The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

:r DENBIGHSHIRE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, NEW DEPARTURE IN CURRICULA. PROFESSOR LLOYD ON MORAL TEACHING. INTERESTING REPORT BY MR L. J. ROBERTS. THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS IN DEN- BIGH DISTRICT. (From Our Reporter.) The Denbighshire Education Committee, who met at Pheeter on Friday, recognised the approach of the holidays by deciding unanimously to pay all the galaries of teachers before the schools break up for Christmas, and also all the salaries of the school attendance officers. The Chairman, Mr W. G. Dodd, presided, and the fther members present were: Mr Edward Allen, Mr W. J. Williams, Llanrwst; Mr J. D. Junes, Cysylog; Professor J. E. 'Lloyd, Alderman William Griffiths, Mr Parry, Llangollen; Col. C. H. Mainwaring, Mr R. A. Jones, Mr Christmas Jones, Mrs J. Powell, Mrs Parker Davies, Miss Gee, Mr J. Wilcoxon, Mr G. Oromar, Mr Thos Bury, Mr Simon Jones, Mr F. A. Sturgc, Mr John Allen, Mr J. Harrison Jones, Mr D. S. Davies, Mr John Roberts, Mr Bennett Jones, Mr 3. Stephen Jones, and Mr John Roberts, Henllan with Mr W. R. Evans and Mr John Roberts, the secre- taries Mr J. O. Davies, organiser; and Mr W. B. Wiles, urohitect. BRYMBO SCHOOLS. An important matter was considered in reference to the Parochial Schools at Brymbo. The schools belong to the Wrexham Parochial Charity, but the Charity have no funds with which to bring the buildings up to the requirements of the Authority. The managers, as distinct from the trustees, were unable to under- take to carry out the repairs, and the Committee decided accordingly not to maintain the schools after the end of this year. Their decision was upheld by the Board of Education, but the managers, who had meantime been strengthened by the appointment of tbe Rev. E. Worthingt<m Powell, as vicar of the parish, md therefore ex-yfflcio ohairman of the managers, then endeavoured to induce the committee to grant S few moil the' respite, in order that they might get the money together, and carry out the repairs and additions which the authority requisitioned. Mr John Bury, of Wrexham, was, however, when this request eame up for consideration on Friday, the only mem- ber of the committee who advocated an extension of Mme, and the schools will therefore be transferred to temporary buildings in chapel school rooms when the Christmas holidays are over. Tbe reason the managers did not even from tho first set tu work to comply with the committee's demand, was that the committee themselves were threatening to deprive them of their buildings, on the ground. that they were parochial and not a Church of England founda- tion, and, of course, there was no guarantee that the managers would get the benefit, for those whom they represent of the heavy expenditure which was called for. The managers themselves and their advisers hold that the schools are distinctly Church of England sohoofs, inasmuch as the vicar is, under the scheme, the chairman of the managers and the religious in- struction, except to those who plead the conscience clause, must be Church of England in character. This matter occupied the attention of the committee for some time. SCHOOLS NOT IN A "CAST-IRON MOULD." Mr D. S. Des, CSiairman of the Staff Committee, >øUbmitt6d report of his oommittee which embodied a criticism by the Inspector of Schools for the county, Mr L. J. Roberts, of Rhyl, of the schemes of school work for the current year, which the committee now require the head teachers tu send up for consideration before the commencement of each school year. Mr Davies said that an important departure had' been taken this year, and the schemes of work now re- quired to be sent in had been carefully gone through by Mr Roberts and Mr J. O. Davies, the organiser. Each teacher was now expected to think for himself, and to draw up a scheme which would be submitted to the County Education Committee. The idea was to give as great a license and liberty as possible to each headmaster to consider what were the require- ments of his particular district. In If county like Denbigh, where there were so many and varied in- terests, this was important, and they would be able to consider what was the best education to be given in each district, all under the supervision of that committee. That would do away, he hoped, with the cry that they heard too often about a cast-iron system in our educational matters. The Bishop of St. Asaph was very often ready to bring this matter forward, on every possible occasion, that there was a cast-iron system of education throughout Wales. There was ample opportunity to make the curriculum as wide as possible, provided each local authority discharged their duties. And there was an express instruction from the Board of Education, in the code for 1907, that they should go carefully through the schemes and revise them in acaSrdanco with the wishes of particular dis- tricts. He held that the conclusicm of Mr Roberts' report on the schemes was very gratifying. PROFESSOR LLOYD AND DIRECT MORAL TEACHING." Professor Lloyd, discussing the report which is appended, said he thought it was full