The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-10-30 00:00:00

ROWLEY SCHOOL BOARD.

Mr. NV, Bassano (chairman), presided at the
monthly meeting of the above Board, held on
Monday afternoon at Old Hill. The other mem-
bers present were Messrs. Stta,wson, Whitley,
Green, Hadley, Edwards, and Ker.
The Chairman laid before the Board the yearly
report as to the various Board. Schools in the
parish. It showed that at the Old Hill scLool,
which was built to accommodate 600 scholars,
there were 709 names on the register, and an
average attendance of 540 children, the grant
earned during the year having averaged 15s 7d
per bead. Cradley Heath school, built to accom-
medate 600, had on its register 689 scholars, with
an average attendance of 457, the average amount
of grant earned being 17s 2d. Knowle school,
built to accomrcodate 400; on register 361; aver-
age attendance 249; average amount of grant, 15s
9d. Tividale School, built to acco nmodata 400;
on register, 438; average attendance, 286; average
am ,unt of gr int, 14s 9d. Blackheath sch .01,
built to accommodate 700; on register 652 ; aver-
age attendance 366 With regard to the last-
named school, the chairman explained that it had
' only been recently opened, and that taking this
into consideration the results had so far been
quite satisfactory. The statement ftne her showed
that the total cost of erecting the whole of the
schools had amounted to £25,642, the total accam-
modation provided being for 2,700 children, the
average cost amounting to .29 9s 11.28 d rer head.
The total working expenses for the yea,r were
shown as amountino. to £3,675 178 Bd, and from
this was deducted £2,271 15s 10d the total receipts
excepting rates, leaving £1,404. is 10d, and by
adding to this latter amount ,21, 866 12s 4d. for
school and establi-hment charges (El3s 9 92d per
head), it left £3,270 14s 2d, the total amouir, to be
raised by ra'es.
The Chairman said he thought the Board would
a3e the s•thools had done very well in the face of the
difficulties as to bad attendance with which the
teachers had to contend. lie had no doubt that
there would be a much more satisfaatory report if
a better attendance could be obtained—(hear,
hear). He believed, taking the tea hers altogether
that they were a very efficient staff, and that they
worked heartily for the good of the schools —(hear,
hear). He also made seme remarks as to economy
with regard to the teaching staff, a' d after some
discussion, upon the suggestion of Mr. Greeti, the
report was referred to a committee I.r their con-
sideration.
The Chairman said since the last meeting he I
had examined the schedule, and 1, and a large '
number of children who would be probably taken
away fr ,m the a .hool an I put on as half-timers if
the stand rds were lowered. He thought thl in-
jury that woul I be done to the ehildren and the
ratepayers would more than counterbalance the
benefit that might accrue to a few parents by
reason of their being able to take their children
away from sc 00l a tid put them to work e.‘rlier ;
therefore he was not prepared to go on with any
resolution fur rescinding tee bye-laws—(h ar,
her).
The attendance offic r .(Ir. Hodgetts), report al
an irereas d attendance et al. the schcols during
the month, the average attendance having in-
creased iron) 2,066 and a percentaee of 71, to
2.221. or a pereeatage of 75. At Cradlcy Heath
School the attenclanc ! in the infants' department
was slightly lower than last month owing to the
prevalence of whooping cough in that distridt.
Permission was asked to summou it number of per-
sons wh, neglected to send their childien to
se'tool. The report was adopted.
A letter was read from Mr. A. G. Hayes (elerk
to the o.d Hill just:ces) stating, in reply to the
Board's request, that in all future .School Board
prosecution,. the magistrates would order each de-
flidant !o pay a fix d fee not exeeedine ss, to iu-
elude the fine and the cos's, and would protup.,ly
1
enforce the coavictions ; and if the same older were
paidyloy the derenclants, no claim would in such
eases be made upon-t he Board.