Cambridge East.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1805, 31 January 1884, Page 2

Cambridge East.

The following is the report read at Mondny's meeting by the chairman of the outgoing committee :—: — In submitting the annual repoit of the retiring committee, it gives us pleasure to state that this committee has carried on its operations during the past year in perfect harmony with the Board of Education. It has fatten to the lot of this committee, as the result of repeated representations upon the subject, to be the means of prevailing on tlie board to erect a commodious residence for the head teacher at a cost of £000. This was very much required, as the former residence bad fallen into a state of dilapidation, and was in every way unsuitable. The old house has been disposed of by auction, and the proceeds have been devoted to improvements in the playground. By this means two separate playgrounds have been made— one for the girls and another for the boyt>. Thus, in future the boys and girls will take exercise, during their houis of recieation, in separate grounds, and will enter the school-room from their respective grounds. The committee felt the desirableness of this arrangement, inasmuch as since the establishment of the High School many of the pupils are of an advanced age. It is our pleasant duty to inform you that this committee has been successful in establishing a High School. The parents in the country who desire that their children should receive an education superior to that afforded by the primary school, now enjoy advantages similar to those possessed by paients lesiding in the larger centres of population. This is an advantage which cannot be too highly prized, and every effort should be put forth to foster and develop the High School, as well by parents as by the members of next year's committee. Your committee made an effort to increase the sum of £7 12s 6d, balance lying in the Bank towards the formation of a public school library, by giving a concert during the past year. The gross proceeds j were £0 12s, which unfortunately did not cover the expenses. The financial failure is mainly due to the fact that the children attending the school did not — for reasons unnecessary to state— take part in the sale I of tickets," which hitherto has been the ! custom. The attendance at the school has been, on the average, just as last year. i The number on the school rell is about I 230, with an average attendance of over 150. Out of this number 110 children ■were presented for examination in the various standards. 85 passed, 5 omitted to take the whole of the subjects. 25 thus failing, j making passes of 77 2% of those presented, 80 '9% of those fully examined, and 35 "8% of the average school roll. These ! results are a fraction better than those of last year, and brings the school up to about the average of the schools throughout the Colony. One of the causes why the standard of the school is not so high as it might be arises from the fact that parents do not send their children regularly and punctually to the school. The committee desire to see the school taking its place amongst the best in the Colony, and would urge parents to remedy as for as possible this defect, and see that their children are regularly sent. As the efficiency of tne work done in connection with the High School has been largely interfered with though the frequent changes in the classical master, the salary of £150 being found altogether inadequate to secure the permanent services of any man possessing University qualifications, the committee recommended the Board to change the incidence of the teaching staff, with a view of making the classical master headmaster of both schools. For reasons tbat are sufficiently public, the Board of Education, with the full consent of thia committee, allowed the matter to lay in abeyance till the election of the new "cow-

mittoe has taken place. The committee trusts that whatever course is followed in the future, such steps ahall be taken as may lead to the welfare of the school. The committee claim that this has been their sole aim in the past, and hope that whatever committee gain the confidence of the public they will act on similarly disinterested ground. Mr G. F. Hosking has been re-appointed to the position of chairman for the ensuing year. Mr J. P. Thomson was proposed to the office, but was defeated on a show of hand* being taken.