The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

CARNARVONSHIRE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. THE BETTWSYCOED CONTROVERSY. SINGULAR DISPUTE. TWO CHURCH SCHOCLS TO BE CLOSES. PROPOSED HIGHER STANDARD SCHOOL AT CARNARVON. (By Our Reporter). 'A meeting of the Carnarvonshire Education Committee was held to-day week, at Carnarvon. Mr D- P. Williams (chairman) pre- sided, and tihe other members present were the Revs-. G. Ceidieg Roberts, O. G. Owen (Alafon), W. W. Lloyd, Mrs Jones (Oeridwen Peris), Messrs Lssard Davies, J. R. Pritchard, Dr. Ro- bert Owen, Messrs Maurice Jones, J. Eva.n Roberts, R. 0. Jones, CadwaJadr Humphreys, Wm. George, Abel Williams, R. E. Jones, G. Hu-g'hes Roberts. Huyh Owen (Llandudno Junc- tion), Robert Roberts, Griffith Jones, W- J. Parry, R. Jones Roberts, Ed. Robjiis, J. T- Jones, Dr. R. A. Prichard, with Mr L. J. Ro- berts, H.M. Inspector, the Secretary (Mr Evan R. Davies), and the Assistant Secretary (Mr David Thomas). VOTE OF SYMPATHY. MIl IB-SARD DAVIES moved a vote of sym- pathy wit-h the Civairinan on the death of his ■wife, and i-aici that he had the committee's heart- felt sympathy. Mr J. R. PRITCHARD seconded the vote, Which was carried ia silence. SALARIES OF TEACHERS. Mr .HUGH OWEN complained of the salary paid to a young !adv in the Peamachno district. Mr ISSARD DAVIES, Chairman of tho Staff Committee, said that the appeal ought to go before a Charity Committer. Mr HUGH OWEN: Yes; we hav'nt much cfaarrty here In another case. Dr. OWEN oomplained that & girl teacher did not get a salary sufiiciexit to buy her fringe nets (laughter)- THE BETTWSYCOED CONTROVERSY. The Staff Committee reported having re- ceived a letter from Mr Corns, oti behalf of the Bettwsycoed ratepayers, expressing un- abated confidence in Mr Roland as a school- master, and asking the Education Committee to iecsnsider his case, if possible, in public. The committee decided to inform the Edu- catiou Authority that they havfY given the case every consideration, and regretted their inability to ieopen the matter. Oa the agenda was the tallowing reselutioii passed at a public meeting at Bettwsyeoed.— "That we, as ratepayers ana parents of Bctlwsycoed, in public meeting assenakled, being dissatisfied with the manner in which Mr Koland's case has been tried by tho County Education Committee, hereby resolve to do all in our power to see that the whole circumstances of the case are thoroughly in- vestigated." Mr W. GEORGE stated that the ca&a was rather a painful and difficult cue, and it had bsen before the committee from time to time in difiercrit forms. From tho newspapers they les.rnt that the circumstances had beeo before tSie ratepayers who had expressed unabated con- ti-denoo in .M r nobnd, and wanted his case re- opened- It struck barn that the resolution of the sjiaff Committee was somewhat curt and pre- eanptory. and he was certain it was the wish of the committee to havo it known that. they had veil the cao their most serious consideration, and that they had come to a conclusion which waa not only just towards Mr Rowland, but ■which war in th-ir opinion a Liberal one (hear, itear). Athe same time lie dial not think the rorrimittc/) wished to stand in tho way of any ir.quiry by all independent body. They were no airai-d of Pitch an inquiry, and he suggested that an addition should be niado to tho resolu- tion to the eiieet that while tho committee re- £ :ctteer their inability to re-open th-t- matter they Lad no objection to an inquiry being held by tlio Loard of Education. They had 110 to I;t into conflict with any of their constituents. They had dccided the matter to the bc-ht of tfceir ability. The SECRETARY reported that he had re- cei-v???d a let?er tilat oil Nc)vcnii>ar 12, at ,a i)zL)'io at l?ettN%-s?,,L,,ed dlss zutiafa,?ti4oii ,v -ts cxprlc.6-c-d a-3 *,k) the dec?s)*QD of ti?c co.-rirnit- tke 'n regard to Lllt- 'iii, tjlzt j? and i in.,Lti3ig a petition was L?oirig prel?ared for pret?ent&- tion to the committee feigned by residents. The resolution embodied in a petition signed by 90 residents hoped tha.t Mr Roland would bo reinstated in ilia former position, because he bad suite his appointment raised school from a low position to a high standard; that the re- ports of H.M. Inspectr3 of the school had alwajs been favourable; that tLe suooess of the eohcoi in gaming counSy scholarships has been greater than other schools of th-a &a.me size, and Nlr ltolan-i Nvai hi.Liv rr)?ed as a morn- ber of the community, and had g, ven much ser- vice to the county." The following letter was read from Mr L. J. Roberts, H.M. Inspector, who reported on Mr scho<)d:- "Lp^to now I have not taken any notice of the ebullitions in the local newspapers and elsewhere of MLr W. II. Roland after