SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 127, 21 July 1911, Page 8

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A LITTLE DIFFERENCE. At the meeting of the Stratford School Committee on Tuesday evening, before the minutes were read, the headmaster (Mr Tyrer) made a brief statement, as to what had taken place between himself and the Board regarding the new school, he inadvertently remarking that the chairman had consented to the shifting of the shelter-sheds from their present position to a more convenient site along the Juliet Street boundary. In connection with this last matter, Mr 11. H. Cameron, one of the visiting committee for the month, was about to make some remarks, when the chairman called him to order and requested the secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting, intimating that he himself proposed bringing up tiio matter of his visit to the school that day later on.

After the visiting committee’s report had been read, in which .mention was made of the necessity of shifting the shelter-sheds, Mr Sole stated that Mr Tyrer had rung him up that morning and urgently requested him to go down to the school. He really did not know what the headmaster wanted, but jumped into his trap and went down, when he was informed that the men working at the rebuilding of the school were waiting for instructions to shift the shelter sheds. He at once gave the necessary instructions.

Mr Cameron: When T am appointed a member of the visiting committee Ido not care to be ignored. Mr Sole has the telephone, and lie could have rung Mr Smart or myself up. The Chairman; As a matter of fact I did not know who the visiting committee were. I can’t always carry their names in my head. Mr Cameron; That is not a very satisfactory explanation. You arc next door to the secretary’s office, and could easily have ascertained the names of the visiting committee for the month. I paid my visit of inspection to the school during the morning, but found that the chairman had taken matters out of our hands. The case was not so urgent as represented, and I for one think the School Committee should have a say in where the shelter sheds should be placed. The Chairman; It was purely a question for the Education Board. Mr Butcher; I quite agree with Mr Cameron. The chairman is too fond of interfering with matters The Chairman: Name one instance. Mr Butcher: I cannot call one specially to mind just now, but it is a fact all the same. The Chairman: If you cannot call an instance to mind, you have no right to cay anything about, it. Mr Stewart: I agree with Mr Cameron’s contention that when a visiting committee is appointed the members should be consulted on all matters affecting the school that require to come before the general committee.

Mr J. W. McMillan: I understand that hitherto the chairman has been looked to to attend to all school matters. Nevertheless I think that it is manifestly unfair that the visiting committee should be ignored. In future it would be as well if the headmaster were furnished with the names of the visiting committee each month, and ho could communicate with them when anything required doing. The matter then dropped.