OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 201, 12 December 1876, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

A special meeting of the Schools Committee was called for last evening to consider the question of prizes at the forthcoming examinations, and also to receive the report of the Sub-Committee appointed to inquire into the working of the North School. Mr. Sumpter occupied the chair, and the following members of Committee were also present : —Messrs.Neil Flemingf John Falconer, Henry Aitken, C. Galbraith, T. Fairley, and A. J. S. Headland. The Rector of the Grammar School (Mr. Thornton), and the Head Master of the North School (Mr. Fleming) was also in attendance. The Secretary having read the minutes of the last meeting, and the outward and inward correspondence, Mr. Thornton, in accordance with instructions received at a previous meeting of Committee, presented a scheme for awarding prizes, should it be determined upon to alloc any at the coming examinations. The list was divided into the different classes, with the number and value of trophies to each class, numbering in the aggregate ninety-seven, and of the estimated value of £2O. The Master of the North School also submitted a list prepared for his school, in which he proposed giving seventy-four prizes and fortytwo Bmall books. Both schemes were received, but the Committee appeared decidedly averse to the wholesale distribution of the forty-two small books as proposed by Mr. D. Fleming. After a very lengthy discussion as to the advisability of giving prizes at all, Mr. Headland moved : given, and that a Committee be appointed to appeal to the public for subscriptions, in consequence of the Committee not having sufficient funds at their disposal for the purpose of awarding prizes, the income of the school being" barely sufficient to cover expenses." The motion was seconded by Mr. Aitken, and carried. Mr. Aitkbn moved, "That prizes, including certificates, be awarded by marks for aIT subjects excepting, writing, drawing (including mapping;, reading (including recitation), arithmetic (mental and written), and needlework ; and that prizes for the latter subjects be awarded by public competition." The motion was seconded by Mr. Headland, and carried. Sir. Fleming moved, " That the annual exhibition of the Oamaru Schools' pupils in the advanced classes, and distribution of prizes, take place on the evening of the 14th instant, commencing at seven o'clock." The. motion was seconded by Mr. Falconer, and carried. Messrs. Sumpter, Falconer, Headland, and Galbraith, were appointed a subcommittee to endeavour to obtain prizes, with full power to act. Mr. Tiiornton then retired. Before the Secretary read the report of the Sub-Committee with regard to the North School, Mr. D. Fleming was asked if he had any letter to hand in or statement to make, and also whether it was his wish to remain during the reading of the report. Mr. Fleming said he had no letter to present, but he would like to hear the minutes of last meeting read which bore upon his former letter. The Secretary leaving been so instructed then read the minute, when Mr. Fleming said that he wished, in a measure, to qualify a portion of its contents, as they appeared more harsh in some points than he had imagined. The Committee then conferred together as to whether it was advisable to have Mr. Fleming present during the reading of the report; but the majority were of opinion that he should be allowed to remain during the reading, and of course to withdraw during the after-dis-

cussion. '. The Secretary then read the following £ ' The Chairman and Members of the Oamaru School Committee.

" Gentlemen, As requested, your Committee beg respectfully to report as follows : —Assuming, in the first instance, that it is no part of your Committees duty i» any way to traverse the report