the re- port upon his 6chool iast year. I impe J, however, to refute a recent statement made by him to the eli'ect that it was at the request of the Education Committee that I visited live school. This statement like others which do not deserve notice, i3 absolutely without foundation. No member of tho oommittêe or any one connected with the committee, asked me to visit the school. The visiit was paid in the course of my ordinary rounds, when I waa visiting other schooia in the Vale of Conway. Tboere was nothrng unusual in tha time or in tho manner of the inspection- I see it ie stated a that I described the school as the 'rowdi- est in the county-' Though I found eerioua fault with the discipline tliat vulgar adjective is not in my report, nor was any comparison made with other schools in the county. My daily life during the past sixteen years has been spent in the schools of inlid-Wales and of North Wales. I have visited almost c-very eclioal in seve.n cr eight counties, and almost without exception it has been a delight and a pleasure to visit thern so excellent is tho tonus- One bare fact remains that the discipline m this little school was the worst. I have ever ween and it would have been a dereliction of duty on my part not to call attention to it. I need hardly remind you that my opinion -was conxirmad in the report made indep>an<lent- ly by the Drawing Inspector for Wales, who also, after his visit iast year, described the school as the worst he had seen for many years. Mr Taylor went so far as to recom- mend the Board of Education to insist on E.n assistant being employed who could teach drawing, inasmuch as Mr Rolar.d was unable or unwilling to teach this subject properly. I understand that this is not the first time for Mr Roland to find fault with the inspector's report. "I should like to add that by his intemperate behaviour he has failed to gain the support of the teachers of the county, who would be the first, and rightly so—to defend one of them- selves from injustice, a-nd that after inquiring to th.0 officials af tl,,e National 1n Union of Teachers sent a special message to me to express regret that a member of their bod'v had behaved so unfairly towards one whom the teachers had a!ways found to be just. For a year I have remained silent whiles misleading and perverted statements have been made. The report is a fair and just one, a;nd I merely (h my duty in writing it. and I am not ashamed that 1 did so. (Signed) L. J. Roberts." The CHAIRMAN referred to* the statement made at the public meeting that before visiting Mr Roland's school tie Inspector had an inter- view with the Chairman of the Education Com- mittee. That was absolutely incorrect; he never hod an interview with the inspector- Tho SECRETARY read the report of the In- spector on the school with regard to which the Headmaster took exception. The school, stated tho Inspector, had an untidy appearance, and something mi;'h.t be done to make the school- rcom axti'i-cti vo. There was unceasing rest- lesgnesc on the part of the children, and the headmaster should aim at mainta.ining better order at the school. Mr EDWARD ROBERTS, late II-M. Inspec- tor of Schools, stated that the report of Mr L. J. Roberts was perfectly fair. Mr Roland waa a very good fellow in many wajs. He knew him when he was a pupil teaclier, but he had never been a strong disciplinarian, but rather h- the rever-ze. Dzwing ad constantly been re- ferred to a a weak subject- As regarded the premises ho did not seem to have particular sympathy towards neatness, and the absence of dust. He was more or less incorrigible so the Inspectors ceased to warn him a.bout it, hoping that before long there would be the further in- ducement of new premises to bring him to his right senses with regard to cleanliness and order. In seven points out of ten Mr Roland was an efficient teacher, but in regard to the other three he was backward* His drawing and order had always been weak features. He would have written the eame about tile school, and it was a perfectly fair report. Mr GEORGE did not think the committee should raise any objection to an independent, public in- quiry into all the circumstances by the Board of Education. Aftor all said and done the report as it stood did not justify a dismissal, and tho committee feit that Mr Roland had brought it all on himself by his injudicious conduct- The committee were out of court at present, and they were not the proper tribunal to re-open the question. The CHAIRMAN We cannot object if they wish for an inquirer. Mr GEORGE: Yes, but we should put it on record. Mr W. J- PARRY seconded tHe resolution that an inquiry should be held. 1 Mr JONES ROBERTS said it was the easiest tiring in the. world to v, ork up n public meet- ing, aDd he had