The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-24 00:00:00

BROMSGROVB.

PROPOSED FORMATIOX OP A SCHOOL UOARD.—A meet-
ing of the ratepayers was held sit the Town Hall, on Tues•
day night, to eozsider the question of providing the re-
quisite school acaommodation for the pariah, by meana
of voluntary subscriptions, in order to render
the foundation of • School Board.—Mr. Jefferie. ;
the chairman of the Local Board, was voted to the chair,
and, having read the notice convening the meeting pointwi
out that the reel question for the consideration of the
meeting was whether the amount required to provide
the additional school aeeommodadion, a. ordered by the
Educational Department, should be raised by voluntary
subscriptions, or • School Board formed for the parish.
involving it in great difficulty and religious strife. He
had been informed that if the work proposed to be car-
ried out by the present school managers at a cost of Eiffel
was earned out by • Board uuder the Education De.
pertinent, the cost would be £l,lOO or £1,500. There
had been no complaint of the late management, and he
hoped the school would be allowed to go on in the present
very satisfactory way.—Mr. W. Ho'pooh., thought every
tgort should be used by the farmers of the parish to raise
the money required, as if a Board was established the
rates would press most heavily upon them. He wed will.
ing to continue his work for the school., and they might
do well for many years to rouse without • Board. He
considered the British Schools might have been carried
on, and the present agitation avoided, and he for one
should have been pleased if solicited to have subscribed
to them, and so would many others—The Rev. li. Davies
Independent Minister, in reply to the observations res-
pecting the public schools, which were under the man
&gement of his congregation, stated the closing of those
schools was not altogether • qaeation of subscriptions.
A notice was received before the schools were closed that
a school must be established within a certain time at the
Lickey End. so that the parishioners would be in just
the same difficulty as they were at the present if the
British School was still in existence. He explained that
the inspector insisted upon a better education being given
in those schools, and that infants should be separately
taught, or the grant would he discontinued. The man-
ager experienced great difficulty in providing a teacher
and as there appeared no possibility of obtaieing the
Government grant, it RAS derided to close the sauna..
His impression was that a School Board would have to be
formed sooner or later, as it would be impossible to get
hold of the glitter children without the Board. It would
he cheaper and better to at once battle with the ditlicalty
as the time would come when those children most be
educated.—Mr. Saywell was of opinion that Goverment
could grant compulsory powers to denominational schools
as well as School Boards.—Other questions were asked,
and the matter was fully discussed, and it was resolved
to endeavour to raise the requisite amount for erecting
the school at Licky End. • canvass was made ia the
room, and promises ef subscription. amounting to £BO
ware made. A. £'29o has been previciaely promised, this
raises one-half the amount reqtured.