EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS. NORTH-EAST VALLEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 549, 7 June 1862, Page 5

EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS. NORTH-EAST VALLEY.

A public meeting was held in this district for the purpose of electing a School Committee, on the 2nd June inst.; about 30 of the inhabitants were present. Mr. J. W. Switzer in the chair.

Mr. J. S. Douglas thought before electing a Committee, they should read the ordinance, it being a new one, and see what responsibilities they were taking upon themselves. This being agreed to, Mr. Douglas read the ordinance, ami "after some discussion the following gentlemen were agreed to as a Commitee : —

Mr. J. W. Switzer, Mr. Peter Lindsey, Mr. James Hunter, Mr. William Chapman, Mr. Andrew Robertson, Mr. John Duncan, Mr. Robert M'Dowal, Mr. Hugh M'Fadgen, and Mr. Andrew Watson.

On the motion of Mr. Chapman, seconded by Mr. Hunter, it was then agreed that the Committee would like to hear the opinion of the inhabitants as to the teacher, as he had been given to understand there were several complaints by the heads of families that they were not satisfied with the teaching. Mr. Douglas moved a vote of confidence in the teacher. Mr. M'Dowal seconded it. The Chairman and several thought it best to have the school teacher before them.

Mr. Stewart, the school teacher, said he would be most happy at all times to forward the wishes of the Committee, and the reason that many parents thought their children were making no progress, arose from, his system of teaching -, there had been anew system which he adopted as being best calculated to facilitate that object. If the parents would only take the trouble to help him with their children at home, it would greatly assist to develop that system. Mr. J. S. Douglas thought the explanation of the school teacher more than satisfactory. Mr. Chapman in explanation, said he had no wish to call in question the teaching of the school master, and he would, therefore, as the head of a family, move the vote of confidence.

Seconded by about half a dozen.

Mr. Stewart, the schoolmaster, represented thai; he had £4 in his hands for tho Sabbath School Library, and as the Aldinga would be just about going, he thought it would be as well to send for books by her for the library. No decision was conic to on this point, as the meeting thought the children could not reap any benefit from it at present. — Communicated.