of encourage- ment for the future. It showed improvement in method all round. He quite agreed with Mr L. J. Roberta when he said that in the few cases where nothing but Welsh history was taught the pendulum was swinging too tar in the other direction, because even in the in of Welsh history itself, it certainly could not properly be studied without some knowledge of English history at the same time. In singing the substitution of the Welsh national songs for the in- cWferent music formerly taught was certainly, he •freed, & step m the right direction. The point, 8d the only point, in the report as to which he treuld be ineliaed to enter a slight caveat and quali- fication was in reference to moral instruction. Mr Roberts wrote: Moral instruction, 'which should form an important part of the curriculum in every elementary school,' is overlooked in a large number of Mtemes." He (Prof. Lloyd) did not know how it was in- tended thai the subject should be taught—whether direct in set lessens or indirectly—but he thought if ic was intended to teach it in set lessons it should be borne in mind that there was now a distinot trend in educational opinion against direct moral in- struction as not being likely to effect its purpose. The matter Wa3 a debatable one. There was II great deal to be said for the indirect method of moral teaching as the only one really likely to be educational. Direct leas cms on subjects of moral conduct, as a rule, litl upon deaf ears, but indirect lessons were very twnch more valuable. That was the only point in the report which he felt called for the Slightest criti- cism (applause.) MB L. J. ROBERTS'S REPORT. Tbe followwi ill the report flent in by Mr L. J. Robertx, whioh will be considered by the Staff Com- kiittee in detail at their next meeting — Now tiiat the Oode does not provide & cut-and- dried programme of work by schedules and schemes, it is highly important that due care should be taken by each bead teacher in drawing up, at the beginning Of the educational year, a scheme of work showing, in outline, what it is intended to teach in the school during the ensuing year. No time can be spent more profitably than that devoted to the preparation of a well-planned scheme. Uniformity of practice has been discouraged by the Board of Education during recent years, and each teacher is expected to think for himself what is most suitable to the needs of his school and the locality. But while variation and flexi- bility are encouraged, care should be taken "lest liberty should degenerate into lioense. Ân examination of over four hundred 8cbemea submitted to me recently showl that the head teachers of the many school departments In Denbighshire and Flintshire are fully aware of the responsibility incurred by freedom. In the mafti the schemes had been prepared with the greatest care. They showed that the aim the school had set before itself had been carefully thought out. Most of them provided a suitable, duly graded and duly continuous Curriculum. Some erred-but this was a fault in tbe right direction-in going into excessive detail; others were meagre and lacked deftniteness. A few were ill- balanced and one-sided. In a considerable number ü1e changes and improvement.41 ma.de in the Codes of recent years wero quietly ignored, and the scheme was merely the reproduction of schedules (now antiquated) appended to the Oode in the days of the formal examination. Thus in these the minimum number of reading books (two in the lowest classes and three in the first claM) to be prepared for the annual examina- tion is adhered to the prescribed ftve songs are retained; English' (which in recent Codes compre- hends reading, composition, recitation, and grammar) is given where 'grammar' is meant. The Oode is now such a simple and lucid document that no one who takes the trouble to read it can fail to understand it. The 'Suggestions' for the consideration of teachers and others have, I am glad to say, been read by the bulk of the teachers; hut it is disappointing to find that some young teachers and among them some who have recently been appointed to headships, have prepared schemes on lines whih ue dplinitely condemned by the 'Suggestions.' All teachers, and especially young teachers, will profit by a careful study of this volume. It is much to be regretted that a copy of this important volume is not provided for every school. An examination of the schemes by my coJleaguel and myself shows that the following are among the points which need attention :— HYGIENE. "Although hygiene is expressly mentioned along with physical training as one of the subjects that are to be included in the curriculum (Code, Art 2) and special attention is called to it in the prefatory memo- randu111 to the 1907 Code, no reference was made to the subject in nearlv 100 schemes. "MORAL INSTRUCTION, .hief. 