The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

THE SUMMER CLASSES. (From Our Reporter). 'A meeting of the Carnarvonshire Education jCon:rriittie>a was held to-day week, at Car- narvon. Mr D. P. Williams (the chairman) presided, the other members present being Mrs pai'bi&hire, the Revo. 0. J. Owen a.nd Goidiog Hoberta. Messrs J. Owen, C. H. Darbiahire, R. E. Jones (Llanberis), Robert Roberts, Rheidio", Roberts, W. G. Thomas, W. George. W. J. X'&rry, W. Pie.ree, R. O. Jones, R. B. EIIjjs, J. Evan Roberts, J. R. Pritchard, Maurice Jones, rAllanwn Picton, Richard Davies, with the Secre- tary (Mr E. R. Davies). and the Aesastant Socre- tary (Mr D. Thomas). CONDOLENCE. A vote of sympathy waa passed with the Secre- tary Oil the dea.th of his daughter. Tl-lho STAFFING OF ULANADDA SCHOOL. Mr J. E. Roberts protested against the de- cision of the St aft Committee to appoint an Article 50 teacher to the Gianadda. Iniaaits School, Bangor, in succession to the late Mies Hectic Webcier, who was a certilicated teacher; and he proposed that the recommendation be srofcured back. In seconding, Mr Allanson Picton mentioned that he spent a most uncomtortabie quarter of an hour at a recent meeting of teachers in Bangor, and the appointment ot uncertificated teachers to succeed certihcated. teaefters was one of tho sorest complaints made, a.nd he was bound to say that he had not hewrd any satisfactory answer to the complaint. It was all very weL to say that taking the numerical value of each teacher, the school was very liberally staffed, but the numerical value of the teacher was not the oir.y point they fhodid consider. There was the proficiency of the school, and the dignity at- tained in the profession by the asaustarits, and in such an important school as Glanadda it was jiocessary that an inferior teacher should not fee appointed in succession to so high and pro- ficient a teacher as the late Miss Webster (hear, hear). The Chairman explained that the matter had been carefully considered by the Staff Commit- tee, who desired to treat all schools ailike. There was no doubt that tho Gianadda School was bet- ter staffed than any other school in the pounty. Mr Picton: Yes, numerically. The Chairman :¡aid that the number of chil- dren in the school on the appointed day was 190, and there were then three pupil teachers on the staff, which was then equal to 305. The aver- age attendance last year was 186, whilst the staff pf the school was equal to 290. Mr J. Evan Roberts: We want quality, not quantity. The Secretary said that Professor Phi.lips had declared in reference to this particular [school that "the clock had been going backwards," but the facts showed that it possessed a strong (sstaff. The Chairman added that there were now 60 tnore qualified teachers in the county than there ,was before the committee came into existence, and the teachers received EGOOO more every year Jhear. hear). It was no use mentioning the sin- gle case of the Gianadda School; the whole of the schools in the county must be considered. What jvere they to do with their Article 50 teachers? The motion was withdrawn. EVENING SCHOOL AT BETHESDA. It was decided to open a central evening school at the Cefnfaeg New School, at Bethesda, to serve the whole district, and to invite appli- cations for tho post of headmaster. Mr R. O. Jones said that there were com- plaints in the Bethesda. district that t.he original arrangement was to have classes in the different portions of tho town, and that young men who refused to join the central class had asked for the return of their fees. THE STAFF COMMITTEE. It was decided that the conhrmation of the appointment of Miss Saunderson, as headmis- j trees of Bottwnog National School, be deferred until it was ascertained whether she possessed ø. knowledge of Wefsh. A dLsoussdcwi took place on the desirability of County Council pupils, who proposed entering < the teaching profession, spending a year or two V- £ s teachers in tho elementary schools before en- tering college, and it was resolved to approach the Bangor Day Training Oc/.ege Committee rwith a view to securing the adoption of a regu- iaton making one year's service in an elemen- tary sohool a condition of admission as a Normal student. A letter was received from the Board of Education Inspector containing a complaint as to the oookery classes at Llanberis, and warn- ing the Education Committee that they would be unable to pay any grant in respect of the oookery instruction unless they received a more satisl-actory report at the end of the year. It was resolved that Messrs D. P- Williams, R. E. Jones, and the Rev. 0- G. Owen interview the cookery teacher. It was reported by the Staff committeo th4at communications had been received from the local branch of the N.U.T.' wirh reference to salaries, entrance scholarship examination, special preparation classes and' staff, and it was agreed to reply tha.t the Comm-ee hoped, at an early date, to remove the anomalies exist- ing in the salaries paid to certificated teachers in the county; and that the wording in the syllabus for the entrance scholarship examination with reference to the age of oallodidates