SCHOOL COMMITTED

Temuka Leader, Issue 2468, 23 February 1893, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTED

GBRALDES'B. The monthly meeting of the above school committee was held on Tuesday evening. Present—Messrs W. Walton (chairman), T. Sherratt, Gore, Boughton, Groves, MeGaskey, Bowketfc, and Newport. INCIDENTALS. The Education Office »o;fcsed that the sum of £9 2s Od was paid to the boavd'a credit for incidentals. EDUCATION BOARD. It was decided to vote for the following for election to the South Education Board :-Rev. J. White (Pleasai?:- l ° mt >» W ,% P Wve ? (Temuka), and G.H.Ux7 ,,am (Ww^awi. HEAD MASTER'S REPORT. Tlie head master reported that the school was opened on January 23rd with an attendance of : Boys, 95 ; girls, 102 ; total, 197. The average attendance for the quarter to date waa: Boys } 90.4 j

girls, 98.8; total, 189.2. In January they sent forward three candidates for junior scholarships, one of whom, Harrietts McKibbin, was successful in obtaining one, Patrick Burke, obtained over 50 per cent, of the total marks, thus qualifying for a scholarship. THE VISITORS. The visiting committee reported that everything wa3 working satisfactorily at the school, and that they had been asked « to make some arrangements for having a ; portion of the school-ground levelled for drill purposes.—The committee decided that the funds were not sufficient to have the work in question done. Messrs L. Newport and Gore were appointed visitors for the ensuing month and the meeting terminated. TEMUKA. The monthly meeting of the above was held on Thuesday evoniug. Present— Messrs W. Storey (chairman), Levens, T. F. Hooper, Salmond, Russell, and Bates. INTERVIEW. Mr D. Ferguson, the head master, waited upon the committee and was introduced by the chairman to the members individually. In reply to questions, he expressed his opinion with regard to permission being given to children of tender age leaving the school temporarily at the call of nature,affirming the desirability of such a course, and he also expressed the opinion that the amount of home lessons might be curtailed when he had been given a fair opportunity of judging the requirements of the several standards. cadet corps and general. The chairman stated that he had I arranged for a supply of extra desks as applied for at a previous meeting. Mr Levens stated that as arranged, he had in conjunction with the chairman and Mr Salmond,interviewed the head master in connection with the cadet corps. He found that Mr Ferguson had been duly gazetted captain, and Mr B. H. Low lieutenant.

Mr Salmond stated that it would be necessary for application to be made to the Defence Minister for permission to have the fund at present lying to the credit of the corps at the Bank of New Zealand operated upon by the captain of the corps, and it was agreed that the secretary make the necessary application. Mr Ferguson stated that the amount to the credit of the cadet corps was £l9 19s lid, and that he had been duly gazetted as captain. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was received From The Education Board, notifying the payment of £ll 7s 6d, to the credit of the board for incidentals for the current quarter. From the Head Master, re stationery requisites. The chairman to obtain same. RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. The following letters were received re Bible instruction : " The Parsonage, " Temuka, February 11th, 1893. " To the Chairman Temuka District High School C/ommittee, " Dear Sir, —I beg to apply to your Committee for permission for the Revs. i Dellow, Butterfield, and myself, to religious instruction in your schoolroom after school hours on Friday afternoons. We shall esteem it a favour if the head master can close the school at 3.15 on Friday afternoons. We propose to teach the children in standards, not to form classes according to the denominations to which the children belong, and, of course, the teaching will be unsectarian. The Rev. Mr Dickson has been asked to join us in this work, and we regret that he is unable to do so.—l am, etc., " W. E. Gillam." " The Manse, « Temuka, February 21st, 1893. " To the Committee of Temuka High School. " Gentlemen, —I understand that a request is being made that you grant facilities for the communication of religious instructions by the various ministers of Temuka in connection with the school of which you are committee. I wish to say that I, for one, do not join in this request, although I am in favor,of the Education Act being so amended as to permit the Bible being read by the teachers themselves. I believe an attempt is being made in some quarters all over New Zealand, as at Home, to denominationalise the education of New Zealand by persons who will be satisfied " with nothing short of inculcating the doctrines and worship of their own particular Churches, and such, if successful, would I consider be a serious national calamity. We are all interested in this. It certainly becomes those who administer the present secular system of religion to resist this. You can't have the spiritual teachers of the various denominations and societies of Temuka engaged in this work, and it is not desirable that you should. I would rather have the present system of education defective, as it is said to be, than a denominational one substituted for it. You will, therefore, not look on me as having anything to do with the above request.—Yours respectfully, " John Dickson." After discussion it was resolved—- " That permission be given to the Revs. Dellow, Gillam, and Butterfield to give religious instruction in the school after school hours on Fridays." Moved by Mr Salmond and seconded by Mr Bates. EDUCATION BOARD. A circular was received from the South Canterbury Education Board notifying the names of candidates nominated to vacancies upon that body, and requesting - the committee to record its vote for not more than tiree of the same.—On the motion of Mr Hooper, seconded by Mr Levens, it was resolued to vote for Messrs W. Storey, J. W. Salmond, and D. L. Inwood. HEAD MASTER'S REPORT. The Head Master's report was as folows :

