DEVON POUT SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9492, 23 April 1894, Page 6

DEVON POUT SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The Devonport. School Committee held a special meeting on . Friday evening last, when there were present: Messrs. O. Mays (chairman), Bartley, Mason, ~ Peacocke, Bennett, Dutton,.■; and Blandford. The draft report to be presented to the annual meeting this evening was read, and after a few additions and alterations had been made was adopted. After some routine business had been transacted Mr. P. H. Mason moved . a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman for his services during the year. Mr. J. Bennett and Mr. Dutton seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. , Mays said it had given him great pleasure to assist in the school work of the year. The following, is the committee'* report, which will be presented to the meeting of householders tonight :— Meetings: Nineteen meetings of the Committee were held during the year, and have been well attended, only one meeting having lapsed for want of a quorum. One member, Mr. Donaldson, having left the district, became disqualified for non-attendance. The Rev. Joseph Bates resigned his seat on the Committee, on the 12th instant, in a letter as follows :~t" Dear Mr. Mays,—Having been elected a member of the Board of Education I think it right to resign my position on the Devonpoet' School Committee. I can truly say that I retire with regret from what has been to hie a most interesting work. I have always considered it not merely a duty, but a privilege and an honour to do what I could to promote the: cause of education, and I have been thankful. for the opportunity afforded me by our District School Committee of rendering service to the community at largo. My connection with the Committee has been marked throughout with pleasant; memories, and now iu retiring I wish for the Committee increased useful- , ness and success,l am, etc., J. Bates." As ' you are aware Mr. Bates has always taken a deep interest in educational matters generally, and a member of the Committee for many years has done excellent service for this school. His election to a seat on the Board of Education has given general satisfaction, as he is known to be a true friend of our national system of education, and one who will guard its interests and extend its benefits in every way possible. Attendance: The number on the roll at the last annual meeting was 487, and the average attendance for the year 402. Notwithstanding the epidemic and measles and changes in the teaching staff the attendance during the past twelve months has been well maintained, the average number on the roll being 511 and the average attendance for the year 378. The present month, however, shows the largest attendance for a long time past, the number on the roll being 538, ancf the average 432. Teaching staff :in September last Miss Simpson, who had been for some years one of our most valued assistant teachers, wis at her own request promoted to the charge of a country school. In January last the headmaster, Mr. Alfred Benge, and the first assistant, Mr. Johnson Selby, left the school under circumstances with which you are all familiar. Pending the appointment of their successors, the school was placed in charge of Mr. James Grierson, assistant inspector, with Mr. Lane, first assistant. During the two months they were in charge the school was admirably conducted, Mr. Grierson especially proving himself an able and popular headmaster. Mr. Jamas Armstrong, an experienced teacher of high standing, has been appointed headmaster by the Board on our unanimous recommendation, and Mr. Semadeni, who also comes to us highly commended, has been selected as first assistant. The staff now consists of the headmaster, Mr. Armstrong; the first assistant, Mr. Semadeni; Miss Hume, Miss Burgess, Miss Hould, and Miss Smith, assistants; Mr. Darrow and Miss Kinjj3ford, ex pupil teachers; and Miss Aubin and Miss Kelly, pupil teachers. Owing to the increasing attendance, the committee has applied for another pupil teacher to assist in the work of the second standard, which is far too large for one teacher to manage. Standard examinations : Inspector Crowe examined the school in September, and his report is as follows :—I. Pass subjects: Per centage of passes, 86.9; per centage of failures, 13.1. 11. Class subjects: Grammar, 68 cent.; history, 76 per cent.; geography, 72 per cent.; elementary science, 72 per cent. 111. Additional subjects: Repetition and recitation, 85 per cent.; drill and exercise, 90 per cent.; singing and needlework, 85 per cent.; subject matter of reading lessons, 75 per cent. ' Instruction very good. These results are very satisfactory. Discipline, order, and tone good.— Richard Crowb, luspeotor of Schools. Buildings and grounds: On the application of the committee the Board has made special grants for painting the lower school, for new fencing on the northern boundary of the upper school, for repairs to teacher's house, and for concreting a portion of the playground. Altogether about £100 has been expended in these improvements during the year, and the property is now in fairly good order. The whole of this work has been done under the voluntary supervision of Mr. Ed. Bartley, to whom the committee and the householders are much indebted for many similar services in previous years. School Exhibition :j In the Joarly part of last year the committee resolved to hold an exhibition of work done by the present and former pupils of the school, which exhibition should take tho place of that started by the teachers of Trinity Church Sunday-school some years ago. The Rev. Joseph Bates and Mr. G. Peacocke undertook the supervisiou of the botanical, geological, andconchological sections. Mr. Edward Bartley gave many nights to the instruction of the boys in joinery, < mechanical appliances, and drawing. Mr. Dunning gave a number of lessons in the art of boat modelling, and the lady teachers did excellent service in the sewing, knitting, painting, and fancy work departments generally. In all sections of the exhibition the bulk of the work was very good, and a pleasurable surprise to the large number of parents and others who visited the display during the two days it was open. A considerable number of handsome were awarded for the more successful exhibits in each class. During the exhibition Mr. Bartley displayed the powers of his splendid microscope. Mr. Crosher delighted all with his electrical apparatus, and Mr. Dutton gave I an interesting exhibition of oork-cutting. ; Swimming snorts: By the kind permission of the Harbour Board the annual swimming sports were held in the Calliope Dock, and were a great success in every way. About £6 was expended in suitable prizes, including the school medal for the championship. The committee thank the teachers and the public of Devonport for so promptly and cheerfully contributing towards the prize fund. Technical instruction : It is generally admitted that the great want of our time is some system of technical instruction in our primary schools. Owing, however, to the large number of subjects included in the present school syllabus there are practical difficulties in the way of making such instruction part of the prescribed school course. It is therefore proposed by the committee to afford facilities to the pupils of the school to acquire a certain amount of technical training out of the regular school hours by establishing a workshop in the basement of the lower school building. Here it is hoped a great deal of voluntary teaching will be given by competent instructors in various brandies of technical work, and it is thought that many residents of Devonport will be glad to assist in contributing towards the cost of fittings and tools for the workshop, materials, and so forth. The new head master, we understand, contemplates devoting the time allowed by the syllabus for the study of elementary science to a special i course of instruction in chemistry and the science of mechanics. Both the head master and committee look forward to materially increasing the supply of scientific apparatus, so that the lessons maybe as experimental and practical as possible. The committee feel it their duly once more to call the attention of parents to the great importance of regularity of attendance of pupils even if at times a certain amount of inconvenience has to be borne, in order to avoid the disadvantages to a child's educational progress, and the disorganisation of the work of the whole school, caused by frequent absence of pupils from their places in class. (For the committee), Oliver Mays, Chairman.