'should form an important part of the curri- Cmhl121 in every elementary school,' is overlooked in a large number of schemes. ENGLISH. II The barren exercise of 'picking out nouns' in the lower 8tandards is observed in many I!cbemes, which do not 'afford frequent opportunities for the practice of oral and written composition,' upon which the Code and the 'Suggestions' lay great stress. The re- marks in the 'Suggestions' that "the number of books read in a year should not b9 limited to the two or three prescribed by former Codes as a minimum,' a.re Bot attended to in many schemes; nor is attention given by many to the recommendation that 'one of file books read by the older scholars lIIhouJd be a continuous whole.' (In order to get a larger supply of varied reading books in school which hare no library, interchange betweeD different departments, or even between different sections of A claa8 Í1I recom- mended.) In selecting pieces for recitation, some Ceacl8ers still confute thMDSelves to the mmimum num- ber of lines prescribed for the annual examination, and ofteu these form a mutilated fragment tom from 8011U1 long poem. Most teach1!l'II, however, now wisely teach one short poem for each term, especially in the lower classes and many teachers do not condne tbemulves or adhere to the pieces put down o. th&ir tist. tMrt. use their discretion in sdcding other pieces during tbe course of the year. Though the Code has iQ- sisted for some years that the pieceø selected should he mi 'literary merit,' b?d or indifferent pieocs--in "Welsh as welf as in English—are often selected for the rhihlren, for whom the 'best is not too good.' In ARITHMETIC it is gratifying to find that in many schools additional time is given to oral work in the lower classes. In •ome schools a disproportionate fiwmmt of time is eiv811 to this subject, particularly Í8 the case of girls in the higher standards, n udb t4 tlx time now j Jiv to arithmetic may be spent mere profitably in Other subjects. In "GEOGRAPHY awif schemes still follow the c. prescribed Is the Ðld days for the seven standards. Where there Is a teacher for each standard, and the course for Mch year is taken fully in its turn, this scheme is unobjectional; but where the course is mutilated be- Bause of the -aeecssity for grouping the standard#, the acheme is uneducational. It is absurd to teach ghiMren the details of the geography of Australia or wna4a (the «M ft. IT. mm) it mey mot ta»tr the geography of their own country, and have no opportunity of learning something about the outlines of the world. In a few schemes the rational plan of teaching local geography in the lower classes is not followed. In HISTORY a steady improvement is noticeable. Definite schemes on the concentric plan are generally prepared. Welsh history is' gradually receiving due recognition along with English history; but the schemes show that in a few schools still, not a single lesson on the history of Wales is given, though such a course is not only educationally unsound, but is in contravention of the wishes of the Board of Education and of the Local Authority. Thoughtlesgue.,5,3 and a conservative ad- herence to the/methods of the past are responsible for this. On the other hand, a few schools presented scheme showing that nothing but Welsh history is taught throughout the school; here the pendulum is swinging too far in the other direction. In "SINGING a great improvement in the selection of songs has lately taken place. Ephemeral ditties, with words and music equally worthless, are replaced by national airs, the value of which has been so admirably explained in the 'Suggestions.' These 'classics of a people,' whose survival for so many centuries prove that their appeal is direct and lasting, are now finding their due place in the schools. In few schools now do children not have an opportunity of learning the national airs of England and of Wales and of some other countries. In most schools now the recommendation of the Code (Art. 2), that reading at sight should be 'in both notations where possible' is being observed, the sol-fa system being used as a means not only to teach the children to read at sight from that notation, but as a stepping stone to an introduction to the staff nota- tion. In DRAWING a promising feature in the schemes this year is the attention paid to drawing from actual objects instead of from copies. In "NEEDLEWORK some of the schemes are vague. It is worth noticing that many of the best infants' schools now omit this subject altogether. Children at this tender age can use their time more fittingly in other work, and, on the other hand, additional time can well be given to needlework and domestic subjects in the later years of a girl's life. In "PHYSICAL TRAINING the teaching is now generally based on the Board of Education's model course; but in some schemes the exercises (such as those which are 'purely ornamental ) are in direct contravention of the principles underlying physical education as iaid down in the Board's syllabus. Teachers who wish to obtain information on this sub- ject would do well to communicate with Mr Rhydderch. "THE TEACHING OF WELSH is at present a subject of such great importance in the county that a special report on this subject will be issued during this educational year. In Denbigh- shire steady progress is being made, especially in the Welsh-speaking districts. In few schools, even in the purely English-speaking regions, are Welsh songs and Welsh history entirely