The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-03 00:00:00

MSFVF,R.

The Clerk said that as Mr. Scott was a ores-

ber of that committee he did not think there
would be anything wrong in allowing him to
have the report to make a copy of it. Mr. Scott
had promised to bring it there that evening.—
At this juncture Mr. Scott entered the room,
and placed the report upon the table .
Mr. Prescott said that he did not consider it
right to allow any man—he did not care whether
it was Mr. scott or any one else—to take away
reports. Hew did they know what might be
done with them. He knew very well that the
Education Department would not allow of such
a proceeding. He asked if any of those pre-
sent had seen the report.
One or two of the members of the committee
said they bad seen it, and if they did not, object,
they did not think any one else had cause to
complain.
After a few other remarks, the subject
dropped.

NOTICE TO RESCIND A MOTION.
Mr. Prescott then gave notice to rescind a
motion which had been proposed by Mr. Scott
at the former meeting and carried, directing the
Board to consult an architect.
! THE NOTICES ON THE AGENDA PAPER.
The Chairman said the next business was to
receive the report of the General Purposes
Cemmittee.
Mr. Prescott, who had been loaking at the
agenda, said he ',lust protest against the irregu-
lar manner in which the business was doua. No
business ought to be done at that Board, with-
out notice of it had been previously given by
some member.
The Cuairman said he objected to these inter-
ruptions.
Mr. Prescott asked by whose authority these
notices had been placed upon the agenda paper.
Mr. Billlngham said the Board had discussed
the questions referred to, and by doing what he
had the Clerk had simply acted in accordance
with the spirit manifested by the Board in the
course of the discussion.
GENERAL PURPOSES COHNITTER's REPORT.
Mr. Scott read the report of the General
Purposes' Committee, which was as follows :
" The questions referred to us were those of
the probable expense of building a school, the
site for that purpose, and the framing of regu-
lations for the business of the Board. On the
first point, we addressed the following enquiries
to Mr. Stu:damn Smith, architect. _

" 1. You are requested to slate the probable
cost of erecting a school in this township for
311 children, with ordinary materials, with two
schoobrooms. You need not consider class-
rooaus or infants rooms, except so far as required
by the Department. You need not include cost
of site,or that of school furniture.

"2. Please answer the same question for a
school of 330.
"3. Also, for a school of 400 children.

"We hivie received the following reply :

SXITH'eI REPLY.
' Stoarbridge School Board.
To the Chairman of the Board.
'Gentlemen,
'lu compliance with Instructions received, I beg to
report as follows .
. . .

11. The cost of erecting school buildings to accommo-
date 311 children, including lavatories, lobbies, S:c., to
each school, giving the minimum area to each child, will
probably be £1,6011 to £1,700, or thereabouts.
• 2. For 350 children, £135 additional.
' 3. For 41h) children, £445 additional.
' The above does not include enclosure walls of site,
playgrounds, or • master's house; but all permanent fit-
tings in the school-room.
. .

adoptioo, or otherwiae,:of clams-rooms would not
materially affect the cost, not increasing the area of fluor
apace, but I am of opinion it will bu requisite to provide
one class room to each school.

' The same will apply to the division of schools into
boys, girls, and infants' rooms, which I am of opinion
will also be required by the Department.
.1 beg to suggest for the consideration of the Board
the following diviaion of accommodation—
%. .boys.
119.. infants.

, In many of the Board Schools recently arranged it
has been found desirable to provide a small room for
babies attached to the infant school.

' lila above additions will be made at a small cost,
with a room over for the meetiugs of the board, il
thought desirable.
• 1 am, Gentlemen,
• Yours obediently,
• on iI.SIAN SMITH.
_

To G. Perry,
' Stourbrolge, Dee. rah, 1813?

"Mr. Smith who attended the meeting by in-
vitation, added verbally that the probable cost
of a master's house would be .t3OO.

"The second subject, that of site, is one on
which, though we way have formed a decided
opinion, we hesitate,to press lion our colleagues,
considering that all the members of the Board
should be equally associated in so important a
determination. But on Tuesday, December
16th, the Committee, together with the Clerk
and the Architect, walked over Hanbury Hilt
and through the district of The Heath, and
Longlauds, looking at several pieces of ground
which were pointed out as probably available.
They could not satisfy themselves that any site,
either near to the Heath turnpike or in the
Longlauds possessed the requisite qualifications.
Objections might be taken tither on sanhary
grounds, or from the too great distance Iron,
any leading thoroughfare, or the badness of the
approachea. But it seemed otherwise with re-
gard to the level piece of ground ou the top of
Haubury Hill, adjoining the property of the
Hospital school. This appeared to satisfy in a
remarkable degree, all the conditions just inti-
mated. The Committee think it right to recom-
mend, in the first instance. this site. But they
also wish to speak very favourably of the plot of
ground at the corner of Worcester.street. and
Hill-street, on the north side of Hill-street,
which appear to them equally suitable for the
purpose.
"In order to assist the Board in framing the
regulations the committee prepared a complete
scheme in writing. It is based on the regula-
tions of the Stafford Board, improved, as the
committee think by occasional omissions and by
the adoption of some clauses from the London
Code."

