The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

Earmouth County School Governors. MONTHLY MEETING. I NO GERMAN TO BE TAUGHT. I The ordinary moathly meeting of the above Governors was held on Monday .afternoon at the County School. Pre- = sent:—the Rev. David Davies (chair- I chairman), the Rev. R. Lloyd I Roberts, M.A., R.D. (vice-chairman), Mrs Gwynoro Davies, the Rev. Gwynoro Davies, Alderman T. Martin Williams, J.P., Messrs Edward Wil- I liams, John Morgan, William Wynne, and R. W. Jones, C.C., with Mr R. Llewelyn Owen (clerk). The Head- master (Mr E. D. Jones, M.A.), was unavoidable absent through illness, but he was represented by Mr John Lloyd, M.A. A WELCOME. I The Chairman, at the outset, heartily welcomed Councillor R. W. Jones on his 'first appearance as a Governor.. i Mr R. W. Jones suitably responded. TUTORIAL CLASSES, I Mr Edward Williams enquired whether a reply had been received from the Merioneth Education Committee with regard to the Tutorial Classes. The Clerk reported he had sent up the Governors protest against the proposal to charge the sum of £ 10 on each county school area where the tutorial classes would be held, but a reply bad been re- ceived since, stating that the matter would be discussed at the next County Education Committee. Mr Edward Williams explained that his reason in bringing the matter before the Governors was that he had seen a paragraph in last week's Barmouth Advertiser to the effect that the classes would commence last Thursday. He should like to know who had arranged that these classes should he held in face of the Governors protest at the last meeting. The Clerk said that the only com- munication received was that tbe'matter would come forward at the next Edu- cation Committee. Mr Edward Williams said be should like to know who,, had arranged these classes at the back of the Governors. Alderman T. Martin Williams said that the Education Committee bad de- cided that each locality should pay the expense of the tutorial classes and he understood that it would be re-opened at the next County Committee. The Chairman asked why had the notice appeared in the Advertiser before the Governors bad a definite re- ply from the County Committee. Mr Edward Williams—Tnat is what I want to get at. Alderman Martin Williams explained that the County Education Committee had given an undertaking to the Aber- ystwyth University College for the tutorial classes to be held for a term of three years. Mr Edward Williams asked who had called these classes together as published in the Advertiser. Mr William Wynne said that it was only right to go on with the classes again this year if the Education Com- mittee had given an undertaking to hold the classes for a term of three years Mr Edward Williams said it was not right for the classes to be held without the Governors having a voice in the matter, especially if they bad to pay the sum of R10 for the classes; and the Governors should again protest against such procedure. He was not against the classes at all, but be wanted to do what was right and fair. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies thought it mean to have the classes without con- sulting the Governors who had to pay icio for the course. Alderman Martin Williams said that the sum of £ 10 would be kept from the general fund. The Rev. R. Lloyd Roberts, M.A., j asked had the Education Committee a I right to keep the ClO grant from the I funds of the school. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies said be doubted very much whether that could be done. Mr William Wynne saiil the classes would be held as an und rtaking bad been given for same to Le held for a I term of three years. I Mr Edward Williams said the only I thing they could do was to consult the I Governors on the matter so long as the Governors bad to pay for the classes. I The matter then dropped. I WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE? i Mr Edward Williams brought for- ward a matter which had been over- looked at the last meeting, with, re- ference to a sum of 15s. which was out- standing in respect to a young girl who had entered the school some few months ago from Blaenau Festiniog, owing to her parents coming to reside at Harlech. He should like to know who was re- sponsible for the 15s. due, as it was im- portant that the matter should be cleared now. The girl bad won a free place at Festiniog and wanted to be transferred to the Barmouth School, but the pupil bad entered the school before a reply had been received from the Board of Education on the, matter. He understood then that the Chairman (Rev. David Davies) bad gone respon- sible for the 15s. The Chairman said be had informed them that he would go responsible for the 15s., but he would pay the 15s. on condition that a certain sum which was due from the Barmouth Concert Committee was paid the same time. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies said that the girl was not to enter the school un- til a reply bad been received from the Board of Education on the matter, but as a matter of fact the girl was sent to school before a reply came from the Board of Education. The Chairman said that the girl entered the school on the strength of a resolution passed by the Governors to that effect. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies asked that the Clerk should read out the resolution passed by the Governors on the matter. The Clerk thereupon read out the resolution which was to the effect that the girl was not to some to school unless the Board of Education replied favour- ably. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies said that was the only point which he wished to be made clear. Mr John Morgan asked that the let- ter from the Board of Education should be read.' The Chairman asked what purpose would be reached by reading same as the matter bad been settled. The Rev. R. Lloyd Roberts, M.A., asked would the Chairman pay the 15s. without any conditions. The Chairman—Yes. Alderman Martin Williams enquired what was the balance due from the Barmouth Scholarship Committee. The Clerk replied that the amount due was £2 15 0 .The Chairman said he only mentioned the matter so as to prove that the Bar- mouth folks had not cleared up them- selves. t The matter then dropped. I A DEFICIENCY. I It was reported that there was an overdraft at the Bank amounting to X-219. WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. I The above Committee recommended that the joinery work to be done at the school during next year should be given to Messrs Davies & Jones, and the plumbing work to Mr W. J. Griffith.