be amended as fallows: "That candidates must not be over 13 ye;irs of age on the last day of the school year, that is, 31st July." ASSISTANT SECRETARY'S SALAR1. An application from tine Assistant Secretary was read and considered at great length, and in view of the tf>aot that his duties have been vorv largely inoreasod since nis appointment owing to the establishment of teaoiiers' class- es, summer courses, etc., it was decided to ad- vance the salary of Mr David Thomas to an inclusive sum ot £ 260 per a.nnum, increasing by annual increments of B10 to a maximum of JB300. it being understood tihat Mr Thomas de- votes his weekly half holiday to the service of the Committee lor six months in the year, and that he undertakes all necessary inspection and examination of the evening schools. SALARIES DURING ILLNESS. It was resolved that in future cases of illness, teaoiiers of all grades be paid one month's salary in full, on the production of a medical certificate, and that for the second month of absence, the teacher bo paid at half rate, on the production of a medical certificate, and, further, that no salary be paid' after two months' absence. COUNTY EXHIBITIONS. It was pointed out by the Staffs Committee that in the Carnarvonshire County Schools there were very few oases in which candidates took mathematics and science at the CYV.13. Honour Examination. With a view to encour- aging the teaching of these subjects, it was resolved tihat one additional county scholarship Of L20, tenable ior three ears, bo awarded on the result of tho 1908 examination, and an- other of equal value, tenable lor three years, awarded on the result of the 1909 examination, to pupils who have higher mathematics or mathematics and science endorsed on tho hon- ours certificate- Tnis scholarship will be in addition to the five scholarships annually awarded on the result of the C. VV.B. Examina- tion, and will bo given to the candidate placed next highest on the list to the winners at the five ordinary scholarships- EDUCAT1 ONAL HANDWORK. THE SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS. Reporting on the summer v .uiv.-e in educa- tional handwork, the Board of Education ex- pressed its appreciation of the work d'one by the Carnarvonshire County Council ior its teaohers through the summer courses. The numbors attending and catering for examina- tiou-s showed that the teachers valued the Ct)- portunities afforded' them, and that they were anxious to take full advantage of the classes- l'he Board suggeated to tne County Coun- cil the advisability oi including in any similar future course some carefully planned tiieoret- ioal teaching in the principles of education in generai, more particularly as bearing on .e plaoe and value of handwork in the school cur- riculum, whioh should be additional to the special theoretical study taken in connection with each subjeot, and' should be attended by every student. The Board felt also that it would be wise to discourage students from dis- sipatiig their energies by attemnting more than .— one subjeot in the examination. The following is a list of the students who were awarded tesiohers' ce.rtificates: -h v mo- delling: Arthur Thomas, Margaret E. Nevitt, Richard Williams. Brush dr; wing: Jennie Roberts, Arthur Thomas, Mart a rot E. Nevitt, Esther E- Williams. Cardboard modelling I George Davey.' Woodwork Richard llughcs, Ll. Parry, Richard Williams. BUILDING COMMITTEE. THE ECONOMY OF LARGE SCHOOLS. In submitting the report of the Building Com- rrunco, Mr C. H. Darbi.j.hire. the chairman, stated that the three .new schools built by the oonirmUeo at Tydweiliog, Cefnfacs (Bethesda), And Llandudno Junction had been formally opened, and so far they had given the greatest L satisfaction. With regard to the premises and the accommodation provided, tnere were some who thought the commutes were a little extra- the accommodation provided, tnere were some who thought the commutes were a little extra- vagant in providing the buildings they had, but he would like to eradicate that impression. In each district the inhabitants confessed that at first they thought the committee were going rather beyond their powers, but when they saw the schools themselves they congratulated the committee upon erecting such buildings. He contended that it was false economy to put up small schools, which in a. short time would be outgrown by the attendance, ajid in that respect they had a striking lesson at Bethesda. Atter the opening of the new school the members of the committee proceeded to the county school there. Built only ten years ago the county school was now overcrowded, and the governors were seeking power to enlarga it. Being a great benefactor of the school, the late Mr liath- bone was permitted to choose his own architect, but the school he planned was now entirely out of date. It was built for eighty pupils, whereas they now numbered 169, and they could hardly got into a single room without ascending steps, and very often corners had to be negotiated. As they saw, by erecting large schools they were saving the ratepayers money in the long run. With regard to the proposed school at Chwilog, Mr W. George said it was suggested at the last County Council meeting that certain notices had not been given. It now appeared, however, that the notices were givan, but it was now necessary to give fresh notices, as it was intended to pro- vide accommodation for 100 instead of 80 chil- dren. The Secretary said that the necessary notices were given. