BLENHEIM SCHOOL COM. MITTEE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 108, 12 May 1896, Page 3

BLENHEIM SCHOOL COM. MITTEE.

The adjourned monthly meeting of the newly formed School Committee •was held last night. PresentMessrs J. T. -Robinson (chairman), Eayner, Tunnicliffe, Dixon, Green, Fuller, Stuart, and Browne. The ' Hoad Master reported that the average attendance at the Boys' School last month was 336, the roll number being 407. He asked that leave of absence be given to one of the pupil teachers, who had to undergo a surgical operation at an early date. It was decided to grant the necessary leave of absence. The Head Mistress reported that the average attendance at the Girls' School last month was 168. The roll number was 215. Mr Green remarked that the attendance at the schools during the month did not compare very well with the roll numbers. It was resolved to write and ask the teachers if they could give any reasons for the lack of full attendances. The Headmistress wrote that Ethel Massey, Trissie Compton, Annie Healy, Alice Litchfield, and Mary Brennan wished to act as probationers with the view of their becoming pupil teachers, and she asked the Committee to sanction their acting m this capacity. The Chairman pointed out that Ethel Massey and Annie Healy had been appointed pupil teachers by the Committee, and m the eyes of the Committee had already passed through the probationerohip. Miss Morgan knew this, and was also aware that this very matter, m which the Education Board and Committee had been m conflict even to the extent of a deadlock, was now under the consideration of the Supreme Court ; and yet m face of all this, she preferred the above request. The father of Miss Healy had assured him that he had heard nothing of the proposal to make this application for a probationership. After some discussion, m which some of the members strongly condemned the application ,qf the Head Mistress m regard to Misses Healy and Massey, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Green, to refer Miss Morgan's letter back for an explanation, as two ol the girls mentioned had already been appointed pupil teachers by the Committee. Mr Stuart brought up the matter of establishing the proposed school library. It was stated that if; was evident from the tone of their discussions, the Education Board did not recognise that the Committee were not asking for the full cost of the library, but a £ for £ subsidy .^ On the motion of Mr Green it wae resolved to inform the Board that they were awaiting a reply to theii application, and wished to pursue the movement without delay, Messrs J. B. Green and J. A. Fuller were appointed a Visiting Com* kmittee for the ensuing month. The action of, the Ohairmau m

ordering a ton of coal and half a cord of firewood for the schools during the winter was confirmed. Jt was resolved to procure two coal scuttles for the girls' school, The Visiting Committee were instructed to report upon the matter of furnishing the schools throughout with new chairs. The date of the monthly meeting was fixed as the Thursday before the day of meeting of the Education Board. The Committee then adjourned.