- It was reported that Mr David E. James, The Pharmacy, bad been asked to examine the chemicals in the seience department. Councillor R. W. Jones was appointed as an additional member on the Works Committee. LADIES VISITING COMMITTEE. I The above Committee recommended I that the practise of supplying the pupils with cocoa or coffee should be continued for this term.— Only one tender viz., Mrs Lloyd, Mal- vern House, had been received for the supplying of a mid-day meal for the pupils at 3d per head. Mr John Morgan pointed out that the Committee bad not discussed the tender received at all. They could not help that only one tender was received The Rev. Gwynoro Davies raised a point of order. Mr John Morgan said he would not give way to Mr Davies until he bad finished. He thought that the Gover- nors should give every consideration to the tender received. The Clerk reported that a further letter had been received from Mrs Lloyd on the matter, but the Governors decided that the letter should not be read. On the proposition of Mr William Wynne, it was decided that the Clerk should write Mrs Lloyd explaining that the Governors bad decided to keep to the system now in force with regard to catering for pupils who come from a distance. After some discussion it was decided, on the proposition of Mrs Gwynoro Davies, seconded by Mr John Morgan,to engage Mrs Evan Williams, Princes Avenue, as assistant cleaner at a salary of 2/6 a week. ABOUT THE CROCKERY. The Ladies Visting Committee re- commended that a quantity of crockery should be procured for the cookery department. Mr John Morgan pointed out that only a short time ago a good supply of cups and saucers were presented to the school, but now only a few were left. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies suggested that in future enamelled ones should be purchased. Lately he bad to eat from enamelled crockery. Alderman Martin Williams—But then you were not a free man. (Laugh- ter). The Cbairman-He was then a prisoner. (More Laughter). On the proposition of Mr Edward Williams, it was decided to leave the matter to the Visiting Committee with full power to act. RENOVATION. Mr John Morgan invited the Gover- nors to inspect the recent renovations carried out at the school, and which were most satisfactory. At the close of the meeting the Governors inspected same. DATE OF MEETINGS. On the proposition of the Rev. Gwynoro Davies, seconded by Mr William Wynne, it was decided that the monthly meetings should be held on the appointed days. SYMPATHY. I On the proposition of the Rev. Gwynoro Davies, seconded by Mr Ed- ward Williams, a vote ef sympathy was passed with the Rev. David Charles Edwards, M.A., Hafodybryn, in his ill- ness. NOTICE OF MOTION. I The Chairman moved his notice of motion that henceforth the Governors should allow the second and each succeeding pupil sent to school by any Charity at X-3 per annum instead of £ 4 10s. Od. Mr William Wynne in seconding, said he should like to see the day when Intermediate Education would be given free to all. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies said he bad given the matter every consideration, and he was sorry to say that he could not vote in favour of the notice of mot- ion. He should like to see the school fee being reduced to £ 3 but at present that could not be done. If the notice of motion cams to power, he was afraid that more accommodation would have to be given and also an assistant .C. teacher would have to be appointed, which would mean some extra expense. He believed it would be much better to defer the question for the present, and he proposed a resolution to that effect. Mr John Morgan, in seconding, said that be was afraid that it could not be done justat:present. He would be glad to'see the school fee reduced to all child- ren alike. He thought that under the present circumstances, it would be bet- ter to keep to the old system. Alderman Martin Williams said it was very encouraging to see an effort being made to get free education to all, but he felt that at present there were difficulties. He hoped to see before long, that County School Education would be given free to all classes of children. Mr Edward Williams said the only difficulty against the proposal now was the financial position of the school, and that was the only reason he could, not vote for it. He fully agreed with the notice of motion given by the Chair- man, but they could not do it just at present. The Chairman said he was afraid that too many obstacles had been raised. He did not think there would be more than about 15 pupils if the motion was carried, and the present buildings were large enough to accommodate 120 pupils. There would be no more ex- pense at all. He believed it would be a financial gain to the School if the thing was carried through. The Governors would in the long run be better off by accepting the notice of motion. It would not upset the present arrange- ments at the School in any way. After some further discussion, it was decided to leave matters as they were at present. I NO GERMAN TO BE TAUGHT. The Chairman asked had anyone any other matter to bring forward. Mr Edward Williams said be had one matter and that was he should like to know whether there was any facili- ties for the German language to be taught in school. Alderman Martin Williams-Do you expect the German Emperor to come here.—(Laughter). Mr William Wynne-Would you like to get a word with him.—(More laugh- ter). Mr Edward Williams said he should like to know whether German was part of the school curriculum ? Mr John Lloyd, M.A., said that Ger- man was not now being taught in school as no pupil seemed to required it, but there were members of the staff who were qualified to teach it. Mr Edward Williams said he was very glad for the remarks made by Mr John Lloyd. If it was not the case, he would have proposed a notice of motion that no pupil should be taught German. The Germans, he said, were quite near en- ough already. The Governors sat for two hours.