In a recent monthly meeting of the Board of Management at the Glin District School, chaired by P. Hayes. Representatives from the Conjoint Poor Law Unions of Limerick, Rathkeale, Newcastle West, Listowel, Kilmallock, and Groom gathered to discuss the institution’s performance. The meeting, which marked the conclusion of the year 1911-1912, took a critical turn as members expressed differing opinions on the school’s value and purpose.
Chairman P. Hayes opened the meeting by expressing gratitude to the attending members for their contributions throughout the year. He commended their ability and independence, asserting that the institution stood out as a valuable place where children received proper treatment and training to prepare them for the future.
However, not all members shared Chairman Hayes’ positive assessment. Mr Collins, representing the Listowel Union, voiced his dissent, arguing that he disagreed with the chairman regarding the institution’s worth. In Mr Collins’ view, and that of many others, the Glin District School was not worth half of the costs associated with its operation.
A major point of contention raised by Mr Collins was the school’s perceived role as a mere auxiliary for the Army and Navy. He expressed strong objections to this characterization, suggesting that the institution should serve a more practical purpose. He proposed that Glin District School should transform into an agricultural college, equipped with a substantial amount of land. In this revised form, the school could focus on educating boys in farming practices and essential life skills, providing them with a more tangible and valuable education.
Mr Collins emphasized the importance of hands-on training in agriculture, arguing that the current curriculum did not adequately prepare the students for practical life. He submitted that if an agricultural college were established, the boys would learn valuable skills that would enable them to lead self-sufficient lives. While acknowledging the potential expenses associated with such a transformation, Mr Collins insisted that the benefits of providing a more practical and applicable education would outweigh the costs.
The chairman’s response to Mr Collins’ criticism was not immediately available in the provided information. However, the exchange highlights a divergence of opinions within the Board of Management regarding the Glin District School’s purpose and effectiveness.
As the meeting concluded, the debate over the school’s direction and its alignment with the needs of the community remained unresolved. The contrasting views among board members reflected the broader challenge of balancing the institution’s costs with the perceived benefits it brings to the students and the community at large. The fate of the Glin District School and its potential transformation into an agricultural college remained an open question, leaving room for further discussions and decisions in the future.
Dublin Daily Express – Friday 31 May 1912
