EDUCATIONAL MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 3090, 14 January 1873, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Dunedin Educational District was held last evening at the Middle School-house, for the purpose of receiving the Secretary s report and Treasurer’s balance-sheet, and electing a Committee for the ensuing year. There was a large attendance present. Hie Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. 'I he ecretary read the following report and balance-sheet:

In obedience to the requirements of the Education Ordinance, the School Committee now lay before you their annual report. The committee are pleased to note another year of progress in the number of their scholars, the amount of fees received, and in the extent of school accommodation they have been enabled to supply. The attendance last quarter was 1,401. and the year’s fees amounted to L 1,965 lls 2d. In the corresponding period of the previous year the attendance was 1,272, and the fees L 1,822 6s Id. A considerable number of children were prevented from attending last quarter by the prevalence of whooping cough. The following salaries have been paid to the principal tea filers, including the Government contributions:—

Middle School.- Read master, L 354 9s 2d; second, L2fifi 19s Id ; school mistress, LIBO 14s Id; third master, L 149 14s fid; assistant school mistress, L 142 9s fid. North School— Read master, L 353 Is 9d; second do, L 257 Us 8d; school mistress, Ll9l 6s 8d; third master, LlO6 ss. South School.— Head master, L 335 13s 9d; second do, L23S 3s lOd; school mistress, LI6I Us Bd.

The pupil teachers have received salaries varying from L2O to L 75 each. The number of teachers in the establishment is 27, viz.: 12 at the Midd'e, eight at the North and seven at the South School. The average number of scholars taught by each teacher is 52. The fol-lo-'ing resignations have been accepted:—Miss Lambert, pupil teacher, on account of illness; Miss Hill, promoted to the High School; Mr M'Leod, second master North School; MissCalcutt, school mistress South School. The following appointments have been made:—Misses Spedding and Galloway to be pupil teachers; Mr Murray, second master North School; Miss Nichols, schoolmistress ot South School; .Misses Lowry and Doull have been recommended to the Education Board as pupil teachers. In last year’s report the foct was noted that a large class-room had just been added to the Middle School, and that it was in contemplation to make fuither additions at the North School. This has since been done by providing two additional rooms at the latter school, one being an extension of the i-fant department, the other providing for the large class now under the charge of one of the assistant teachers. In the furtherance of these and kindred objects the committee has been liberally assisted by the Education Board. In the early part of the year the Education Board intimated that, in consequence of the great demands upon their funds they would be unable to contribute more than two-thirds of the pupil teachers’ salaries, masters’ allowance for teaching them, and two-thirds cost of educating poor scholars, instead of the whole sum as formerly contributed; this arrangement to take effect from the Ist of October. The amount thus withdrawn was equal to about L2-’>o per annum ; and to raise this‘sum an addition was with much reluctance made to the school fees. The new scale has been in operation three months, ami the returns shew a loss of about L3O on the quarter, which has had to be made up out of the committee’s revenue. Shortly after the receipt of the Education Board’s circular, above referred to, and before it was determined to raise the school fees, the committee requested the Board to continue the usual payments, and shewed from the published accounts that the Dunedin schools were managed at much less cost to tbe Government than any schools in the Province ; but the Board declined to accede to the committee's request. After due consideration the committee has come to the conclusion that a revision of the whole of the salaries should immediately bo made, and a modification of the scale of fees effected, and with this view respectfully recommend that the subject should engage the attention of the new committee at the earliest possible date. The Government Inspector has made a most thorough examination of the schools during the year—five days at the Middle school, four days at the North, and three days at the South school. It affords the committee much pleasure to know that the inspection proved most satisfactory. The efficiency of certain teachers in the Middle and North schools was especially noted, and their salaries have since been raised by the Education Board, in consequence of the Inspector’s report of the highly satisfactory state of the classes under their charge. The late public examinations were equally satisfactory with those of former years, and the intelligence of the scholars elicited high encomiums from the examiners, and particularly from the visitors from some of the other Provinces, several of whom were present, The committee a e aware that any efforts of theirs in the furtherance of the important trust comr mitted to them would be of little avail without the cordial co-operation of the teachers, which the committee desire very gratefully to acknowledge. Th ; balance-sheet shows LP27 2s 5d due to the Rank ; but upwards of Ll5O is due to the committee on account of buildings and repairs, which will be paid after the accounts are sent in.