Mr. Prescott enquired who showed them the
various sites.

Mr. Scott informed him that they selected
th m themselves.

Mr. Prescott asked what were the prices of the
plots of land referred to in the report of the
General Purposes Committee.

Mr. Scott said he had no memorandum, and
he did not think it di.tdrable to trust hi a memory
in such a matter.

3lr. Prescott asked if they had looked at a
site near Kay, the corner's. There were also
some other suitable spots. There was a piece
of land at the hack of St. Thomas's Church,
which he thought would do very wel!. They
must bear in mind that as far as Hanbury lull
was concerned they would find a great difficulty
in obtaining water there ; and there were other
reasons which would render it an undesirable
site.

The Chairman said it was absolutely neces-
sary that a site should be selected suitable for
the whole township. Although irtvas expressed
by the Department that the school should be
within an easy distance of the Giguaill, ho was
of opinion that it should be as central as pos-
sible, consistent with that idea. He had no
doubt the Committee would be very glad to re-
ceive any suggestions from any member of the
Board who was not on that Committee.

Mr Walker remarked that the Committee did
not wish to press for any particular site.
The Chairman said they could all of them
make enquiries.
Mr. Prescott then spoke of the advantages
offered by the piece of land he had before re-
ferred to, which is in the property of Mr. Whit-
well, and is situated in Market•street, near to
St. Thomas's church. Ile considered that place
afforded every facility, as it was central, and
the entrance to it would be in a quiet thorough-
fare, where children would not be in danger of
being run over when going into or leaving the
school.

Mr. Wall asked if Mr. Prescott knew whether
Mr. Whitwell wanted to sell the land he had
spoken of.
Mr. Prescott replied that was not a question
for them. If that Board thought it desirable
to build their school there they could compel
Mr. Whitwell to sell it to them.
Mr. Scott remarked with reference to what
had been said as to the necessity for a central
situation for the school, he did not think that
the sites indicated in the report would be found
to be inconven;ent. If the school was ererfed
at Hanbury Hill the children would be brought
a little way out of the town, which would be a

very good thing for them, and he thought it was
therefore very desirable to go a little way out of
the town. They had to look to the future as
well as to the present, aud it was quite possible
that in a few years to come a school at Hanbury
Hill would be in the centre of a populous neigh-
bourhood. He also thought it was necessary for
them to satisfy the conditions imposed upon
them by the Department with reference to plac-
ing the school within easy access of the big.
mill district. He, however, thought it would be
best to leave the question in the hands of the
whole Board.

Mr. Stringer said he felt he should like to
have an opportunity of consulting his colleagues.
He thought the cost of each site should be ob-
tained at the same time. No doubt the judg-
ment of the committee would eventually be the
one adopted, but he thought he should like to
have the chauce of viewing the places before he
decided. In 20 years hence the town would be-
come larger, and they must legislate for the
future, and he did not think the Giginill was one
bit too far for the purpose of a school. It was
not absolutely necessary that the school should
be in the township. He begged to move that
the report be received.
Mr. Wall seconded this.

Mr. Prescott said thero was one important
point which they must not overlook. What were
they to do for water if liaubury Hill was selec•
ted.