b:en told that several influ- elitia., gentlern-en wh<) at,f,,?ided tl)e meeting di id not realty want to s'o there. Statements had been made Mr G EORG E Is it right, to go into these ? Mr JONES IWBERTS: I have a right to mention it. He oomplained thai several maccu- rate statements had been mado. I Mr RICHARD DAVIES thought that the j first move s.ouId come from Mr Roland and not from the committee (hear, heu.r). For what was a. moderate report one of H M. Inspector's had been criticised and attacked, and the head- maotor hud flown at everyone all round- If all the teaohers resented every vrora of criticism in that manner thero would be no possibility of czLrr3-ilLt?, on the, (.)f Llie comi-D*ttee. Ho k-ric- that the ooTi!.?eclu2noe,3 ,ycre Eeril ,ous to Mr RLIIUDLL %vho, kb(>ul,J first a.T).o'.cgise. T'lo CIlAiP,?AIAN tdiat inli Roland h,ud been E'ix-eii every ?'airplay by the c?orinlit- II too He appealed to tlie committee to give an- other chance to Mr Roland though they felt that he did not deserve it. Mr lssard Davies, Mr Xxl- Roberts, and interviewed Mr Roland, and the questions asked him were fair and rea- sonable. Ho (Mr Williams) ar-ked him whether ho had any don re to remain in the service ol the commiutoe: "J decline to answer- you, he said. Ho had bc-en absolutely obstructive all a.cng the iline. However, nothing would be lo.it by acquiescing in the request for an inquiry which niigiiit, appease the neighbourhood and v. on Id show teat they had no desire to be g-ainst Mr Roland- Mr NV- J. PARI-IY: And most likely "the ■Board of Education will resume the enquiry. _refolut.on that the committee would raiso no c,b to an kidopendsnt and public in- quIry by the Board of Education into tile matter Pus z" almost unanimously. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. THE COUNTY'S HIGH RECORD. An (?-trac,t from the Board ed l-?ducat, 'l -ro- 'urrl,- &iow-eki th--t (?arnarv<)xishire Lt ? '?o" a,d d th e- list for the whotle of Wa.es for tlie past vear. with a. percentuige of 91.2. The peroeuitage few the whole of Wales was 83.8. PROPOSED HIGHEH. STANDARD SCHOOL. AT CARNARVON. The South Carnarvon Enquiry Committee re- ported having held an enquiry in regard to the proposed higher standard fioh*x)l at Carnarvon. Co mm unications were submitted from Mr Rd. Thomas, on behalf of Sir Wm. Clarke, Mr J. Issurd Davies; Messrs Nee and Gordon Saberta. on behalf of Alrs Farren; Mr R P. Hording, on behalf cif Mr Assheton-Smith; and the London and North-Western Railway Company, intti- miating thotr will.ugncsa to seiil certain sites cn certain stated terms- Before arriving at any de- finite conclusion with rogaird to the selection of a site, it v.as roaoi'vod that further enquiries be made as to prjjefi, etc., but that the following sites 00 selected in tlie following order of pre- ference:—South-road (loft), South-road (right), opposite Quellyn, Vicarago ficid, Cae Hampton, and B-etheJ-road. It was decided to rnako en- quiaics as to the poeaibiiity of obtaining tine land at the top of Victoria-road. The area to bs acquired is as nearly as possible H acres, and that it was recommended that appiiicaition do made to the Local Government Board for per- mission to borrow B6086 or thereabouts. The Secretary was instructed to obtain all possible information with regard to the selected sites. Mr ISSARD DAVIES complained that not one of the surrounding districts who would ftÆcl the proposed new school was represented at the inquiry. Mr J. R. PRJTCHARD hoped that the school would bo placed in a convenient part of the town. REVISED ACCOMMODATION IN THE SCHOOLS. The Building Committee reported having re- ceived 3, fetter from tho Board of Education., a_I d,.t they had rc--calc,,ilated the "t t', dation in the Public Elementary Schools in Car- narvonshire on a basis allowing not les3 than 10 square feet of floor 6paoe for each older child and .nine square feet for each infant. In the case of schools where the recognised accom- modation docs not at present exceed that calcu- lated on the ten or nuM square feet, basi-s no aI- tera.tio.n has been made in the figures. Subject to any observation from the authority, the Board proposed that the recognised accommodation o>f tho schools in Carnarvonshire shall be revised after July 3.1st, 1310. BETHEL COUNCIL SCHOOL. The Building Committee rer,ortoo having con- sidered proposals for an improvement scheme at this school n-ext year, the scheme to include tho purchase of additional land at tlie rear of the school to the extent of 900 yards or so, and the removal of the infant gallery. LLANDINORWIC CHURCH SCHOOL The Building Committee statad that they had met Mr Harding, of the Vavnoi Estate, with re- ference to the reqü.i r>emCIIlt3 of the Board of Education at this school, and the Inspector paid ho thought it would be very difficult to adapt the existing school premises for continued use and recognition- The COUNTY ARCHITECT confirmed this view, and stated that he anticipated that it would cost not far from £ 1590 to carry out an improve men t sicheme on the linos of the schemes already carried out by tllie committee of Coun- cil Schools. Mr HARDING asked that a rough estimate of the cost should be furn shed by the County Council, whan he would consider the matter with Mr Asshetcn-Smith, s.nd inform the committee t'-i?