Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), Thursday 15 March 1883, page 6


The Dunmore Public School.

Fat some considerable time past an opinion -a very general one-has prevailed amongst the inhabitants of Large and district that the accommodation afforded at Dunmore Public school was altogether inadequate to the re-quirements of the district, and steps have at last been taken to urge upon the Minister of .Public Instruction the desirableness of granting increased facilities for carrying on the important work of education at this School -. and the promoters have strong grounds for moving in this direction. Like many other similar buildings in this district, the Dunmore Public school was built with an eye to present rather than to future require-ments, the result being that with an increased daily attendance it lacks many conveniences ; and these disadvantages will have to be en-dured unless the people interested move in the matter. The department does not appear to anticipate the requirements of a

locality in this particular: the people must suggest every little thing that ís needed, and when needful wants are brought under notice, an unconscionable delay takes place before they are carried into effect. The school-house at Dunmore is a plain building, and apart from the limited ac-

commodation it offers for effective educational

Work, it has the disadvantage of being situated an unreasonable distance from the Post Office and School of Arts ; and also needs strengthening. Of course its situation cannot now be discussed: the building is there, and there it must remain. But the inhabitants complain of the delay that has occurred in the erection of a class-room, the preliminary steps for the construction of which were taken some five months ago. Since then action has been delayed. Under the provisions of the Public Instruction Act the 15th section-the department is re-quired to provide a class-room adapted for the more efficient conduct of any school where there is a regular attendance of not fewer than fifty pupils. At the Dunmore School there is an average attendance of between eighty and ninety, we believe,

and the number on the roll is over one hundred and twenty. The build-ing was designed to accommodate ninety children. There is no class-room : all the children receive instruction in the same building. It will be understood, therefore,

that the present agitation for increased ac-, commodation is a just and reasonable one. In any school a class-room is a very valuable aid to the arrangements for carrying on the education of the pupils. It affords special facilities for the imparting of lessons free from, any interruption that might be occa-

sioned if the whole of the children were

present. Class-rooms are also used by visit-ing clergymen for imparting religious instruction. On three or four occasions lately the Bev. Canon Tyrrell has visited the School, with the object of imparting Biblical instruction, and has been obliged to take the scholars into an open weatherahed, for the want of a more suitable place.

A practical step has at last been taken with the view of remedying this state of things. A meeting was held at Large on Monday evening, Mr. George Roberts in the chair. The attendance was small, though the meeting was unanimous.

The Chairman, presuming that all were agreed that increased accommodation in the shape of a class-room was neces-sary, said it behoved them to ask the Minister of Public Instruction to comply with their request. Anything that would be conducive to the benefit of the children would

prove beneficial to the district. Therefore they should endeavour to see that these benefits were secured. According to the Act this school was entitled to a class-room, in which Biblical instruction could be imparted, and the arrangements of the school facilitated. Tho Act compelled persons to send their children to school. If parents fulfilled their duty, the Department should be expected to do it's. The residents of Large were desirous of obtaining what the Act said they were entitled to. It was very desirable that a class room should be provided.

It was suggested that a wing, as was at first suggested, would strengthen the side of the building, which was very weak.

Mr. W. A. Unicomb asked the meeting to consent to a resolution affirming the desir-ableness of making application to the Minister of Public Instruction for the erection of a class-room in connexion with the Dunmore Public School, in accord-ance with the terms of the 15th section of the Public Instruction Act. He felt sure from had been stated that they were quite justified in asking for the increased facilities required. The act made provision for Ministers of the different denominations to meet in the schoolroom, and impart to the children Biblical instruction. At present there was no class in which the ministers could meet the children and perform this duty. It had been stated that tenders bad been called for the class-room, five months ago, and only one tender was received. A suggestion was then made that a wing be erected, with the view to strengthen the building. Since that time no further action had been taken, and as there had been con-siderable delay he thought they were now taking the right step.

Mr. W. Short seconded the resolution.

Mr. H. H. Bennett said they were merely asking for what they were entitled to. The act made provision tor class-rooms, and as the Dunmore School had the required attendance lie did not see how their claims could be re-fused.

Mr. Jenkins supported. The 17th section of the act provided that religious instruction may be given in any class room of any Public School. The object of the meeting that night was to take steps to obtain a class-room. All were aware that the Rev. Canon Tyrrell had visited the school two or three times lately,

and had to take the children into the weatherered. Many persons objected to their children being taken into the weathershed.

The Chairman, in putting the resolution, said it conveyed all that was absolutely necessary. A class-room was required. It

was not well that the children should receive religious instruction in the schoolroom, as the attention of those scholars who did not take part would be distracted from their other duties. It was therefore quite desirable that they should take this action.

The resolution was unanimously approved. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Allan, seconded by Mr. Bennett, that Messrs. Wisdom and Burns, M's.L.A., be written to acquainting them of the resolution carried by the meeting, and requesting them

to use their influence in endeavouring to have the suggestion carried into effect.

Mr. W. A. Uncomb was appointed secre-

tary.

votes of thanks were passed to the repre-sentative of this journal, and to the Chair-man, and having been duly acknowledged, the meeting'ended.