The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-02-10 00:00:00

KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL BOARD

In the absence of the Rev. T. L.-0141'21ton
throu4l2 illness, Mr. E. S. Haines (vice-ohairm4l32%
presided at the last meeting of the old Board, heid
on Ttiesday, in the Moor-street Bard Schools,
Brierley Hill. Some mouths ago a resolution was
passed by the Board, engaging bar. Day to c9n-
duct a religious examination for a bum of £lOO 10s.
awl this acr.ount was n3w recommended y the
Finance Committee lor payment.
_ . _

Dr. Bodington m.,ved-aiantamendment that the
legality of the plyment be referred to the Lords'
Committee of the Council on Edueation. He
afterwards handed in his . a.kiendinent in writing,
and it stood, as f Mows :—"That the competency of
Mr Day to accep . the efile of inspector of re-
ligious knowledge be referred to the , Lords'
Commitive of Council on Education." His verbal
atnen.daient was seconded, but when he 13 yi re-
duced it to writing toe. seconder - withd ew, and
no other member would do so: Tnere was a long
discussion on the subject, in _ which all the meth-
hers took took part.—
Dr. Bodington said the action of Mr. Day, in
taking the apeOintmeet of examiner in religious
knowledge was a violation of tne strict impartiality
which ought to guide their proceedi gs, and wa,
an acceptance of a position of partisanship .
The Chairman defended the action of the inspect-
. tor in accepting the appointment, and .Raid no one
could object to the way in which Mr. Day carried
out the religious examination. Moreover, said the
ehairman, he could not put such an emendineat
as Dr Bedingtou:s to the meeting, a* it seeined to
him it would be like passing a vote of censure ,en
Mr. Day.
The rep irt of the 'Finaecei Committee Was then
adopted.
Th i chairman (Mr. Haines) tea 4 a bitter which
he had r,!ceived from the .11,-,v. V. IA: Claughtonj
ohairman of the Board, explaining his enforced
absence, and acknowledging the suppoit which
had been accorded to him as chairman. The work
Vley had done, the water pointed out,would endure
when their differences were buried, and their plan-s
filled by others. 'Tile Ohairman, after expressing
regret at the abs-inCe of Mr. Cfaughton, reviexed
the work of the Board for the past three years. He
'noticed-the formation of a Schools Management
Committee, a change of system which had resulted
in a saving of much inconvenience to teschers, and
others in having their accounts p Aid through the
cle:k instead of through saver 11 treasurers. Next
' there Iva,; the census of children of school age in
the distr.et, which was 'necessary to be made to
'enable the Board to grapple with the question of
the amouni o.f school accommodation required. Ir.
Was found that, the number of children of school
. age in the distrie was 8,322, and- of .this number
1,431 did not at, ent.i any school whatever. The
'Board had done its titmost to provide accommoda-
tion for that large deficienpy. The Government
grant from 1880 to 1881 amounted £5,411 - 7s. 8:1:
as compared with £3,943 6s. 3d. for the preceding
three years. Notwithstanding the great necessary
outlay in land and buddingb., due regard had been
had to the workint, expenses; A modified scale, of
salaries to the head teach:vs had been arranged,
' whereby they now only received one-third of the
Government grant, instead of oue.half. With re-
gard to the rec.:di-As, these for the last three years
amounted only to £7,000, and that notwithstanding
the double precept which was issued last time, but
from 1877 to 1880 the precepts amounted to
£7,900. He hoped future Boards would have as
.good an account to give of themselves as the pieseta
BOard•had done. I
_

On the mntion of Mr. W. Bar 1)w, seconded by
Mr. W. Waldron, a .vote of thank i was pas3ad to
.the Ilev. T. L. Claughton Ohairman) for his arvjces
during the past three years.