SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIIII, Issue 81, 7 April 1920, Page 7

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The final monthly meeting of the present Blenheim School Committee itras held; last evening. Mr E. H. [Penny occupiedl tho chair, and Messrs «. F. A. Whiteford. J. J. White, H. 3>obson, A. M. R. Mills, F. H. •Andrews, and W. Tyler were present. fPho head master of the Blenheim School 'Mr W." W. Rowntree) also (attended!. Th© headmaster's report was: "I Slave to report, that the roll numbers tend atted^nces at the- schools were: {Main school, present roll 457, average iroll 461, average attendance 422. InIfant school, present roll 161, average troll 156. average attendance 138. tßedwocdtown School, present roll 52, 'average roll 53, and average atftendlance 4o. rf The totais for the three Bohools were: Present roll 670, average roll €68, average attendance 605. }This is only 91 per cent, of the averteige roll, and is a. very low average in«deed for this time of the year. Thc> causes are probably general sickness (and influenza. "Owing to- the spread of influenza, {t consulted the chairman, reporting jfchjai four teachers andi 150 children lwere absent. On tho chairman's ad(vice the Bchool was .dosed! on Monday iafternoon, 29fch March.

"In connection with the proposed roll of honor, the staff is of opinion ithat a memorial in the shape of a Idrinking fountain would be bettor tthanta, board with «a list of names." Considerable discussion ensued upon jllie question as to whether the schools should be opened to-day or not. Several members stated that they had (been toll by various medical men fthat the schools should not open, but

ehould remain closed for at least a

tfortnight, as the influenza has by no means a<bated. "Eventually it was re(solved that the schoci should open as tasual, but that ir the a/ttondanco was ifcoo low ili6 chairman should comtaunicat© with the Wellington Educa--(fcion Board staiting the position, and lasking to be allo-ved' to clos© the jschools for a further period. The balance-sheet, showing a credit flbalanee, was read andl confirmed.

A letter was received from the Wellington Education Board, stating ithat all money to be paid to commit Ifcees which have savings • bank ac"cKx'unts would in future be paid into itho bank accounts, thus doing away rwith the use of cheqves andi the conse-

jquent extra trouble entailed. A letter, signed by several clergymen, was received, stating that they !had, as was their custom gone to the [Blenheim, school on Thursday before *the holidays to give religious instrucftion, and they had been refused ad-

mittance by the headmaster. Considerable feeling was expressed upon fthis matter, but Mr Rowntree ex-

jpladned that the inspector has noticed (fchaft half an hour for religious in-

istruction was set down upon the ffcime-table where it hiad no right to lappear, as the instruction was suptoosed to take place out of school liours. If the school were formally dismissed! at half-past eleven on /Thursday mornings, then the instrucJtion could take place till twelve o'clock. Tie stated that lie hod in-

etructions from the Education Board

tfco give 2o hours per week of secular jinsbruction to the children,, but as it rwas, h© would not be fulfilling the requirements of the Board by allowing (the religious instruction to bo held, jond he. was justified! in debarring the

ministers from entering the school, ilt was decided, however, that the religious instruction proceed as usual tuntdl the position was investigated. It was resolved that a recojmmendarttaon be made to the incoming committee with regard to the increasing Jof the secretary's salary. Satisfaction was v expressed at themanner in which the new caretaker

of the school, Mr R. Hope, discharges jhis fLnties.

Various accounts were passed for jpayment.