EDUCATION BOARD

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 143, 6 April 1877, Page 7

EDUCATION BOARD

The usual monthly meeting- of tho Education Bnnrd was held on the 28th Snst. Present : the Chairman (J;imes Maeandrew, hyq.) t Br . ( j Mrssn J. L. Gillie?, Green, Lnmsden, and Burns. THE PTISW SCHOOL AT BROAD BAY. A depuration of members of the North-East Harbour School Committee was heard on the subject of the proposed liew school at Broad Bay. The members of the deputation represented that the new school which the Education ftnnrd h-ir) pfinctionpd would be the •mean* ot destroying the school at NorthEast Harbour ; that it would reduce the attendance from 36 to 10 ; and that the tiew school was quite unnecessary. They contended that the reasons urged in fuvour of a school at Broad Bay were based on filse returns — The members •of the previous deputation from Broad Bay were next heard in defence of th.oir action. They claimed that the Board having sanctioned the school, and all the preliminary arrangements havingbeen taken for the erection of a new school, it would be a breach of faith and •a gross injustice to alter the arrangements arrived at. It was mentioned that L4O had been collected towards the -new school, and Messrs Mercer and Boss spoke strongly in favour of the "Board adhering to theii* resolution. — On tlie motion of Mr Burns, seconded by Mr Gillies, it was decided to adhere -'to the former decision respecting the ; xiew school. NEW SCHOOL AT NORTH DUNEDIN. Mr Bell, as Chairman of the Dunedin School Committee, brought under the attention of the Board the dilapidated and unsuitable state of the present school at North Dunedin, and the necessity of building a new school to meet the increased requirements of the neighbourhood. — Mr Sherwin remarked that there were 500 or 600 children in the locality, and pointed out that the present school buildings were so inconveniently arranged that the head master : could not properly superintend them — Mr Bell suggested that as there were nearly 600 children on the books of the now, it would be necessary to provide a school capable of accommodating 700. — Professor M'Gregor said ;he buiieved Dunedin was almost sin - jrular as regarded the number of children that did not attend school, and he considered the absence of proper facilities and sufficient schools was, to a large •extent, the cause of this most unsatisfactory state of affairs. Me considered two or fhrtp schools instead of one were nvanted at North Dunedin. — The Chnir>man said the policy usually adopted by the Board was to contribute a proportion of cost of new schools, leaving the residents to contribute the rest themselves. — Mr Gillies said he would support a proposal for the Board to eontriimte two- thirds of the cost of a new •school. — Prof. M'Gregor said that would •only be postponing the question indefinitely, as the Committee had no funds 'for the purpose. — The Chairman said Mr Gillies had thrown out a suggestion. : tlj:it tlie Church Trustees should contribute a portion of their large educational •endowment. — Mr Bell apprehended that 'thin would be getting in the thin end of ■denoiniuationalism, and suggested that 1 if an application was to be made to the 'trustees it should come from the Board. ■ — Mr Ramsay supported the views : urgecl by Professor M'Gregor — Mr Burns and Mr Gillies objected to making fish of one and flesh of another. Th* country schools were simply subsidised, and there was no reason why the city schools should be differently treated. - — Mr Bell pointed out that the other schools of the city had been erected in'd?pendpntly of any contribution from the residents. — Mr Gillies said they had the Provincial Government to assist them at that time — Mr Lumsden replied that in view of the large demands ■of the country districts, the Board would not be justified in doing more than subsidising the new city school. — Professor 3l'Grpgor pointed out that in the city •there was a larger number of poorer •families than in the country, and referred to the special consideration to which the city was entitled. — Mr Bell; suggested that the old Middle District ■School site might be disposed of, and the proceeds applied to the construction of the new school. — Mr Green admitted the force of all that had been urged by the members of the School Committee, but considered with the funcU at their 'disposal they could only grant twothirds towards the cost of construction. — On the motion of Mr Gillies, it was resolved to allow of a subsidy of twothirds'of the cost of the new building. — In reply to Mr S. James, the Chairman the School Committee would have the privilege of realising on The sale of the old school buildings, and it was intimated that the estimated cost 1 of the new school would be L 3600. SOUTHLAND. Mr Evans appeared hefore the Board to urge the erection of a school at the Gap, "Southland. — The establishment had been recommended by the inspector, and the application was granted. FORBDRY SCHOOL. It was resolved to rescind the previous -resolution granting one-half cost of repairs to Forbury School, -and to; allow two-thirds. SHAG POTNT. A memorial was read from -certain residents at Shag Point, in the Palmerston district, applying for the establishment of a new school.— The Board re-