ignored. The schemes have, on the whole, been most satis- fael ory; many are models of what a scheme should b', Very few were unsatisfactory; and the defects in these have now doubtless been attended to, after the suggestions and criticisms which were freely made on the schemes when they were scrutinised." DEFENDING BANGOR DAY TRAINING DEPARTMENT. PROFESSOR LLOYD'S RETORT. At the last meeting of the Committee, Mr Christmas Jones, in the course of a speech in favour of the oounty establishing a training college of its own, re- marked that "the specimens of teachers we get from the Normal Departments of the University Colleges are not altogether what we want." Professor Lloyd, in his remarks on Friday, said he noted that two out of three teachers on the short list for the headteacherghip of the Penygalli School had been trained in the Bangor Day Training College, and he believed that the candidate appointed at the last meeting to a headmistressship was also trained at the Bangor Day Training College. This showed that whatever impression the teachers in the Day Training College at Bangor might make upon their entering upon their work, they had yet staying power, and in the course of a very few years turned out to be the very people whom the committee desired to be at the head of the schools (laughter and applause.) THE SCHOOLS AND EPIDEMICS. BETTER EXCUSE WANTED. Mr J. Stephen Jones, in proposing that the report of the Attendance Committee be adopted, stated that the rural districts were making more progress in at- tendance than the more populous districts. He at- tributed this to epidemics, and to the fact that schools were not closed when a proportion of the scholars were obliged to be away owing to there being infectious sickness in their homes. Mr J. Wilcoxon said that if the schools in the Ruabon district were closed at an early date when epidemics appeared, the attendance there would eom- pare favourably with any other part of the county. Mr John Bury thought that too great stress ought not to be laid upon the question of attendance as between different localities, because if one in a family had fever, the whole of the members of the family had to be kept at home. Mr G. Oromar said he must take exception to the statements that had been made. He did not think there was anything at all in the arguments adduced. Many children in the country places walked miles to school, and the attendance in the Wrexham district was much greater than in the populous outlying dis- tricts, the backward attendance in which Mr Stephen Jone3 was defending. He hoped that Mr Jones would look out for a genuine excuse (laughter.) Mr Sturge thought they attached too much impor- tance to the percentages. He thought they were quite right in not having the schools closed too soon, as, if half the children might attend school without much danger, why should their education be neglected. THE SANITATION OF THE ROADS." Mr J. Stephen Jones made a pointed speech in reply. He said that the Wrexham children had the advantage o-f good roads. In his locality the roads were very bad. The Wrexham children walked out of dry houses to dry schools on dry roads, and the children of the outside districts had to trudge through the slush and dirt. He believed in the sanitation of the roads, and the condition of the roads had & good deal to do with the health of the people (hear, hear.) He did not blame the attendance officers, who had done their duty well. The committee must not lose interest in their work. and they must get it forward all best they could (applause.) THE COUNTY SURVEYOR'S SALARY. A UESTION OF PROCEDURE. Mr J. Wilcoxon, in the absence through illness of the Chairman of the Building Committee, Mr Edward Roberts, of Brymbo, moved the adoption of the committee's minutes, which included the following with respect to the application for an increase of salary by the County Surveyor and Architect, Mr W. B. Wiles This committee recommend the Edu- cation Committee to endorse favourably the applica- tion of the County Surveyor for an increase in his salary, as he has given every satisfaction to the com- mittee in t-he performance of his duties, and that the application be referred to the Finance Committee of the Oounty Council." Mr D. S. Davies stated that the architect was ap- pointed by the Oounty Council, and was their ser- vant, and this matter of his salary entirely concerned the County Council, and was no concern of that com- mittee. He (Mr Davies) said nothing about the merits of the Surveyor, but he questioned whether they were proceeding on regular lines. Especially in view of the unkind and unjust remarks that had been made about that committee being a spendthrift committee, of late, he thought it would be extremely unwise if they sent up the application to the County Council with anv endorsement of theirs. The Finance Com- mittee of the County Council were fully aware of the qualifications and the excellent services rendered by the County Architect, and they would not require any direction from that committee as to what they should do. He moved that the application be sent to the Finanoe Committee df the Oounty Council without any