-Y wou.-d i :adviF,,e. The (,o?i-i, mittee instructed the architect to do this. PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL AT PORT- DINORWIC. It was reported that an inquiry had been held at PortdinoTw-ic into an application for a new school for tho use of the AberpwiJ district. Sixty- eight parents and ratepayers were present, anid supported the application, th,, cas-c for which was stJfksd by Mr R. I'. Hard-ng, Mr 'Hugh Owen, and the Rrv Keinion Thomas. The CHAIRMAN pointed out that tlie accommoda- tion at the Portdktorwic Council School wus al- ready taxed to tjio full, and that there was but a very small margin of aoeoimncdatioji aA tho Ldanfairisgaer Church Salnx*l. There was a unanimity of opinion in favour cf tho ncoeaiity for a -.schocj ,)r<)vided for and a?ll st?,tid- Qr?L?i, but iii vl'e-?v c?f th-e f:?,ct ijiz,,t it was p,-ito wclc) to c?hi?glren ? i cta-,i.dard. at sm IJ I a -ohc?'s, the committoe were strongly of opinion that the requirements of the district would be met if a school was provided for ail ohildren up to the fourth standard, and so far as they wore able to judge from the. statistics furn-shed, a school I for 15-J would adequately meet the present re quirements. They roaonimended accordingly that the necessary steps should bo tahen to provide a sohoai for this number. A local committee wa. appointed to confer with the Education Committee as to a suitable site for the nsvv school, and it was vpcrted that lh.e committee were already in communication with Mr Aschetcrn-Smith with the view oT ascer- taining from him what sUo or l3.h were avail- able- Mr ISSARD DAVIES remarked^that, their ex- pcrieuoo of providing edhools oi tlie de.:cr-pr>nn rce, for Portdm-v-TWic was rather Ln un- fortunate one. There were two complete schools Portdmorwic, and the result, would be that once they provided smoh a school, the residents wo-tild a.j, for a complete school for all standards- It was not tlie DOlicy of the committee to main- tain in a. place Lkc Portdinorwic th.reo largo sclioola fully a tailed. Mr E. ROBERTS said that tncro was some sensa in the rc-lu,-st of the parentis that. Lc -,t '?;ECREI'All'?' i,aintc(i that the Port- r ex (!nonv'c Co',lq bc' C()U"d not. bc' C'?.! 9'cK'. Mr GEORGE What is the good of us build- e' in,(r a school r '?Tbe The fiyiiiiees of the county won't allov?, us to build suc?b a s(-hool. Mr What is tile u,,?e of build- ing a school at all; The SECRETARY: The Board of Educa- tion have been asking to increase the school accommodation at Portdinorwic. The report was adopted. TEACHERS' SCALE OF SALARIES. Mr ISSARD DAVIES moved: "That this authority, in justice to the teachers in our elementary schools and in fulfilment of our promises made time and again, complete forthwith its scale of salaries." He pointed out that they had a scale of salaries for in- ferior teachers, and it worked remarkably well. Time after time they had promised a scale of salaries to their teachers, and he was sick of offering excuses. They had pro- n-rised the N.U.T. to frame a scale. The motion was not seconded. RESIGNATION OF MR ALLAN SON riCTON. Mr J. Allanson Picton wrote resigning his position on the committee. On the motion of Mr GEORGE it wis de- cided to ask Mr Pictcn to reconsider his decision, and to retain his seat until March next. BETHEL COUNCIL SCHOOL. It was decided to ask the County Council to sanction the borrowing of a sum not ex- ceeding X1850 for the improvements con- templated in respect of Bethel Council School. DEINIOLEN COUNCIL SCHOOL. A letter was read from the Board of Educa- tion stating that they were prepared to re- cognise the buildings of the Deiniol Coun- cil School without further alteration, beyond minor defects and current repairs, for a period of three years, but they hoped that the authority would proceed quickly to formu- late their proposals for dealing with the school supply of the district generally, and especially to decide what action they would take in respect of the Llandinorwic Church School, in order that, when the period of three years expired, the necessary provision might have been completed. LLANARMON CHURCH SCHOOL. The South Carnarvoushire Enquiry Com- mittee presented a report as to the necessity for continuing the maintenance of the Llan- armon Church School as a public elementary school. The Rev. John Davies (correspond- ent), Colonel Lloyd Evans, a manager, and 37 other ratepayers attended the inquiry. The Correspondent stated that the num- ber of children now on books was 25, the attendance having gone down from 67,because Chwilog School had been opened against the ratepayers' wish. He strongly advocated the neces?