A supplementary report stated that the committee held thirteen meetings during the year, the attend mce being—Me-srs Robin and Hardy, 12 each ; Mr .Street, 10; Messrs and Livingston, 9; Mr Turnbull, 7 ; Mr Bathgate, 5 ; Mr Cargill, 4 ; and Mr Fish, 2. There are 116 poor scholars at the schools ; 46 at the Middle, 51 at the North, and 19 at the South School. Ihe Government has paid for their education the sum of L 145 Is 7d, of which amount 1,50 3* 41 has been paid to the teachers and the rest to the committee. The balance-sheet showed that a balance had been brought forward from last year of L 25 3s Bd. The receipts : Middle schoolordinary fees, L 594 Os 4d ; extra, LI4B 12s pd. Nor.h school—ordinary fees, L 476 9s sd; extra, LI 12 18s sd. South school—ordinary, L 396 9 s 81; extra, L9l 12s 9d ; Government contributions towards repairs, L 254 4s 10d ; poor scholar fees, _ Ll4 Is 7d ; balance due at bankers, Ll2/ 2s 5d ; sundries, L247s 4d ; total, L 2,396 9s sd. Expen iture: By salaries Middle school, headmaster, L 220 Is 8d ; second do, L 166 I9s Id; third do, L6B 9s 6>i ; schoolmistress, 1.86 J9s J,l; Miss Stevens, LQS 9s 61 ; pupil teachers. L! 8 15s; Miss Gourlay, first quarter, I 5 ; total, L 634 13s Id. North school headmaster, L 220 14s 3d; second do, L 157 11s 8d ; third do, L 25 ; schoolmistress, L 97 lls j pupil teachers, L 8 15s ; total, L - 09 12s 7d * South school— head-raaster, L2Ol 6s 3d ; second do, H3B 3s lUd ; a hoolraistress, L6B 3s 8d ; pupil teachers, Id 36s 8d; total, L 421 Os sd. School cleaning, L 10 0; new buildings, L 370 2s 6d ; repairs and furnishing, L 192 T2s 4d ; clerk’s salary, including oltice rent, stati.-pery, <feo., LlQO; sundries, LOS 7s 9d ; total, L 2.396 9s sd. Mr Sheewin moved that the report be re* ceived.

Th? Rev. Dr Stuart said, before the repot was adopted, he would like to ask what the former rates a-;d new rates of fees were, and the diffeieuce between them. The Secretary replied that the change in the rates of fees came into operation on the first of October last. The former rates were 6?6d, 9s, and llsGd per quarter, and the present rates were 7s, 10s, and 12s per quarter. In answer to other questions, he said that where three children from one house attended school, one only was charged half-price,' and when four attended, one went free. A charge of Is 6d per quarter was charged to every pupil, whether free or otherwise. . Mr Stout condemned the action of the Committee in raising the salary of the Secretary and Treasurer from LSi) to LIOO per annum. The Rev. Dr. Stuart asked what became of the Is Gd p-r quarter charged to pupils. The Secretary explained that a portion of the fund accruing therefrom went to cover the cleaning and warming of the school buildings, and other incidental expanses. According to the ordinance, it was required that 10s per annum should be paid for every poor child. That sum was paid by the Government, and handed over to the teachers, and the ba’ance remaining from the quarterly fees of Is 6d. and annual charge of 10s, was devoted in part to the secretary’s salary and other purposes.

Mr SItBRWIN asked how many Committee meetings had been held during the year, and wh t was the attendance of members. The Sec epary said : Thirteen meetings had been held during the year, and the members attended as fol ows : —Stout, 11; Rodin. 13; Jaeo, 9; Fi-h. jnnr., 2; Turnbull, 7 ; Bathgate, 5 ; Livingstone, 9, and Cargill, 4 meetings. He also explained that Mr Fish had resigned during the year, and that Mr John Gr Ifeu had been elected in his place; but that gentleman had refused to act, and, as the event took place near the end of the year, it was nt considered advisable to take further action in the mat er. Mr Stout si rongly condemned the practice of charging a fee of Is Gd per quarter for the c .ildren o poor parents, and thought t iat the devoting ot a portion of the fund* accruing therefrom to the salary of the Secretary was a reprehensible proceeding. He also condemned some of the wooden sheds now doing duty a< schoo'-rooms. They were badly constructed and ill ventilated. In summer they were very hot, and in winter very cold. Indeed, it was a wonder that the health of the teichera and pupils kept up as it did. At the same time they were not sufficiently large to meet the growing requirement i of the city. At home inspectors were appointed whose duty it wasto see that the area of each school was sufficient for the comfort and accomodation of the pupils. Each pupil was supposed to have a certain amount of a ace. Mr Street said he had anticipated that there would be some discussion regarding the action of the Committee in increasing the Sectary's salary, and therefore he had prepared a note of the duties discharged by that gentleman. He had to attend all Commeetings, conduct the correspondence, prepare the quarterly reports and statements of receipts tor the Educational B >ard to look after the repairs of and fuel for schoolhouses, to see that all fittings were efficient, to prepare the annual report and Treasurer’s statement, to attend the annual examinations of the schools, and to provide office accorn ■ modation fer the Committee, Ihese duties had been zealously discharged, and he thought that the remuneration was not too much

