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Finance
Several cheques were drawn, including one for £200 to Mr. E. Michell, builder, on the certificate of the architect.
New School
A letter was received from the Education Board sanctioning the plans and specifications for the North End School. They also consented to the borrowing of a loan of £3,101 on the security of the School Board funds and the rates, this being £580 for the site and £2,521 for the premises. – The Clerk said he had written to ask if the Education Board would sanction the extension of the time for repayment if the Board borrowed the money in the open market, but had not yet received a reply. – After a short discussion the clerk was instructed to obtain a loan on the most favourable terms in the open market if the Education Board would allow the repayments in fifty years by equal instalments of principal and interest; if not, that he apply to the Public Works Loan Commissioners. – At a later stage of the meeting, on the motion of Messrs. Chettle and Noble, the seal of the Board was affixed to the contract for the building of the school. The contract had been prepared by Messrs. Sharman, Jackson, and Archer, and had been signed by Mr. Swindall. The contract price was £2,139, and the work was to be completed by November 1st. – Mr. Noble asked if the fair wages clause had been inserted, and was answered in the affirmative.
Resignation
A letter was read from Miss Sargent resigning her position as assistant mistress at the Alfred-street Girls’ School, and asking for a testimonial. – On the proposal of Mrs. Vann, seconded by Mr. Noble, the resignation was accepted, the appointment of a successor being left to a committee of the Board.
School Boards Association
Mr. Bradfield reported upon the meeting of the Association of School Boards, held just before Whitsuntide, to which Mr. Wescombe and he were appointed delegates, dealing more especially with the discussion upon the Government’s Education Bill. The gathering at which the discussion took place was one of the most excited and enthusiastic he had ever attended. The whole tone of the meeting impressed him, for whilst among a thousand delegates, representing 350 School Boards, there were naturally some enamoured of the prospects of the Voluntary schools, and who supported the Bill, yet even these would have been better satisfied if further aid had been given without interfering with the School Boards. The speaker also gave details of the constitution of the association, together with the names of the chairman, vice-chairman, and committee, and described how the resolutions passed, on the suggestion of the executive committee, objected to the proposed local authorities, whilst approving of one central local authority; protested against the destruction of School Boards, and held that school authorities should be directly elected; held that many areas would be found too large for efficient working, held that higher education should be placed under the same authority, and protested against the severance of evening schools from day schools, and against the age limit of 15 years; and offered other criticisms on the Bill. Most of the speakers objected to the destruction of School Boards and held that the Government had received no mandate from the country to deal with the education question. He (Mr. Bradfield) had been most impressed with the addresses of the chairman (the Hon. Lyulph Stanley), Dr. Bruce, chairman of the Huddersfield School Board, and the Rev. Canon Ives, of Gateshead. – On the motion of Mr. Mantle, seconded by Mr. Vorley, the delegates were thanked for their attendance and Mr. Bradfield for his report.
Labour Examination
The Clerk reported that arrangements had been made for the labour examination on the following Saturday, and that about 100 scholars were expected to be present.
Attendance Officer’s Report
A letter was read from Mr. Bayes (attendance officer) reporting that the parents who had refused to attend before the Board for not sending their children to school had been summoned and fined. Though some of them had stated to members of the Board that they had received no notice to attend the Board meeting they did not repeat that statement before the Bench. He also reported that he was grossly insulted by John O’Brien on Whit-Monday in the presence of a large number of children. – The Board held that the last-named fact was most inexcusable.
Too Many Holidays
The Chairman pointed out that Thursday and Friday of Coronation week had been proclaimed public holidays, and they could not open the schools on that day, and asked if the Board would decide what the length of the holiday should be on that occasion. – Mr. Bradfield proposed, and Mrs. Vann seconded, that the schools be closed for the whole of the week. – The Chairman pointed out that the Kettering Board had fixed two days. Then at Rushden the Sunday school treats were coming on, which would break into several school days, in addition to the month’s holiday that would soon come. – Mr. Bradfield thought that the treats should be brought into that week. It was vexatious that they broke into so many school days. – Messrs. Corby, Vorley, and Noble thought that two days would be sufficient in view of the number of other holidays. – Mr. Bradfield would not press his motion, seeing that the majority of the Board were against it. He had moved it without comment simply to test the meeting, though as a loyal subject of the King he could justify it, and thought that the children should be impressed with the event. – Mr. Chettle suggested that the schools should close at noon on the Wednesday, but ultimately the question was referred to the meeting of the Board in committee. – With regard to the school treats, it was decided that the schools close on Monday afternoon in view of the Park-road Wesleyan treat, and Mr. Vorley undertook to obtain particulars of other treats.
| 07 March 1902 - Northampton Mercury
W’boro Divisional Petty Sessions |
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