endorsement of recommendation by the Education Committee. Mr R. A. Jonee seconded. The Chairman demurred to the suggestion of Mr D. S. Davies that what the Committee proposed to do was not in accordance with the usual practice of the county. Most advances came up flrsf of all upon a recommendation of the committee with whom the official was most concerned. Mr W. B. Evans (Secretary) said that the applica- tion WM based entirely, as he understood it, upon the increase of work which the architect had to do for that committee. There had not been any appre- ciable increase in the work he had to do for the County Council. After a discussion, in which the Chairman said he was jealous for the authority and rights of that com- mittee, and did not think that they should adopt any course which would in procedure place them in a worse position than any of the committees of the County Council, it was decided by 14 votes to 11 that the application should be sent bo the Finance Com- mittee of the County Council without comment, as Mr Davies had proposed. EDUCATION FOR DENBIGH GIRLS. AN URGENT QUESTION. Under the Scheme for Secondary Schools in Denbigh. shire there is provision in the Denbigh school district oely tor a school for bays, while in all the other districts there is provision for girls. At Ruthin and Wrexham there is a separate school for girls, and the other schools in the county are dual. It is pro- posed that provision for girls should in some way be made in the Denbigh district. Mr D. S. Davies stated that on November 19th the Chairman of the Committee, Mr J. E. Powell, and himself had a consultation with the managers of the Denbigh Howell's School, and with the representatives of the Drapers' Company, and the question of the education of girls in the Denbigh district was carefully gone into. That was not the time," Mr Davies re- marked to the committee, "for us to tell you all that ha.ppened, but what we feel is that something must be done for the education of girls in that district. They have suffered far too long, and now that the question has arisen, we want to carry it through, and do the best possible. We hope to be able to carry the Howell's School managers with us in making a provision for educating the girls of that district. But the matter can only be dealt with by the Joint Educa- tion Committee of the county, and I think I have said enough in making the proposal that the matter be referred to the Joint Education Committee of the county to consider what arrangements can be made." The Chairman (Mr Dodd) seconded the motion. He said that the Howell's School at Denbigh, some of them thought, ought to be made available for the girls of that district, but the matter would take a lot of consideration, and they could not do bettor than defer the whole question, as Mr Davies had sug- gested. There would be proposals for framing a new scheme for the county, and the Joint Education Com- mittee had had experience in that direction, and, in fact, was the only committee which could legally deal with the matter. Mr John Roberts (Henllan) said he hoped that the question would not be deferred longer. This was the only district in which the girls did not ^get the benefit of the Intermediate Education Act. Could they not at once grant a sum of money for sending some of the girls to schools in the neighbourhood? Mr John Roberts (Secretary): Not without amending the scheme. Mr D. S. Davies said he wished the committee could do as Mr Roberts suggested. If they could, there would not be a warmer advocate of it than himself. The committee had already had five or six meetings, and the Education Committee might be assured that there was no time being wasted. Mr Bwinett Jones aaked what tW Joint Committee WM. Mr W. R. Evans replied that it was a statutory com- mittee appointed to frame a scheme under the Inter- mediate Education Act, and it consisted of five mem- bers Mr J. E. Powell. Mr W. G. Dodd, Mr Iscoed Jones, Mr D. S. DaTieø, mad Chancellor Bulkeley O. Jones. It was further ttplMMd that the committee was the only committee entitled to make any proposals with regard to mebemm under the Endowed Schools ¡ Act. The committee, of which the late Mr Thes. Gee and the late Captain Griffith Boscawen were then members (their piaees being filled by the appointment ot Mr Dodd and Mr D. S. e5) was established ahfnrt 15 years ago, and drafted the existing Den- bighshire intermediate Education Scheme. Mr John Roberts (Henllan) asked if anv alteration of the scheme would have to go before Parliament The Chairman aid he wus afraid it woald. So far as the Education Committee was concerned, the mat- ter would be dealt with speedily. Mr Join Robert* awtami Cut Ike eramfttee had fiower to allocate a certain amount of money towards he edueatifon of girls in the Denbigh district. The Chairman said that was a matter which would have to be brought in the first instance before the Intermediate Education Committee. Mr John Roberts said that in the Ruthin district grants were made for boys to attend the Grammar School, and surely the same thing might be done with respect to girls at Denbigh. Air Simon Jones Mr Roberts is afraid of the House