The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1887-06-03 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

LLANGA.N AND ST. 'SAWMILL EDUCATION QUESTION.  To the Sditor of the "Central Glantergan Swans.* Sig—The writer of the account of a meeting of ratepayers to discuss the above question has done his best but still he has not done well. He ought to have been better informed upon the real state of the quit. tioa himself before undertaking to inform the public. It was not wise, at least, in the present state if affairs, to collect a gaping crowd around us to wstolt our proceedings. Later on it may be necessary he appeal tu an impartial jury of your readers; at present, the quickest way of arriving at a fair solution of a difficulty in a peaceable manner is he leave the ratepayers and school managers to themselves. " • little commln sense" mixed up with a little charity is all that we require. It is a question that really concerns the managers alone and if they like can be settled by them. All the members of the present Board and of the late Board agree that the management of he school has not been pleasant or swooesetul daring the last three er four years. We have mismanaged our schoolmistress and tor a time she was homed into opposition of individual members. She is a good schoolmistress and for the last eight years she has always got good reports. In spite of difficulties she passed 92 per Gent, last time. he has excreamed her regret to the Board if she hag shown want of judgment in the matter of ventilation. More than onus she has been told that her only fault in the eyes of the parish is that she "'pens the windows' when the children are in school and during cold weather. The minority of the Board together with H. M. Inspector think that ventilation is a matter that ought to be left to the discretion of the teacher. The majority of the Board think not and therefore notice has been given to the teacher on the ground that she "will not work with the Board." Not only have we mismanaged the schoolmistress but we have also mismanaged the parents. We have succeeded in frightening them clean out of their wits on the eubj .ot of ventilation. All the ailments of the children of late, not merely of the children who attend school but of those who don't are traced to these windows. H. M. Inspector was told that the death of three children was attributed to these windows. Two of those children had died of scarlet fever and had never been to sehool at all; the third, an infant, had died of a brain disease which the doctor has said was hereditary. Give them a little peace and quiet. no's and my poor frigtited sheep will come he themselves. . _  If the Board remains as at present constituted our difficulties will not be over by the dismissal of oar long-tried teacher. Nearly all the parents have petitioned against this, even the mother of the ' murdered infant" If two of the members could only persuade them. selves to take a holiday and let the head deacon of the chapel and one of the churehwardens of St. Ifary.hill take their place they would have the satisfaction of knowing that they were saving the ratepayers pocket. I do not think that any of them really believe that I want to play them talse, and, during the next two years, make all these little children champion, of the Church. There are not many of them who will say that the clergyman is not fit to be manager and tbat be ought not to trouble himself about the moral and intellectual welfare of his people. Some would like to tie his hands and feet, force him to do nothing, and then punish him for laziness. I have taken steps to clear what may have been a difficulty in the wey of my fellow members. One of them said in the meeting that with proper management they can save this £l5O in three years theinsel,es. I have given up the clerkship and shall content myself with the role of "silent member" each as contributes to the columns of newspapers. It is, however, a satisfaction to me to know that I have already saved the ratepayers about £7O; and I should have been very glad if they were willing to let me says them another £l5O. Bet perhaps times are not so bad about us; one thing is clear ' manners" are bad. I have never reoeived thanks for my gratuitous labour.; happily I did not expect any. Yours, ie., H. J. litrarrinuns.