GROPER’S BUSH SCHOOL.

Western Star, Issue 284, 15 February 1879, Page 5

GROPER’S BUSH SCHOOL.

A meeting of the householders in Groper’s Bush district was held in the schoolhouse on Monday, me 27th ult., to hear the report of the outgoing Committee and to elect a new one for the current year.

i .Mr Rjidie, the Chairman, stated that during their twelve mouths in office fourteen committee meetings and two of beads of families, sixteen in all, had been held. Owing partly to the new i Education hut, and partly to other circumstances, . a good deal of extra work had passed through the Committee’s hands. During the year they had lost their old teacher, Mr M'Kay, a gentleman who had been with them since the opsning of the school, who had done much to further education in the district, and whose services he need not say had been highly appreciated. He (Mr M'Zay) had been appointed to a large school at the Bluff. In elecung a new teacher their choice-had fallen upon Mr Jolly, who held a high certificate and excellent testimonials, and who from the date of his appointment had given general satisfaction, and he did not think they would have any reason to regret their choice. During the six weeks interval between Mr M'Kay’s leaving the district and Mr Jolly’s appointment the school had been carried on by Masters Donald M'Farlaue and James Borland, v, ho during the time they ha 1 acted as interim teachers had conducted the school most creditably, for which they ha I been ten lored the thanks of the Committee, the same having been recorded on the minutes. The Board had been asked to remunerate them for their services, and a favourable reply bad been received. He had to report that a ne.w branch, namely needlework, had been added to those already taught in the school. He hud, at the request of the Committee, asked Mrs Jolly to give instructions to the girls in sewing, knitting, &c., during school hours. This she hud cordia ly consented to do, and hud now 23 girls under her. 4s the school was found 100 small for the increasing number of pupils, the Board bad ut the request of the Committee sent their Inspector of Buildings to report on same. This report would be handed in to the Board at their meeting on 4th February, and a reply might shortly after be expacte I. Their receipts fJr the year, including a small balance from the previous year, amounted to £25 18s 2£ 1, and their expenditure to £lB Os IOJd, leaving a balance in bund of £7 17s 4d. He could not sit down witaout saying a few words on the method recently adopted by the Board of paying the teachers under them. The teacher’s salary, as all present were doubtless aware, was wholly regulated by the daily average attendance at bis school. Towards the CQuntry schools especially this was a very unfair system. For every wet day that kept a child at home—and it was out of tiie question for children to be draggling two or three miles through long wot grass—the teacher must suffer. In this district it was wall known that when a slight rise in the river took ulacethe communication of several families with the school was cut off, and for that the teacher must pay out of Ids pocket. He thought that country school committees ought to combine and try to do something in the matter. The following householders were elected to act as a committee tor the current year: —Messrs Johnston, Officer, John Borland, James Borland, Eeidio, Gumming, and Jones. On the following Friday evening the new Committee met, when Mr Reidie was unanimously re-elected Chairman. j