Chairman said that it was of no use appealing to the board, for they had no responsibility in the matter, nor had the committee. It rested entirely with the parents, but it seemed that the only way out of the trouble was. for the committee to assume the liability. He moved that the committee provide stationery. It was estimated than die cost would be £8 or £10 a year. Snob a sum could not be paid out of the capitation allowance from the board, and the only thing to be done was to make a more general canvass for subscriptions at the end of the year and if necessary curtail the expenditure on prizes,

Mr. Jackson seconded, and the motion was carried.

The head teacher wrote that owing to the understaffed condition of tbe sebooL and the frequent illnesses of members of the staff, the work of the school is seriously ' injured, and is already falling into arrears.

The Chairman said tbat he saw by tbe papers, bat had no official intimation, that Miss George bad been promoted from cadet to pupil teactrer, but ibis did nofc increase the number of tbe staff, and, if ingenious, was scarcely satisfactory, because it did not remove tbe difficulty. It was unanimously resolve^ on the motion of Mr. Martin, seconded by "Mr Whittington, that the Board be informea tbat tbe teaching staff at the sohool is, in the opinion of the committee, insufficient * that there is not; a teaoher for eaoh room ; that the work of tbe aobool ie suffering in consequence ; and that tbe Board be requested to deal with the matter. ._•.*,. A few accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting-adjourned.