EDUCATION BOARD.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 151, 1 June 1877, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD.

At the Board's monthly meeting on Wednesday there were present— Messrs Macandrew (chairman), Burns, Green, and Gillies, Professor Shaud. DEPUTATIONS. A deputation from Portobello, headed by Mr Coneys, appeared for the purpose of inducing the Board to grant LIOO towards the enlargement of the schoolhouse at Portobello. They represented the present building as being 18 x 30ft, and last summer there were seventy-two children in it, and now, in consequence of its crowded state, children had to be sent to a private school. The Board granted the request. The committee of Kuri Bush school represented that the small attendance, in consequence of which the Board had decided to close the school, was owing to bad roads, and if the locale of the school was shifted it would become flourishing. It was decided to apply to the Land Board for a new site, and to remove the school at the committee's request. The Miller's Flat people represented that there was a large building in the district suitable for a schoolhouse that could be purchased, and applied for assistance. The Board intimated its willingness to contribute two-thirds, but before definitely deciding desired to be informed as to the exact sum to be paid for the building, and Messrs Green and Gillies were appointed a sub-committee to conclude arrangements. Applications- to raise the status of schools were received from Waitahuna Gully, Mataura Bridge, and Bannockburn. The last was declined— the other schools to be erected into main schools. APPLICATIONS FOR NEW SCHOOLS. It was decided to establish a side school at Gore. An application from Eweburn was postponed. MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY RATES. The Secretary drew attention to this matter. Application had been made to the Board for the payment of the following amounts as municipal and county rates : — High School, LSO ; North-east Valley, L 3 15s ; section at Soutii School, Ll 5s ; Normal School, L2B 2s 6d ; Sawyer's Bay, L 3. The Chairman said public schools were exempt from taxation. Mr Burns : Such is not the case. The Chairman : The Act was amended in the Upper House, and I am perfectly sure that Dr Grace moved the Council into committee on the third reading. Mr Burns : it was knocked out in our House again. The Secretary said he had been asked by the Sawyer's Bay Committee to bring the matter before the Board, as tlie committee did not feel justified in setting apart any portion of its means for the payment of rates. The committee had no funds at its disposal, except school fees, and if they spent any of the fees in the payment of rates, it would be at the expense of the teacher. Mr Gillies asked what protection the Education Board would have as to the reasonableness of the rates, seeing that the notices were delivered to committees. He thought the Board should fight against the payment of rates, and every district rise against it. Professor Shaud and Mr Burns agreed with the last speaker about opposing the rates. Mr Green dissented from that view. The schools were the property of the Board, which was the proper body to pay the rates. Payment was sanctioned o* the High and Normal School rates, but it was remitted to the local boards to deal with the other claims. INSPECTORSHIP OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Four applications for this post were received, and Mr John Somerville was appointed at salary of L 350 a year. TEACHERS' QUALIFICATIONS. On the suggestion of Mr Fitzgerald tho Board agreed that a professor's certificate of Normal School students having passed the University examination on a certain subject should be regarded as a substitute for Inspector's examination on the same subject. Professor Shand, in giving notice of the following resolutions, said : — " I bring this forward because it is probable that a comprehensive educational measure will be discussed in the Assembly at its next session, and it may be expected that the opinion of this Board would have some effect in influencing the course of legislation. I should mention that a principle identical with the system suggested here is already in operation in Wellington and Canterbury. This being the case, such a system should have a good chance in commending itself to the Assembly. Ido not forget that members of this Board are also members of the Assembly, and I should like the thing discussed before the Assembly." _ The Chairman : There will be plenty of time for that. Considering that the regulations for the examination and classification of teachers, which were sanctioned by tha Board on September 15, 1874, have remained altogether inoperative except for certificates of the lowest class, and that it is desirable to offer inducements to teachers to qualify themselves for holding certificates of the higher classes, the Board resolves— 1. That augmentation grants varying with the classification and rising fco LOO a year in the highest division of the highest class, be allowed to all teachers of elementary schools under the Board who hold certificates above the lowest division of the lowest class. 2. That there be three classes of certificates as at present, and three divisions in ench class, tho class to depend only on examination, and promotion from a lower to a higher division in any class to depend only on meritorious service as a teacher. 3. That a regulation bo made providing that certificates of having passed the annual atamination of the Otago^University in certain subjects be accepted instead of examination in these subjects, and that graduates of any British or Colonial University he exempted from examination in all subjects, excepting in the art of teaching. _4. That the Secretary and the Inspector, Mr "Fitzgerald, and the mover be instructed to revise the present regulations with a view to giving effect in the most suitable way to tho foregoing resolution. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were confirmed :— William H. Reilly, Waipori ; W. H. Brown, Greytown ; Wm. Fidler, Oamaru Grammar School ; Miss Moore, Assistant-mistress, Port Chalmers ; Alex. Lindsay, pupil teacher, Middle School, Dunedin; Thos. Mackay, To Houka; David Murray, Mount Cargill ;■ Arch. Douglas, Table Hill ; Mrs Stephens, Clyde ; 1 and Miss Naomi Young, Queenstown. -rEvening Star.