of Lords (laughter.) Keep your heart up (laughter.) The proposition of Mr D. S. Davies was then car- ried, and it was understood that the question would be regarded as an urgent one. BOARD OF EDUCATION AND MANAGERS' RIGHTS. REVOLT POLICY" fl,LEGAL. The committee some little time ago pointed out to the Board of Education that the managers of the Burton (Gresford) Church of England School had not held the statutory meetings. The Board asked for the managers' reasons for this neglect of their duty under the Act of 1902. In reply, the managers explained that the reason why there had not been a meeting at least once every three months was that the Local Education Authority had taken the management of the school out of their hands, and had communicated themselves, eitlier directly with the teachers, or through their representative managers. This, the managers contended, was contrary to provisions in Section 7 of the Education Act. which imposed upon the managers the duty of carrying out the directions of the local Education Authority as to the secular in- struction given in the school, and confer upon the managers all powers of management required for the purpose of currying out the Act. Upon this com- plaint the Board now wrote to the committee for their observations. In their letter they said Without expressing any opinion upon the com- plaint of the correspondent in this particular case, I am to state that, having regard to the provisions of Section 7 (1) (a.) read in conjunction with Section 7 (7) of the Education Act, 1902, the Board, in analagous cases have expressed the view that, afi a rule, com- munications relating to the administrations of the school should be addressed to the correspondent of the manage<rs, whiie matters personal to the teachers or other salaried officers may properly be a subject of communication to them direct." Mr Thos. Bury, Wrexham, held that the Board's letter practically meant. that nearly all communications should he addressed by that committee to the school managers. The managers in that and other instances had complained that they were practically overlooked and ignored, but clearly they were entitled to have all communications regarding the administration of the school sent to their correspondent. The Chairman said he did not take that view at all. He did not think they ought to be debarred in com- municating with their own official at the school upon any subject upon which they thought they should get information. If they had to write to the correspondent in every case that anything had to be attended to in the non-provided schools, the process would take such a long time "that the committee, as the real administrative body, would be powerless. Mr Bury pointed out that the Board held that matters personal to the teachers or other salaried officers only should be addressed direct to such nmcerJ and submitted that surely this excluded all other matters, and that the proper course to take, and the proper way to treat the managers was to send all matters regarding the administration of the school to them through the authorised correspondent. The Chairman said that the committee had fre- quently given their own executive powers tn small matters to their representative managers-in case of small repairs, the obtaining of small articles of furniture, and the like. Mr Bury said he objected to that altogether. From his experience of the Board of Education, he thought they would hold that the committee had no right to communicate with the representative managers only, and to split up the body of managers in that way. The managers should act only as a body, and should only be approached through their correspondent. This letter enflrmed that view. Mr G. Cromar said he presumed that this little de- parture had been obliged to be taken from the fact that they had not, as a committee, got, in a number of the non-provided school managing bodies, the sym- pathy and co-operation which they would desire. A number of the bodies had not met regularly, and consequently the organiser had been obliged to go directly to the representative managers. He (Atr Cromar) was sure there had been no desire to debar and over-ride the authority of the managers. The Chairman I would ask Mr Bury if he thinks there has been any broach of the law in any way. If there has been, perhaps he will state instances. Mr Bury: I am not aware of it, and I only call attention to the matter in order that there may not be, and in order that, by showing every proper courtesy to the managers, a better feeling may exist tha.n does exist at the present time between the bodies of managers and this authority. The matter was deferred for the drafting of a reply to the Board of Education. APPOINTMENTS. The following among other appointments were made, at the rate of salary set opposite each name, viz. Mr Llewellyn WilliMn., B.A., Assistant ..Master, Oolwyn Bay Higher Elementary School, zEI05 per annum. Miss Linda Carrington Jones, B.A., Assistant Mis- tress, Colwyn Bay Higher Elementary School. £ 90 per annum. Miss Annie J. Roberts, Uncertificated Assistant. Col- wyn Bay Infants' Council School. £45 per annum. Mr Alfred Rowberry