The Chairman reminded Mr. Prescott that
this was beside the present question. The
motion had first to be put to the meetiug.
Mr. Scott, in a lengthy speech, detailed the
various reasons which had influenced the Com-
mittee in drawing up their report. lie showed
that by adopting either of the sites recom•
mended by the Committee they would be able to
place the Board School in a position equally ac•
cessible to the town and the Urigmill ; and the
' sites were in every other respect suitable. He
also referred to the estimates for building fur-
nished by the architect, and said that with the
view of a probable increase in the want of
school accommodation in the future, and the
slight difference in the cost, he, for one, should
I think it advisable, instead of confining them-
, selves to the limit of providing accommodation
for 311 children, to build a school capable of
bolding 350 or even 400 children. He had been
reading a work by an American author, in which
the writer ascribes the alleged decrease of popu-
lation in that country to the progress of educa-
tion—(laughter). lie (Mr. Scott) did tint anti-
cipate such a result as that in England, and was
of opinion that the decrease of population in
America was due to the climate, or ether causes,
and not to education. There had been a great
increase in the population of the town during
the last few years, and they could but reason-
ably expect there would be a proportionate in-
crease in the future. Consequently, when they !
came to build they must not only think of the
present, but should look forward to 10 or even I
20 years hence. It was probable that that Board
would have in future to provide for a much
larger number of children than at present. It
seemed to him that there was a certain amount
of prejudice against School Board schools, be-
cause it was believed that such bodies were more
inclined for secular eduucation than the mans-
,1
gers of other schools. Until this feeling had
worn away he thought there would be a natural
amount of prejudice against the School Board
school. There were provisions in the Act en-
abling those who had the control of other
schools to transfer their management to School
Boards and participate in the grant, on certain
conditions. It seemed to him that there was a
feeling that they ought to do this; but he
thought that applied to London and other large
towns, where, the accommodation being sufficient,
they were obliged to return them back again. He
did not think it would be good policy in a small
town like this to allow the managers of schools to
retain the management in their hands if they
were denominational schools. But he strongly
opposed a denominational school, however liberal
it might be, participating inn local rate unless that
Board retained it in their hands, it was perfectly
possible that schools in that neighbourhood might
become theirs in that way. These schools were
already open, and would accommodate a certain
number of children. Tiny had also 1,, eonsider
whether in the future—in the course of ilethetd or
twenty years—acconmodation would be deraionlcil'
at the hands of the School Board which was now I
supplied by denominational schools. Although
his knowledge of building was very limited, he
knew that if there was one thing more expensive
than another, it was to build in such a way that
they would have to alter it after the building was
over; therefore, he thought they ought to do it
well whilst they were about it fie was convinced
that school boards were important institutions,
calculated to effect a considerable amount of good,
and Stourbridge was admirably situated for the
development of school board education, and he
therefore thought that if they made an error they
should do it in the opposite direction, and make
the schools rather too large than too narrow.
Large schools, to, would always attract more
children than small ones, and for these and other
reagens which he had previously mentioned he
was decidedly of opinion that it would bo best to
build a large and commodious school.

The ChaTrinan said the question at present be-
fore the meeting. was the adoption of the report.
Mr. Prescott asked if that was to close the dis-
cussion.

He was replied to in the negative. After which
the Chairman put Mr. Stringer's motion to the
meeting, and declared it carried. He also informed
Mr. Scott that his propositions would be carefully
considered at a meeting of that Board.
Hr. Prescott said he felt surprised to hear the
remlrks about the increase of population in Stour-
bridge. He should have thought a tradesman who
had been in the town as long as Mr. Stringer,
must have known better than that. Within the
last few years there had been no new works erec-
ted; neither was there any land for sale in the
town, so taht it was impossible for there tobe any
in the size of the town. And as soon as the rail-
way was opened it would draw away the labouring
classes. The managers of St. John's School and
of St. Thomas's School would be glad to get shut
of their own schools. The population of this
town, according to the last census, was 9,ooo—that
was reckoning every man, woman, and child, and
he was confident no further school accommodation
was required in the town.
The Chairman said he could not allow this. The
question before the Board was the question of a
site for the school, mud he most request thetu to
keep to it.
Mr. Prescott said they had allowed Mr. Scott to
wander from the question, and he thought—
Mr. Wall said he must rise to order. The next
meeting of the Board would be called to consider
these sites, as well us—

Pi °nett objected to this. Ile wanted to
know if that report was to stifle discussion.
Mr. Scott attempted to speak, but
Mr. Prescott said he was in possession of the
chair. Mr. Scott was clearly out of order. He
asked if any of the General Purposes Committee
had seen that report before they Caine there?
Mr. Walker : Don't answer the question.
The Chairman again requested Mr. Prescott to
confine himself to the question.
Mr. Prescott said he MO a right to go into that
report. And he asked for it now, and he would
take it seriathu—(laughter, and a voice "Oh. let
him). It was no use to say, "Oh, let him," to him.
He would take that question before a public meet-
ing and see how they would like a vote.of censure
on their conduct. - - -

The Chairman called Mr. Prescott to order.
Mr. Wall said at the present moment there was
no question before the Board. He therefore
begged to move that that meeting, at its close, be
adjourned till that day fortnight at eleven o'clock
in the morning, in order to decide the questions
of sites and building.
This was seconded by Mr. Stringer, and carried.
Mr. Prescott said he would see if they would
stand a vote of censure upon them. He knew
there was none of them who would like to go be-
fore a public meeting on that subject.