EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2102, 31 January 1870, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

Tins Day. The half-yearly meeting of tho Education Board was held in the office of his Honor the Superintendent at noon to-day. Present :—His Honor tho Superintendent (in the chair), Messrs Reid, Duncan, Reynolds, and Hislop (secretary). A good deal of business was transacted, but the following are the only matters ot interest : A communication was read from the Committee of the Halfway Bush School, complaining that tho schoolmaster’s house wag untenantable, being built on a flat which was extremely unhealthy, and had caused serious illness to the inmates. The Secretary was instructed to investigate the subject, and inquire if a house in the locality could not be rented, and report at the next meeting. THE KAIKORAI DISTRICT. Mr Hood introduced a deputation from the Committee of the Kaikorai School, recommending that the school!) ouse be removed to near the Shepherds’ Arras, as being more central, and that it be declared a District School. The Secretary was requested to make the necessary enquiries, and report to the next meeting. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were eanc« tinned Margaret Langmuir, pupil teacher, North Dunedin ; Emma Waterhouse, do. ; MBs M‘Galium. schoolmistress, South Dun* edin; Miss M‘Fic, pupil teacher, South Dunedin ; S. M. Clarke, master, Anderson’s Bay ; Caroline Cassels, mistress, Caversham ; G. H. M'Cann, teacher, Glenoro ; W. Montgomery, master, North-East Valley ; Isabella Turnbull, mistress, North-East Valley; W. 8. Fitzgerald, rector, Oamaru grammar school; W.B. Mackay, rector, Port Chalmers do. ; John Macfarland, second master, do. ; P. MTntyre, do., Tokomairiro ; Mrs .Percy, sewing teacher, Otepopo ; Mrs Dale, mis* tress, Lawrence ; J. Menzics, second master, do. ; Mrs Trotter, mistress, Palmerston ; E. Ings, master, Clyde; K. Sutherland, master, Queenstown ; Mrs Sutherland, mistress, do.; Miss Clerk, sowing teacher, Blue Spur ; J. Webber, teacher, Taieri Beach ; J. Scofield, do., Lower Harbour; D. W. Craig, do., Papakio; Mrs Marriott, sewing teacher, Weathcrstoncs ; Mrs M'Alistcr, do, Kaikora ; W. Younz, teacher, Macraes ; J. H. Mceking, do, Hillcnd ; John M'Nicol, do., South Tokomairiro ; T. Hardy, master, Pleasant Valley; J. Oliver, teacher, Waireka ; R. Brown, do., Tomahawk ; W. A. M'Leo l, do., Shag Valley ; W. Pope, do., Cardrona ; D. M. Scott, do., Macetown; R. MTunes, do., Moeraki. R EPORT. The Secretary reported that Mr D. Hutton, the drawing master for the. High School, appointed by the Home Agent, bad arrived. According to instructions from the Government, Mr Hutton had brought out with him in the Christian M'Auslan eleven cases of models, drawings, &c., for the uses of the classes to be established by him ; and he might state that when the agents of the ship, Messrs Henderson and Co., ascertained the purposes for which they were intended, they agreed to hj-ingjihem out free. Tho models consisted of figures and statues and ether things, and he believed they would form the nucleus of a school of design in Dunedin. He would recommend that one of'thc rooms in the New Post Office should be placed at Mr Hutton’s disposal, for the use of drawingclasses in the meantime ; that a class should be established for teachers and pupil teachers, in Dunedin and within travelling distance of the city ; that it should be imperative for pupil teachers to attend these classes ; and that it be strongly recommended that teachers attend them also ; that as soon as possible Mr Hutton should open a class fayoung lad}es | that Mr Hutton • lye refeouHmended to arrange with tlie Rector of the High School, rectors of grammar schools, and masters of schools, as to the best means by whioh his services could be rendered available ; and he had also to suggest that some arrangement might he come to with the Committee of the Athemeum, for opening drawing classes during the winter, for tradesimn, mechanics, and other young men who might wish to learn the art. From what ho had seen of Mr Hutton, lie believed him to bs the right man in the right place. The recommendations of the Secretary were adopted, and the following resolution wag adopted : —“ That the Secretary be requested to communicate with the Secretary of the Athenaeum, respecting the desire of this Board, that evening classes for drawing be opened in the Athonanun, to he conducted by the Government drawing-master.” Mr Reynolds stated that he had a matter to bring before the Board, of which it had boon hi? intention to have taken notice at the last meeting of the Provincial Council, but he had been advieed not to bring the

Buhject forward, as the session was a special one. Ho thought that anyone who took any interest in the question of education could not but fail to see that, at the present time, the schools were being inspected at the sacrifice of musical tuition. There were altogether 136 teachers, whose schools required to be inspected. The present cost of education, including school'fees, amounted to over L 2-1.000, and care should be taken that this money was properly expended. He thought it advisable that an inspector should be appointed as soon as possible, At present there was no inspector ; for Mr Hislop himself had reported that he con'd not do the work ; and Mr Tayler, the subinspector, in order to do the work, had to neglect his musical duties—he might almost say he could give no instruction at all. Even the inspection of schools could not be attended to ; for some twenty-live schools had not been inspected at all. It was also necessary that the High School should be inspected ; if it had been inspected in former years, it would have occupied a different position to what it did. He did not attach any blame to Mr Taylor, only he thought that gentleman could not possibly inspect the schools and attend to his duties as master. Ho moved that the question be taken into consideration by the Government. Mr Duncan pointed out that it had not been proved that Mr Taylor could not inspect the schools, and at the same time teach music. If it were proved that there was too much work for him, he would support a division of the Province into two districts, and the appointment of another music master who should bo qualified to inspect schools. The Secretary stated that Mr Taylor had been appointed sub-inspector on the 15th July last. He had no hesitation in saying that Mr Taylor had been eminently successful as an inspector of schools ; he had been very acceptable to school committees; parents and teachers had taken very kindly to him ; and he had displayed a considerable amount of ability, prudence, and tact in the performances of'his duties. During the time he had been inspector he had gone over the goldfields as far as Queenstown, returning by way of the southern Province. While Mr Taylor had been indefatigable as inspector, he had not been able to give that attention to singing that was expected of him when ho was appointed singing master. If the Government desired to give up singing, Mr Taylor was well qualified to inspect schools; but if it was not intended to give it up, the plan indicated by Mr Duncan was a very economical one.

After some further discussion, it was agreed to postpone the matter. The Board then adjourned.