Mexboro’ School Board.

The usual monthly meeting of the Mexboro’ School Board was held at their offices, High Street, Mexboro’, on Wednesday evening, when the following members were present: The Rev. H. Ellershaw (in the chair), Dr. Sykes, and Messrs. Tyas, Hart, and Fletcher.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed on the proposition of Mr. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. Tyas.

Attendance Officer’s Report.

Mr. V. Lockwood, the School Attendance Officer, read his report for the past month, which was as follows.

Summonses were issued in several cases, as ordered by the Board, on Jan. 27th. They were heard, and fines inflicted in each instance. The thirteen children have since attended regularly. All the fines inflicted by the magistrates have been paid. The average attendance at the National School has been 217; High Street, 198; Garden Street, 18?; Doncaster Road, 168.2; Congregational, 117 — total 889.2. There had been an increased attendance at the National School of 28; High Street, 55; Garden Street, 35; Doncaster Road, 63.2; Congregational, 91 — total 202.2. After the extraordinary removal of miners to Denaby the High Street and Doncaster Road Schools have far exceeded the past number of children in attendance. Miss Harrison gives the names of 97 children, and Mr. Hudson of many others who attend and who are paid for at Denaby. They state it would pay the Board to remit the fees. Miss Harrison writes that “the parents of those children who have gone to Denaby object to pay a double fee. Will you please consider this matter.” I have been to Denaby since and have seen the parents and used every endeavour to get them to send their children to school here. On examination day I have proffered each child a free ride to school.

There appeared to be difficulty with respect to the children of parents who have lately left Mexboro’ and gone to reside at Denaby. As the matter stood unless the children could be induced to attend the Mexboro’ schools until after the next examination a great loss would result to the Board through a deficiency in the amount of the Government grant.

Mr. Fletcher moved that the Chairman wait upon Mr. Wilkie on the matter.

Dr. Sykes said only 150 persons had gone to Denaby. There were 59 houses empty at the last census in Mexboro’ and there were 81 now. Calculating 5 to a house it would make a total of 110 persons.

Mr. Tyas said they should particularly request the Attendance Officer to pay attention to the cases in point up to the period of the next examination.

The Chairman said the parents objected to send them to school if they had to pay.

Mr. Tyas said they ought to be allowed to attend for nothing, as they were out of the parish. If they did not attend school at Mexboro’ it was a misfortune. They would lose the Government Grant and there was no way of redeeming it. The pit company were arbitrary and the Board could not summon them. Even if they remitted the children’s fees they probably would not travel to Mexboro’.

The Chairman said the case required special effort.

Mr. Tyas said they would have to pass a special resolution to make the children attend school at Mexboro’.

The Chairman said the question was whether the company would be willing, as they stopped the school fees from their men’s wages — and seeing that the children could not go to school at Denaby — to help the Board in the matter and hand over the money they stopped.

Mr. Fletcher said the Board made an arrangement with the mistress of the Doncaster Road Schools to pay her by the results of the examination. If the children did not make the requisite number of attendances through no fault of Miss Harrison she would lose her proportion of the grant.

The Clerk said on the other hand it was not the fault of the Board.

Mr. Tyas said they should try to come to some arrangement with the company. The Board got three-fourths of the grant.

The Attendance Officer said, wonderful to relate, many children came from Denaby to the Mexboro’ schools, and paid their money regularly.

Dr. Sykes said the Company stopped 4d. weekly from each family for educational purposes. He did not think they stopped the money from single men.

The attendance officer said a man and wife with no children paid just as much as a man with a family of ten children.

The Chairman asked whether it would be worth while to see if the Company would assist the Board by using what influence they possessed to get the parents of those children who had been in the Board Schools to attend them up to the time of the examination. If not, the Board would have to remit the fees and let them come.

Mr. Tyas said many persons had left Mexboro’ for Denaby within the last month.

Mr. Fletcher said the Clerk could obtain a correct list from Miss Harrison of those children who were removed to Denaby.

Dr. Sykes moved that an advertisement be published to the effect that children whose parents removed to Denaby within the last two months should be allowed to attend the Board’s School until the examination was over, free of cost.

The Chairman said a notice sent to each parent would be better.

Dr. Sykes withdrew his motion and Mr. Fletcher moved that the Clerk obtain a list of those who had made the necessary attendance, or were likely to make them, and submit the list to the Chairman, the latter to use his influence with Mr. Wilkie in the matter.

The Clerk said he will say, “We do not want the children. We shall have to remit their fees.”

Dr. Sykes said the company were prepared to build new schools, and all the money they could get was to be applied for that purpose.

Mr. Tyas said they should press upon the Attendance Officer the necessity of doing his utmost in the Denaby cases and let them attend the Mexboro’ Schools up to the period of the examination. He moved that those children be allowed to attend the Mexboro’ schools free.

Mr. Hart seconded, and it was carried.