Williams, Uncertificated Assis- tant, Denbigh Love Lane Boys' Council School. £ 55 per annum. Miss Catherine M. Evans, Uncertificated Teacher in charge, Mochdre Council School. L50 per annum. The following appointments by Church school mana- gers were confirmed, at the rate of salary set oppo- site each name, viz. — Miss Margaret W. Roberts, Uncertificated Assistant, Ruthin N.P. School. zC47 10s. Miss Edith Price, Uncertificated Assistant, Abergele Infants' N.P. School. R45 per annum. LLANYCHAN CHURCH SCHOOL. DIFFICULTY AS TO SALARY. A complaint wva submitted from one of the repre- sentative managers with respect to his not being- sum- moned to attend meetings of the managers. The mat- ter having been referred to Mr W. R. Evans (secretary) for report, and hit- report having been considered, it was resolved that the matter be not further proceeded with. The managers wrote that they had appointed Mr A. E. Jones, of Osmotherly, as headteacher of the school, at a salary of jBIOO per annum. It was resolved that the appointment be confirmed at a salary of tGO per annum. The committee also decided that Mr Jones he in- formed that the rea.sons why the salary fixed oy lie committee differed in amount from that advertised by the managers are that the average atter-danc^ at lie school is at present under 30. During the month of October it wis only 26.3; that the population of the district is decreasing, and it does not appear to the committee that there was any prospect of an increase in the number of children attending the school and that other schools of a similar character and size in the county were placed under the charge of an un- certificated teacher, and it appeared to the committee that a teacher thus qualified was adequate to the needs of the school. It was also decided to inform Mr Jones that the committee repudiated all liability in respect of agy sum offered by the managers over and above that fixed by the committee. RUTHIN COUNCIL SCHOOL. The resignation of Miss Minnie Pugh, Art. 50, Mixed Department, was submitted, as well as an application from the head teacher of the Mixed Department, for an increase in staff. It was decided that a male or female Art 50 be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Pugh. and that an inexperienced Art. 50 be also appointed on the staff. PONTFADOG CHURCH SCHOOL. Th resignation of Catherine M. Williams, Art. 68, was submitted, and a letter from correspondent asking the committee to appoint an assistant teacher to the school, as the managers were convinced that the school at present is understaffed. The committee agreed that the vacancy cajise.d by the resignation of Miss C. M. Williams be filled by the appointment of a supplementary teacher. LLANELIDAN CHURCH SCHOCL. The correspondent wrote that Miss Gertrude Jones, Art 68, had sent in her resignation, which would take effect on the 30th inst., and it was resolved that the vacancy be filled by the appointment of an Art. bS. ABERGELE CHURCH SOHOOL. A male Art. 50 is to be appointed to the staff of the boy»' department. DENBIGH FRONGOCH GIRLS' COUNCIL SCHOOL. The head teacher applied for an increase in staff, and it was decided to add an Art. 50 teacher. LLANRWST GIRLS' COUNCIL SCHOOL. It was resolved that Sarah Ellen Roberts, an cx- pupil teacher, be recognised as a supplementary t-eacher on the staff of the Llanrw*t Girls' Council School, and that she be paid at the rate of E25 per annum. ST. GEORGE CHURCH SCHOOL. The correspondent having called attention to Lhe staff of the school, the committee did not consider it necessary to increase it. FREE PLACES IN COLWYN BAY SCHOOL. The Board of Education wrote respecting the Oolwyn Bay Higher Elementary School that they were satis- fied with the provision of 15 free places at this school, and accordingly gave their formal consent to the im- position of an ordinary fee not exceeding 6d per week, under the provisions of Section 4 (1) of the Elementary Education Act, 1891." CAPRICIOUS REMOVALS. The head teacher of the Llanrwst Boys' Church Schools wrote a letter with legard to capricious re- movals. Mr Thomas Williams, Attendance Officer, also wrote upon the same subject. It was resolved that copies of the letters be sent to the Llanrwst district managers, and that they be asked to furnish the committee with their observations upon this matter. A letter from the headmaster of the 'Llanfair Tal Haiarn Council School re capricious removals was re- ferred to a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs D. S. ¡ Davies, Gomer Roberts, and William Griffiths, and the Rer. Thomas Lloyd, fo-r consideration and report. CERRIGYDRUIDION ATTENDANCE OFFICER. Mr D. J. Hughes, attendance officer for the Oerrigy- druidion district applied for an increase in salary, and was informed that his application waa premature. ATTENDANCE PROSECUTIONS AT RUTHIN. | Mr R. Griffiths, attendance officer for the Ruthin (' district asked ttie committee to allow him the ser- vices 'of an advocate in two prosecutions for non- attendance to be heard at the next Ruthin Police Court After full consideration of the matter, it was resolved that an advocate be employed at a fee not exceeding 10s 6d.