In answer to a question by Mr Stout having reference to the amount paid as rental f<>r office, it was explaim-d that formerly LSO a year was paid for an office. Now the committee paid LlO per annum. Mr Shkrwix thought that the practice of accepting tenders privat ly, instead of by advert semeut in the public newspapers, was a bad one. All works of the value of more tli an L2O should bo openly competed for. and he hoped ihat the new Committee w uld remedy the matter. He fully agreed with the remarks air ady made with reference to the fee of Is Gd He thought it a great hardship, and knew that it operated oppressively agamst very poor people.

The Rev. Dr Stuart said he had attended these meetings for seven or eight years past, and had to congratulate the committees and the Government on the success which had attended their efforts in the tausi of education, though he could not say that all their decisions wore characterized by wisdom. The schools were now too large, while the cost of elementary education was increased. It had been shown that the lowest fee charged was 8s Gd per quarter or LI 16a per annum. This, in addition to the cost of books, cloth s &c., was elt as a burden by the poor. With regard to the poor fee he thought it unfair. He knew that there were many widows who were nob in a position to pay it, ami who were either obliged to k< ep their children at home or pinch thems Ives to find it. He would not oppose the report, providing it be an instruct on to the incoming Comrai tee that they make elementary instruction, so far as reading, writing, and arithmetic were concerned, for those who could not pay. He suggested that the choice of hooks used in schools ought not to rest absolutely with the masters, but ought to be so controlled that the expense now incurred by parents weuld be reduced.

Mr -treet said that interference with the internal management of the schools, so far as books and the mode of administering education were concerned, were scarcely within the province of the Committee; at the same time he thought that if the Board took action in the matter it would be productive of good.

Mr Rob n said that no tender had been privately received by the Committee over the value of L 5.

The (Secretary, in answer to a question, explained that poor scholars bad the choice of going to wha ever school they pleased. He made it a rule to consult the parents’ tastes in the matter. The Mayor expressed the pleasure it afforded him to see so many present, and in hearing the interesting discussion which had followed the reading ot the report. It showed that the people were taking a lively interest in the question of ed .cation. He then alluded to the valuable services rendered to the Committee by the Secretary pointing out that the success of the past year was attributable, in a great measure, to the energy and zeal of that gentleman. He upheld the idea that Mr Hardy had a right to be paid for professional services rendered outside his official duties. Complaints had been made of the insufficient accommodation afforded in the present school buildings. The t'ommittee had done their utmost to remedy this, and now it was necessary that the citizens should take the matrer up, and agitata until the Covernmcnt provided the r*q aired additional accommodation. While holding that it was desirable to offer prizes at the annual examinations, he condemned the holding of exhibitions. The practice tend d to rob the children of that charm which endeared them to all, while it inflated them with vanity. He hoped therefore that the committee next season would put an eud to it.

A gentleman suggested that anywhere in the neighborhood of the First Church would be a convenient locality for a new schoolhouse Mr Sherwik then moved that the report bp adopted, with the proviso that, in case a vacancy occurred in ihe Committee any time during the year, that such vacancy be tilled up at the next meeting. 1 he motion w«s agreed to. A number of gentlemen were then proposed and ballotted for, and the following were declared elected members of Committee ;—Messrs It. B. Cargill, A. R. Livingston. Gordon, Hay, Wright, Street, Robin, Stout, and P Sherwin. A discussion ensued as to the validity of the election of one of the Committee-men,

when the Mayor intimated that he weuld lodge a protest with the Superintendent against the election. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.