handed in by Mr. Petrie, they will simply endeavor to bring under your notice the cause or causes which, in their opinion, have occasioned the Inspector to hand in on the whole a report which, to say the least, speaks unfavorably of the present condition of the- school. On Wednesday, the 6th inst., your Committee visited the North School, and informed Mr. Fleming of their object. He remarked that he considered Mr. Petrie's report to be too sweeping in its character, and said that he desired that the school might be examined by- impartial examiners ; suggesting that he should select two teachers and the Committee two for that purpose. Your Committee pointed out that they considered, as members of Committee, they felt they themselves could but act in an impartial manner, and were simply desirous of protecting the interests of parents, pupils, and teachers ; and doing their best to discharge their duties as members of Committee, and therefore wished, as requested by the Committee, to investigate the matters entrusted to them. Owing to the statements made by Mr. Fleming at the last Cpmmittee meeting, your Committee deemed it advisable to ask directly, both from Messrs. Fleming and Todd, whether any misunderstanding had existed between them, the reply in either case being in the negative. Your Committee then desired Mr. Fleming to reiterate in the presence of Mr. Todd the statements he had made in reference to that gentleman before your Committee. He then said that he considered Mr. Todd's manner in teaching was far from pleasant, and that he, in some instances, was almost rude, and that he believed this to be his natural He also stated that he had not complained of this to Mr. Todd, nor had he suggested that he should endeavor to alter his style of teaching - , nor did he recollect pointing out any defects in that gentleman's method of teaching. As regards the complaint made to the Committee as to the noise made in Mr. Todd's room having a prejudicial effect on the teaching in other rooms, there seemed to be nothing to substantiate such a charge, as on one occasion only was Mr. i'odd's attention drawn to it. It may be here remarked that his class at the time was being taught the tables on the simultaneous system. Tiie accusation against Mr. Todd for destroying the tone of the school was not substantiated. The instances adduced by Mr. Fleming in support of the accusation were few and so crivial, that they are better omitted from this report. "Your Committee need hardly mention that they consider that the teaching power is inadequate to the number of the pupils attending the school, as this matter has frequently been brought under your notice, and although improvement in this respect has been desired by you, it has not been in your power to effect it. As you are aware, there is an attendance of 180, the teaching power being two male, one female, and one teacher. It was also apparent that taere was a great want of proper classification of the pupils. "In reply to questions, Mr. Todd said that he also thought, on the whole, that Mr. Petrie's report was too sweeping in its character, as, although he admitted that the education of a number of the pupils was very defective, yet in a great many instances it was very fair. He also stated that when he entered on his duties in the North School, the same remark might apply. Your Committee cannot help noting that Mr. Todd replied to the various questions put to him in a frank, temperate, and intelligent manner, and cannot endorse the opinions expressed of that gentleman by Mr. Fleming, but think that improvement of the children under his tuition may reasonably be expected.

" Miss Kernahan stated that there had been no dissatisfaction expressed, nor unpleasantness as regards school matters between herself and Mr. Fleming, nor had she been inconvenienced "by any noise or disorder in Mr. Todd's room. " Your Committee had another conference with Mr. Fleming, particularly regarding the statement that he would, not be responsible for the tone of the school if Mr. Todd remained. After consideration, he expressed himself as being desirous of withdrawing this statement, and also (with permission) the letter he had forwarded to the Committee. " We hardly deem it is in our province to suggest to the Committee what course to pursue, but would simply state that Mr. Fleming expressed himself as being desirous that no change should be made for th% present. "Your Committee, whilst placing this report in your hand, have only to express an earnest hope that Mr. Petrie's report, and the attention that has, througa it, been drawn to the present state of the school may have a most salutary effect, and that future reports may be of a far different character. " We have, &c., " George Sumpter, Convener. " Neil Fleming. "John Falconer. "A. J. S. Headland." At the conclusion of the report, Mr. Fleming took exception to the wording, and stated that it was put in a very glaring light. It was, however, pointed out to°him that the document was nothing more than a recital of what had taken place during the visit of the Committee, always in the presence of both masters, and consequently if there were anything of a glaring nature in the report there must have been in the working of the school to require its being embodied therein. The Chairman then asked Mr. Fleming if he were still desirous (as he'had admitted to the Committee on their visit) of withdrawing his letter, when that gentleman distinctly denied having used the term, stating that " willing" was the word he had used, not "desirous." This was, however, contradicted by every member

of the Visiting Committee, and the Chairman then pressed for a decided answer —■ "yes" or " no" —as to his (Mr. Fleming's) desire to withdraw the letter. Some delay was occasioned before an answer could bo obtained, Mr. Fleming being anxious to give further explanation as to the real meaning of his letter, but he was informed that he had been invited by the Committee on the occasion of their inspection o! the school to give his explanation in writing at its next meeting, and not having taken that course a decided point blank answer was pressed for. Mr. Fleming then said : " Now that the Committee have spoken to Mr. Todd, I am desirous of withdrawing the letter." The Chairman pointed out that the reservationi was not admissible, as the Committee had! not spoken to Mr. Todd, but it was moved that Mr. Fleming's answer as given be> received and acted upon afterwards. Before he retired, however, he asked permission to add on to a certain portion of the- letter the following words, as he certainly admitted as they stood they were rather abrupt and harsh:—"Unless he (Mr. Todd) co-operates more heartily for the future than-he has done in the past." He then withdrew. A letter was read from Mr. Thomas Ferens, with reference to the position of his daughter Sophia, Who is a pupil teacher in the North School. On the motion of Mr. Aitken, seconded by Mr. Galbraith, it was resolved that the report from the sub-Committee re North School, and the letter from Mr. Ferens„ be received and considered at a meeting of the Committee to be held at seven o'clock on Monday evening next.