The Evening Star TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2857, 16 April 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1872.

We have received a copy of the proposed Education Bill, a short sketch of the provisions of which wo propose to lay before our readers. The Bill is entitled “ An Act to make provision for the better education of the People of New Zealandthe short title is “The Education Act, 1872,” and, by the preamble, it is proposed to bring it into operation on the first of January, 1873, except as to the appointment of officers. The remainder of the Bill is divided into twelve parts. The first part comprises four clauses, from the second to the fifth inclusive. Clause 2 repeals certain Acts and Ordinances specified in the first schedule. The schedule is left blank, but the marginal note informs us that it is intended to fill it up by inserting the titles of the Provincial Acts in force providing generally for education and management of school reserves. The 3rd clause proposes to empower the Governor to appoint any responsible Minister of the Crown to be Minister of Education. His functions are described in the 4th clause. He is to administer the Act, and is to be cx officio a member of the University of New Zealand, in addition to the twenty members. His administration will extend to the Native schools, and the powers and the duties of the Native Schools Act, 1867, will be vested in him. By the sth clause the Governor is empowered to appoint or remove Inspectors of schools. The second part comprises clauses 6 to 20, both inclusive, and provides for the appointment of Education Boards, defines their powers, and empowers them to appoint teachers. The 6 th clause provides that every Province or County shall be an Education District, in each of which, by clause 7, there is to be an Education Board : the first Boards under the Act are to be the Provincial Education Boards, where they exist, and where there is no Board, the Superintendent and Treasurer, with six other persons appointed by the former with the advice and consent of his executive, shall form the first Education Board in the Province. These, by clause 8, are to hold office for one year, previous to the close of of which, in December, 1873, a Board to consist of the Superintendent and Treasurer, and not less than six nor more than twelve persons are to be elected by School Committees. The Governor—that is, the Minister of Education—is empowered to determine the number of members to be elected, and “ the manner in which the right of election ” by the School Committees shall be exercised, “ due respect being had to the extent of each Province, and the number of School Committees within its limits.” Half of the members of the Board are to retire each year, but are to be eligible for re-election. Three subdivisions of clause 8 are devoted to prescribing the mode to be adopted for filling up vacancies, and the last provides that the Boards shall be incorporated, have a common seal, and be empowered to hold land in trust for the purposes of the Act. By the 9th clause all property acquired, prior to the passing of the Bill, under the repealed Acts is to be vested in or placed under the control of the Education Board of the Province, and contracts entered into by present Boards to be completed by the new Boards. By the 10th clause, trustees of schools, with the consent of parties in whom the property in school buildings is vested, may transfer them to the control of the Education Board of the Province. By the 11th clause, the Boards may each appoint a secretary, and fix his salary. The present holders of those offices to retain them subject to the provisions of the Act. The 12th clause prescribes the secretary’s duties. The 13 th clause provides for the first and subsequent meetings of the Board ; the 14th provides that the Superintendent shall ex officio be Chairman of the Board, that three members shall form a quorum, and that a resolution or decision, arrived at shall not be revoked nor altered at any subsequent meeting

within twelve months after it has been passed, excepting on certain specified conditions. The 15 th section directs that moneys received by the Board for educational purposes are to be paid into a bank. The powers and duties of the Board, as defined by the 16th section, are to exercise general supervision over all schools already established under any Provincial Ordinance or Act, and over all schools established by the Board, to promote the establishment of school districts in the Provinces, to define or alter their limits, or to combine two or more into one. The formation of any new district by division or combination is to take effect at the commencement of the ensuing school year, i.s., from the Ist January next following: the school year being from the Ist January to the 31st December, both inclusive. The 17th clause determines the forms to be followed in the formation of school districts, and provides for compensation where school buildings or furniture paid for out of local rates arc transferred to another school district. The Board, in such a case, is empowered to order payment, and the amount will be made a first charge upon the local rates of that portion of the school district retaining the property. Clauses 18 to 20 relate to the appointment of schoolmasters. By the 18th, the Board of each Province is entitled to appoint a teacher for every school under their control, who must hold a certificate of fitness from a Government Inspector ofSchools, and such other certificates as may be required under present or future regulations. In case a certificated teacher cannot be obtained, by leave of the Inspector of Schools, an uncertiticated one may be temporarily employed. By the 19th clause, teachers holding office at, or immediately before the Act comes into operation, are to retain their appointments, and contracts or agreements entered into between schoolmasters and the Education Board or School Committees, are to be binding. By the 20th clause, a teacher desiring to relinquish his engagement is required to give one month’s notice, and if the Board purpose determining the engagement, three months’ notice must be given. The teachers occupation of the school-house and land attached to it is to be an occupancy by sufferance only. School Committees to retain the power of suspending or dismissing a school teacher for immoral conduct or gross misbehaviour.