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE. 6'14 CHILDREN MAKE COMPLETE ATTENDANCES. Mr J. R. Pritchard presented the report of the School Attendance Committee, and it contained a report of a personal visit paid by him to the Caeathraw School, the punctuality of the children of which he praised. At the Bettws Garmon School, the premier school in tho county as re- garded attendance, Mr Pritchard found all tne children present, and. proceeding, he stated: "When visiting this school one ceases to wonder at the almost incredible record of attendance, for in the matter of cleanliness, brightness, and general attractiveness, this is truly a model school." The attendance chart showed that the Carnar- vun district held the best record for the quarter ended July 26th, their percentage being 94.4, as against 93.8 in t.he Bangor district. The per- centage of attendance in the whole county for the quarter was 91.5. WINNERS OF CHALLENGE SHIELDS. It was reported that the challenge shields for the best attendance in the county for the year ended July 31st, 1907, were wan by the following schools, with the subjoined percentage of attend- ance :— Boys' Schools: Llanfairfechan N.P., 98.4. Girls' Schools: Carnarvon Council, 95.8. Mixed Schools with an average attendance ex- ceeding 50: Bontnewydd Council, 98.5. Lnfants' Schools with an average attendance exceeding 50: Carneddi Council, 96.1. Mixed Schools with an average attendance of 50 or less: Bcttws Garmon Council, 99.7. Infants' Schools with an average attendance of 50 or less: Ceunant Council, 97.4. It was further reported that modals had been wan this year for complete attendance by 221 boys and 153 girls. With a view to improving the attendance at Pwllheli, it was resolved that the school attend- ance officers from the Carnarvon and Bangor districts be employed occasionally in Pwllheli dis- trict for one or two days every week. It was pointed out that the committee's reso- lution to award watch prizes for full attendances for the five years ending July 31st. 1908, would operate unfairly in the case of children who left school before this date. With a view to pre- venting any hardship, it wais resolved that a watch be presented to every child who makes fmil attendances for five years on any date after January 2nd, 1907, -the date at which the com- mittee's resolution respecting watch prizes was adopted. Mr J. R. Pritchard stated that it had been de- cided to present the headmasters and headmis- tresses of the schools winning shields wit-h certi- ficates. As the 6a.me schools were wimlÍing the shields year after year, it had been agreed to add a bar to the shields which the schools pos- sessed if they were again successful!. Further, it was suggested that an alteration in the system of awarding challenge shields be made, and that a challenge shield be awarded to each district, into which the cuiniiy was o;v..led, the shield to be given to the school in that dis- trict which obtained the hi^Oi-l percentage of attendance for the year. LLANDUDNO COUNTY SCHOOL. The consideration of the communication from the Local Government Board, stating that they had no power to consent to the raising, by the County Council, of a temporary loan from their bankers for the purpose of an advance to the Local Governing Body for the Llandudno Coun- ty School, was postponed until the next meeting of the Finance Committee. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. The Finance Committee reported that a state- ment was submitted by Professor White, show- ing how the grant of JE25. made to the Univer- sity College, in July, 1905, had been expended, and it was resolved that the Education Com- mittee be asked to decide as to whether further payments, should be made in aid of the Fisheries Department at the University College. Mr Richard Davies said some doubts were cast upon the authority of the oommittoo to on make a further grant, and the Chaarman said it wag not understood that the grant was to be an annual one. Mr Maurice Jones pointed out that the Lan- cashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee looked after the scientific side of fishery. The Secretary said there was no doubt as to the authority of the committee to make the grant. In fact, the committee agreed to make a grant of £ 25 a year on condition a satisfactory report was forthcoming. The Chairman: And personally I don't think the report we have had is a satisfactory one, though I should not like to say so definitely until I have made fuller inquiries. REDEMPTION OF AN ANNUAL CHARGE. A letter was read from Mr R. P. Harding, of the Veymol Estate Office, intimating the desire of Mr Aashebon-Smjth to redeem the atnnuall charge of £ 6 that now exists upon the Nant- porth Estate. It was resolved that the County Council be asked to pass the necessary resolu- tion