OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1165, 10 January 1880, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

— l ——♦ ■— "A meeting of the Oamaru Schools Committee was held last evening in Mr. Hardy's office, when there were presentsMessrs. IST. Fleming (in the cliair), Smith, Montagu, and Hardy (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read -and approved. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Education Board with reference to the erection of a residence for the master of the North School, stating that the question had been considered by the Board, and that they had decided to refer the matter- to its : Finance Committee, who would consider it at its next meeting. With reference to the appointment of a matron for the High School, the Education. Board; wrote intimating .that .they would advertise in the usual manner; also, that the* application for teachers fop.Oamaru could not be. considered until the quarterly returns came to hand. A circular was read from the Education Board intimating that the. annual • election for School Committees would take place on the 26tli January. It was decided to allow the matter of the nomination of two members to represent Oamaru on the Education Boaid to stand over till the next, meeting.. . A letter was read from Mr. Rice, head master of the South School, complaining of want of accommodation in the school, and stating that it was very inconvenient, as it was impossible for him to teach the pupils in. the usual manner... He stated that the Government allowancs for the school was 245 pupils, but he had on his list no less than 287. The Chairman and Messrs. Smith and. Fleming were appointed to wait on Mr. Pryde and Mr. Somerville (who are at present in Oamaru) with reference to the matter of a new building for the South School. .It was also resolved to forward Mr. Rice's letter to the Education Board.

Mr. Flood, assistant teacher of the South School, forwarded his resignation. It was resolved to allow the tenders for painting..the North and High Schools to stand over for the present. The President, Treasurer, and Secretary were appointed a Committee to draw up the annual report. The Sub-Committee appointed to consider the causes of the falling off in the attendance at the High School, reported as follows :

, Gentlemen,—Your Sub-Committee, appointed to enquire into the cause of the falling off in the attendance at the District High School, and generally into matters connected with that school, have now to report that, after due investigation, they find that taking a period of two years, just ended, the falling off is but trifling, as shown by copies of the quarterly returns, which your Committee herewith attach ; and the causes of the fall ng off where otherwise a progressive increase of attendance might be looked for, are of various origin, but the falling off is chiefly due to the establishment of a school in the south district, and more especially the efficient condition arrived at in the North School, as previous to these results, many children residing at the north and south end of the town were in the habit of attending the High School, and in addition to the above the District High School is probably at some disadvantage in being placed in the business part of the town where the population is not so entirely resident. At the same time your Committee are not convinced that the causes above referred to satisfactorily account for the non-progres-sive condition of the school. Your Sub-Committee enclose for your consideration a letter they have received from the Rector, detailing a scheme he has drawn out for the more efficiently rendering his school, in deed as in name, a District High School. Your Committee most cordially agrees with the changes proposed therein, and would strongly recommend that in the annual report to be laid before the householders at the meeting on the 26th inst., the incoming Committee be asked to give the Rector every assistance. W. J. Smith, Convener.

The report was adopted, and it was resolved that the thanks of the Committee be recorded on the minutes to the subcommittee for the careful manner in which they had prepared the report. Letters were read from the Rector of the High School to the convener of Sab-Com-mittee, enumerating a number of changes the writer contemplated making in the school curriculum, and concluding with a hope that these changes would be approved of by the Committee, and that the School Committee and the public would grant him every necessary assistance in establishing as thorough a high school system as is possible under the present regulations of the Education Act. A number of accounts were passed for payment, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.