-I ,ty of cont'iiu Iii-, the maiiite,.iance of the school, and in this he was supported by several present, who spoke equally strong by several present,who spoke equally strongly upon the matter. The committee went in detail through the list of children now at- tending the school, and found that 10 out of 25 were resident nearer to other schools than Llanarrnon. The committee were quite satisfied that there was no real necessity for continuing the maintenance of the school, which was only about a mile from Chwilog Council School on one side and Llangybi ou the other side. The committee found that the number of books at Lianarmon School was only 13, and that the average attendance for the complete year ended October 31st was 21. They, therefore, recommended that the school should cease as a public elementary school from November 30th, 1900, or any other date approved by the Board of Education. ALTERATION IN THE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL SCHEME. Mr ISSARD DAVIES inquired whether it was intended to submit the new intermediate education scheme to the various governing bodiea before it was adopted. The CHAIRMAN said that the committee's report would not be binding. It would be circulated amongst the local bodies, and it would only form a recommendation to the Statutory Committee for their consideration. USEFULNESS OF A CHURCH SCHOOL. COMMITTEE DECIDE NOT TO CLOSE IT. The North Carnarvonshire Enquiry Com- mittee reported having considered' the posi- tion of the Glan Rhyd Idwal Church School, Llandegai Mountain. The Rev. W. Morgan put in a petition on behalf of the residents of the district praying for the continuance of the school, and spoke in support of it. He pointed out that the thirteen children now attending the school were subjected to con- siderable hardships in the winter months in getting to and from the school as the roads were often snow hound. Many of the children had to walk two miles to the school, and if they were compelled to attend either at Capel Curig or Bcthesda they could hardly be. relieved of the necessity of walking a considerable distance, even if a conveyance was provided to carry them part of the way. The school was considered a great boon, and had been highly spoken of. Every rate- payer in Llandegai was favourable to the con- tinuance of the school, and Mr R. C. Trench, Mr W. E. Jones, Blaen y Nant, and Mr John Williams spoke in favour of the school being continued. The committee were satisfied that it would be a hardship under existing conditions to close the school. as they were satisfied that it had already been the means of providing educational advantages to children in the most inaccessible part of the county. Ihe report was confirmed. EGLWYSRHOS (LLANDUDNO) SCHOOL TO BE CLOSED. The North Carnarvonshire Enquiry Com- mittee reported having considered the posi- tion of the Eglwysrhos (Llandudno; Church School. It was stated that the number of children now on the registers of the school was 14. The Rev. J. F. Reece urged that the closing of the school would cause regret and inconvenience to the residents as they had great affection for it. The present attend- ance was small, but there were several houses without children, and the circumstances might be altered in four or five years. Mr E. E. Bone and Mr G. A. Hum- phreys, 01 behalf of Lady Augusta Mostvn and Lord Mostyn, also urged that the school should be continued, especially >n riew of the fact that an endowment was at- tached to the school. The committee stated that they were forced to conclude that there was no necessity for continuing the maintenance of the school. The average number of children CD the admission register had de- clincd fi-oifj 2C, in 1,105 to -'L4 for tle vear e-.ided Febrii",i-y, 190-9. There. were ti-iree other selools within 11 miles of the school, 2 and two others within two miles, and it was stated that some of the children lived quite a .s near to otlier schools as to this. Tlioit-"i tli(,, wilool had only onf, cei-tifcated teacher', the education of the 14 children attending- it cost over £ 5 a head. They recommended that the maintenance of the school be dis- continued after December 31st, 1909, and that pending a suitable vacancy arising the engagement of Mrs Williams, who is in charge of the school, be continued as a sup- ply teacher in the Llandudno district.