solved to commnnicate with tlie Palmerstoa School Committee on the. subject. TM. PAIRS AND ADDITIONS. The fi.llou'ijig' applications for twothirds costs of repairs were granted ; — B-ilcliitha, LOO: Wnihola, L 37 10s; Mwtou, 1/27 15s ; Blackstone, L3O ; '• v aikivi, LBS ; Alexandra, L 52 10s; Pukeuri, LlB 15s. With reference to •••dditions to new school building's twothirds were allowed on the following* estimates of cost: — Blue Spur, LIOO ; Portobello, LIOO ; Palmerston, L2OO ; Porburj, L 160; Arrow, Winton, and Bluff, L2OO. The sum of L 466 was allowed for the completion of the Middle District School. NEW SCHOOLS. The following- applications were dealt with :— Ryal Rush, deferred ; Crookston, referred to inspector. It was re-, solved to open the school at Livingstone, Maerewhenia. TEACHERS. Applications were received for singing" teachers at Fairfax and Flag 1 Swamp Schools, and for a schoolmistress for Waipori. — The appointments were deferred, pending receipt of annual returns. The Dunedin Committee recommended the appointment of Misses Wilson and Hawkes for the Middle School. — The recommendation was sanctioned, subject to the inspector's approval. PROBATIONERS. On the recommendation of Mr Fitzgerald, provisional certificates as probationers were granted to Ehenezer Hewat, Esau Fisher, and Jas. M'Pherson, of the Normal School. Inspector Taylor reported Miss Annie Burn as having passed third-class certificate examination. Mr E. Hewat was appointed junior assistant to Mr Fitzgerald. Mr A. G-. Allan, of Green Island, applied to have his school at North Dunedin placed under the Education Board, offering to subject it to the usual inspections, and intimating that it contained 50 pupils. — The Board decided that they had no power to entertain the proposal. HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS. In the absence of Professor Shand the resolutions in reference to High School scholarships were postponed, as also were Mr Gillies' motions re High School management. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed amounting to L 8039 13s Bd. SCHOOL BOOKS. A report was submitted recommending" that steps be taken to have a uniform system of books for the different schools. — The report was adopted, the Board deciding- to act on tb.3 suggestion. HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC. The following report was submitted by Mr Gillies, and adopted :— - Your Committee have carefully considered the subject of music-teaching in the Girls' High School remitter! to them by the 3oard, and they beg to report : 1. That they deem it essential to the success of the school, and also just to the pupils, that arrangements be made for placing within reach of the pupils tlie means of acquiring a knowledge of music, both vocal and instrumental, at a reasonable rate. 2. That they are decidedly of the opinion that the pupils cannot attend music lessons outside the school without materially interfering with the efficient working of classes in the essential subjects of study which are embraced in the ordinary school course. 3. That, as circumstances necessitate a •careful reconsideration at the present time of the whole question of music instruction in the school, your Committee are of opinion that the interests of the pupils and the school will be best advanced by including music in the list of special subjects to be taught by a staff of teachers appointed by the Board for that purpose. 4. That your -Committee are -of opinion that the fee for instrumental music (pianoforte) should not exceed L 2 2s, and for advanced pupils, L 3 3s per quarter ; and that instruction in singing, apart from the ordinary class lessons, may be left to special arrangements between parents and teachers, with' the concurrence of the lady principal as to the hours. 5. Your Committee believe'the fees proposed to be charged will yield a sum exceeSiug LSOO per annum, and they recommend that application for appointments as music teachers be invited forthwith — say, one teacher at L2OO, and two' teachers at 1/150 each per annum. 6. That the appointments be made at next monthly meeting, if possible, and that, meanwhile, the lady principal be requested to prepare a draft of the regulations and conditions under which the proposed music teachers should be engaged. Your Committee, after careful consideration of the number of pupils andclasses and'ihe'work to be done at the Girls' High School, beg to recom-mend-that a junior assistant at !LSO per annum be appointed. They are of opinion, from their own personal knowledge, and by inquiries made by them, that Miss Burn is well qualified foi the post ; and they recommend her nppointment, provided she pass the examination prescribed, by the Board for certified teachers. After some further routine business had been transacted, tlie Board ad-journed.—-Guardian.