NEW SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4200, 27 January 1885, Page 2

NEW SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

GISBORNE-

Tee annual meeting of the Gisborne School Committee was held in the Schoolhouse last night. There was a very large att ndance. Mr DeLautour was voted to the chair.

The Inspector's report, the Committee's report, and the balance sheet (already published) were read.

Mr Cresswell asked how many years it would be before the children were likely to get the play-ground which the public has subscribed £80 for. He understood there were some leases to run out before the ground could be taken over. Mr D. Johnston said it would be five years before the whole of the ground could be taken over. They could get a portion of it at any time. Those who subscribed towards purchasing the ground •were told there were some leases to run out.

Mr File asked who received the rent for the ground in the meantime. Mr D. Johnston said the Napier Education Board did.

Mr J. Somerville, in moving the adoption of the Committee's • report and bal-ance-sheet, said it reflected great credit on the teachers and the children to see the high per-centage of marks obtained. It was also noticeable that the Gisborne girls were always successful in carrying off some of the sewing prizes. Mr Dickson seconded.

Mr DeLautour said he quite agreed with Mr Somerville that the report was a very creditable one. Not only were the teachers very able ones, but there was the fact that they all pulled together for the good of the school (Hear, hear), and hence they had the good results for which they could not be too thankful. One thing he would like to mention, although it was a very small matter and one which when spoken of would be attended to at once. He thought the pupil teachers should be reminded that education should be led by the mind and not by the body. In every school the small children were in a way intimidated by the larger and stronger ones. But let not the pupil teachers add to the tyranny. The rule was that a pupil teacher should not touch a pupil, but he had heard that that rule was not strictly carried out.

The report was then unanimously adopted.

Mr Dickson said with reference to the pupil teachers he thought it only right that it should be brought under the notice of Mr Morgan and Mr Bull. He was sure they would not allow the pupil teachers to touch a child.

Mr Morgan said pupil teachers were strictly prohibited from touching a child, and when they did so and it was brought under his notice they were severely reprimanded. If a par nt was to send a noce to him that a child had been beaten it would at once be attended to.

Mr DeLautour aaid it would not tend towards the child's comfort if a parent were to make such a complaint. (Hear, hear.)

Mr Dickson said when Mr Morgan first took over the school his child came home and made complaints as to his strictness. If the children were to be taught he knew the master must be upheld, therefore he sent them to school . Now the child would go to no other school. (Hear, hear.) Mr* J. Browne proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Committee for the various duties they had performed. They had heard of no complaints, but that the school was carried on in an excellent way by the principal and his able staft of teachers. He did not think that they could do better than re-elect the Committee that evening. — Mr Sigley seconded, and said that not only had the teachers done their duty, but he was also glad to see the Committee had looked after the finances.

The following gentlemen were then nominated as Committee men : — D. Johnston, J. W. Nolan, A. Y. Ross, A. Taylor, M. Hall, F. Butt, J. Somerville, J. Sigley, W. L. File, and T. Faram.

A poll was taken with the result that the following seven were elected : — A. Y. Ross, 86 ; D. Johnston, 73 ; A. Taylor, 50 ; J. Somerville, 49 ; J. Sigley, 46 ; M. Hall, 41 ; J W. Nolan, 38.

The Committee then met and Mr Johnston was re-elected Chairman and Mr Piesse, Secretary.

The next meeting will bo held in the Custom-house to-morrowweek.