to make forma.1 application for the redemp- tion of the charge, it being seen that the amount to bo paid for such redemption shall be sufficient to provide a continued income of £ 6 annually from whatever investmentB the Board of Education may sanction. THE TEACHING OF HYGIENE AND TEMPERANCE. Mr W. George moved "That steps be taken to see that hygiene and temperance receive duo attention as subjects to be taught in the elemen- tary schools throughout the county." Supporting the motion, Mr George said that at one time it was thought that a child's edu- cation waa finished when t.he three "R's" had beeiu drilled into him, but nowadays a different state of things prevailed, and the Code required that they should bo instructed in hygiene. With regard to temperance, he believed it was high time they paid greater attention to such a very important subject. Carnarvonshire, as the pre- mier county of Wales, shouid lead in this as in other matters, and sec that the principles of temperanco were instilled iuto the minds of the chidren before they left shcool, so tha.t they might better cope with the temptations which would beset them. Mr W. G. Thomas seconded the motion, and aid that the students at the Bangor Colleges might be s-pecialiy trained to teach the subjects of temperance a-nd hygiene. Tho Rev. Ccidiog Roberts said that the ques- tion had been previously before the committee, when it was suggested that the services of lec- turers might be enlisted. Mr J. R. Pritchard complained that the Cen- tral Welsh Board paid no heed to hygiene as a science sarbject. Mr W. George: We have nothing to do with that. Mr Darbishire (Penmaenmawr) stated that the effect of the Te<-< Jution would be loiit unless they devised some way of bringing home to the children the evils -etferred to in the motion (hear, hear). In some of tho Jarge towns the district nurses examined each child in the school. As to the question of temperance they had just heard Mr J. R. Pritchard advocating a "bar" in those cch'jols with good attendance records (loud laughter). Mr J. R. Pritchard A bar on the attendance shield I meant (laughter). Mr Darbishiro. proceeding, said that the dis- trict nurses found the children who were suffer- ing from minor ailments such an chilblains and dressed thorn. That waa hygiene in a practical form (hear, lieexi- Mr Richard Davleis deprecated the idea of ap- pointing special teachers to teach the subjects and ho pointed out that the engagement of these special teachers involved a tremendous expense to the county. Their own teachers could do the work, and, moreover, they would be acquainted with the circumstances of the children. He favoured the suggestion that the district nurses ehou'id examine tho children, which ho thought, could be done without any expense to the coun- ty. It was no use employing fresh agencies when there were already suitable agencies in existence. The motion was carried. PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE INTER- MEDIATE EDUCATION SCHEME. "OUT OF DATE." The Rev. Ceidiog Roberts moved: "That a committee be appointed to o.a-a.w out eugge-sUons and sub-ant a report with a view oi having the uiterinediate sememe for tho CUUlJJcy ameuuod." He said ho v.isned to east no reflec- tion on ihcso who framed tile scheme; no doubt it sun-ed tne period when it was brought into being, but now it wa.s quite out of date, and there was a &aor.|g iec-iug in existe-noo that it. shu-utd be amenued. The District Education Committees were a failure; they nad to admit teat, and he should like to see them merged in the Local Governing Bodies. There were wel-knowii auotuaiies m the scheice. such as that Vrhioh p.aced the poweir ci appointing tne ataiist- aut, in the hands of tho headmasters. They wanted something more democratic than that. Mr Richard Davies seconded the motion. The Chairman said that the committee eihould change the District Education Committees.. Mr W. G. Thomas asked li there was any rea- 30U for altering the scheme beyond the fact that the headmasters shou-d be dispossessed of the rights oil appointing these assistants? The Chan man: les; there 16 the question of fees (hear, hear). Mr J. R. Pritchard thought that education in the County Schools should be free, no that the vvorktngman's child shouid not be handicapped. Mr Robert Roberts (Llandudno) said he was one of those who canvassed the poorer classes for their sixpences in order to establish the County School under the impression that they were to cibtain an improvement on tho oid Grammar Schools. What occurred? Directly the County Schools were established, they were filled with the same class of children as tided the old Grammar Schools, and the children he thought would benefit by the new schools could not enter them. Surely tihere must bo something wrong in a system which permitted that? There again was the question of bringing the elementary schools into closer touch with the County Schools. and bridging the gulf which at present existed between the two schools. Mr Allanson Pioton pointed out that tho large majority—over eighty per cent. of the pupils in the County Schooili-oamo from the elementary schools, and