" To the Chairman Temuka District High School Committee. " Deak Sin, —I have the honour to submit my report re the Temuka District High School. The average attendance for the past four weeks has been 262, number is 37'.), so that tin average percentage of absentees has varied from 21 to 30. lam hopeful that the attendance will be bettor as the harvest time nears its end. All the teachers on the staff have been attentive and regular at their duties during the past month. 1 enclose copy of Mr Gow's report on the secondary 'work- for last year. I have already forwarded you, aa 'chairman, a memy. o| certain school requisites, "which artj urgently wanted. The wqrk qf the sphoo} iis progressing satisfactorily.—l am, etc. 5 1 »D. FEKOUSQN, « H§ad master-,' 1 J-'UL'IL TMACJtEE. Piv'9 applications were received and" Biderod for £ e P osit ! ou °* P"^ 1 te^ hor > and after considerate ? f tiieaamoit was moved by Mr Lovens, see6nciGa. r i,> T &+y< Russell, and carried-" That Miss Mariqn,

McCaskill be recommended for appointment." VISITORS' REPORT. Mr Salmond, on behalf of Mr Btorey and himself, reported on a visit to the school. Everything was working satisfactorily, but one or two matters required attention. These were merely repairs to furniture, »nd the supply of a case for the reception of waste paper.—lt was agreed that the chairman arrange for the same. Messrs Surridge and Russell were appointed visitors for the month. VOTE OF THANKS. On the motion of Mr Russell, seconded by Mr .'"a'mnTid, it was resolved —" That the committee record a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs Gaze for her courtesy and consideration in providing afternoon tea to the committee and visitors on the occasion of the annual prize-giving." RESIGNATION. Miss Goodey tendered her resignation as an assistant at the school, and the secretary was instructed to convey to her the committee's appreciation of the value of her services during her period of apprenticeship. ACCOUNTS. Sundry accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated. SOUTH ORABJ. The ordinary meeting of this committee was held in the school on Saturday. Present—Messrs J. Ellis (chairman), T. Bates, W. Edwards, J. Bracelield, and J. Pearce. master's report. The master's report stated that the attendance had been very bad since the holidays. The school roll shows 110 names, and since the holidays the average attendance has been only 73. Some of the children were attending regularly just now. It was resolved—" That action be deferred for a few days, and if they drsp off action be taken at once." One of the children was under an order from the Court to attend. The master to report in a few days of all defaulters, and the same to be summoned before the next monthly meeting. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education, notifying the first quarter'sincidentals,£s,had been placed to the credit of the committee in the Bank ; also, requesting the names of three persons to fill the vacancies on the board caused by the annual retirement. It was resolved that the names of J. W. Salmond, Rev. J. White, and W. M. Moore be sent to the board. VISITOR. Mr Bates was appointed visitor, and after passing sundry accounts the meeting terminated.

BELFIELD. The monthly meeting of the above school committee was held in the schoolroom on February 18th. Present Messrs Ford, Morrison, Quantock, and Palmer. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education re repairs to school and schoolhouse ; work to be done. From the same re incidentals, stating that the sum of M. 3 10s had been paid to the committee's credit. The committee decided to record their vote in favor of Messrs \V. Storey, D. L. Inwood, and "VV. B. Howell. The attendance return for the quarter ending December 31st, IS'J2, was read, and also the inspector's examination report, which was considered highly satisfactory, there being only three failures in the school. The head master's monthly report was read as follows: Number on roll: Boys, '6O ; girls, 22 ; total, 52. Strict average ; Boys, 22 ; girls, 21; total, 4iJ. Mr Palmer reported that he visit 3d the school on the 17th, and found the attendance to be 45 and everything working satisfactorily. Mr Brown was appointed visitor for the ensuing month, and the meeting terminated.