they were the children of the work- ing classes. Surely the oomimittee would not condemn what he might describe as the middle classes to live a life of ignorance. Was all the education to be given to the poor, destitute, and not to those who had any money? Surely that was not true democraoy; on the contrary, he contended it was untrue to the principle of democracy (hear, hear). "Democracy means perfect equality," said Mr Picton, "podeot equaJity without any do- finition, wiiiether peer or beggar, and I do die- test this idea of separating tno community into classes (hear, hear). I &a-- that these county schools have hitherto done nobio work, and they have, whatever else may be said, extended the advantages of higher education and cul- ture to the working classes of this country and of this county especially, in a manner that couLd not be hoped ior in the days of our grandfathers, and we must congratulate our- selves upon the success which has been at- tained" (hear, hear). Proceeding, the speaker said that no one at- tending the "speech days" at the various county schools could help being struck with the manners, courtesy and kindness of the pupils, the majority ot whom came irom the humbfest portions of the towns in which they lived. He tllad before him a list of parents whose child- ron attended the County School for Girb at Bangor, and a large number of them were of the very humblest class, some earning only a pound a woek. Fortunately there were scholarships and bursaries for this class, and he believed that they should conoen.trate their offorts in extending the number of scholarships (hear, hear)- That was the only way to ensure absolute dcmocvacy. If the ices wore lowered they would only have one class in the schools, the population would be divided into two sets- one attending the Government schools and the other the private sciiools- Let them multiply the scholarships so that the wedl-to-do could sit alongside tho very poorest as was the case in Sootland- As to the appointment of teadhors they never thought of finally appointing any teaohor in the elementary schools without con- sulting the headmaster comcerned. If they wanted to bring about a true democratic system of education tliey must not aim at any cast iron system of uniformity giving the same les- sons and teadhinig- the same things. Bv doing that they would' roduc-a tho population to a mere chess board with the mon moved here and there by some socialistic committee at the head of affairs. Mr Pierce (Beddgelert) urgc-d the provision of boarding establishments in connection with the oounty sciioaijs so that the ^upils from a distance might be under surveillance after school hours. The Secretary said that at Llanrwat the sum of £ 1500 was locked up until the scheme was amended. The motion was unanimously carried. MIGRATORY COUNTY SCHOOL PUPILS- The Rov. C'eidiog Roberts moved that the Secretary should be instructed to make in- quiries and to report to the next meeting as to the number of pupils in each county shcool who attended from other counties, and also the number from each school district who attended intermediate schools in other counties- He oommented on the fact that boys from Llan- dudno attended ithe Abergele County School, and boys from Bangor the Bethesda and Beaumaris County Schools- Mr W. J. Parry (Botheada) hoped no effort j would bo made to prevent children migrating. The motion in-as carried. THE NEW COUNTY SCHOOL REGULA- TIONS. The Chairman submitted a statement showing that if Wales and England had been treated alike under the new regulations affecting the county schools Carnarvonshire could last year have earned £ 4057 in grants, but they lost no less than £1777, which was sufficient justification for the protest made by the committee. The Chairman and the Secretary were appoint- ed on tlia deputation which is to interview Mr lvicivenna on the subject. THE SECRETARY AND HIS EXPENSES. The Secretary intimated that the auditor de- sired a formal resolution to appear an the minutes authorising the interviews which were necessary from time to time with the education authorities in London. MORE FREQUENT MEETINGS ADVO- CATED. Mr R. B. Ellis suggested that the committee should meet oftener, saying that under the pre- sent. arrangement it was impossible to got through the work properly. He mentioned that the Staff Committee sat for five hours a.nd a half, and the Building Committee for about the same time. Mr W. J. Parry agreed with Mr Ellis, but tne Secretary stated that too much work was given the county architect to complete within a month. The Denbighshire Education Committee met every three months. Mr Richard Davies said that a number of the members were compelled to come from long dis- tances, and with the multiplication of committees a great strain was placed upon them. He did not deny but that there was some ground for the complaint that they were not doing their work thoroughly, but ho did not see how they could improve matters by meeting oftener. If the members would sit out the 5 hours there would be no need for frequent meetings. It was stated that a motion would be pro- posed on the subject at the next meeting.