EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3179, 29 April 1873, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of the Education Board was held this morning at the Government Buildings. Present—H is Honor the Superintendent, Messrs M‘Dermid, Tolmie, and Turnbull. The Secretary laid on the table the report of the Education Department for the year ended December 31st, 1872. It was resolved that the Secretary’s report bo forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent for presentation to the Provincial Council. The Board further resolve to refer to the consideration of the Government those portions of the Inspector’s report which relate to the work of school inspection ; the want of a fourth school in Dunedin ; the proposed establishment of a training school for teachers; and the pressing necessity for a large expenditure of money on school buildings. The Board having considered those portions of the inspector’s report, which relate to School reading books and to Bible reading and religious instruction in schools, resolve that the schoolmasters and other teachers in the public schools be enjoined to adhere strictly to the following regulations 1. The use of the following mentioned school books shall be discontinued in the public schools of the Province, as soon as a sufficient supply of the books mentioned in regulation .No. 2 can be obtained to replace them, viz., ths “Progressive Lessons,” the “Advanced Reader,” and the “His'orj of the British Empire” of the “Progressive Series,” published by Messrs W. Collins, Sons, and Co. ;*Contie’s “ Word Expositor;” and White’s “ History of Great Britain and Ireland.”

2. The following mentioned books only shall be used as English reading books in the public schools after the Ist day of Apri', 1874, viz. “The Royal School Primer,” and numbers 1, SJ, 3. 4> 3, and of the D'Bpyfcl Readers,’* published by Messrs T. Nelson and Sons j the:illustrated editions of My First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Books,” published by Messrs W. Collins. Sons, and Co. ; and Dr. Collier’s histories of the “British Empire;” but a teacher desirous of introducing any reading book or books, in addition to the ■ books above mentioned, may obtain permission to do so on satisfying the Board that the use of such book or books' in the school is desirable and proper.' 3. The teacher (or the head master, if ttisira bo pwe one teagher} of Mfe# public schpol shall bp at liberty io • use in his schopl such of the reading books and histories specified in Regulation No, 2, aud such text-books of arithraetio, grammar, geography, and other secular subjects as he shall think most advisable, provided that such text-books shall contain no lessons or expression? to give reasomiblc ground of offence to the members of any religious denomination; but, while taking care not to deprive his pupils of any of the advantages which a judicious use of suitable text books is calculated to yield, the teacher shall take all possible care, consistently with the efficiency of his school, that the purchase of lesson-books do not become too burdensome to parents of moderate means. He shall also avoid as much as possible the unnecessary change of teitffiooks, ahd* especially the introduction, \jrfthout good cause, of such as arc not in common use ip the Province. 4 Schoolmaster* and other teachers employed under the Board shall adhere strictly (i the terms of the Education Ordinance, 1864, in regard to the reading of the Bible and religious instruction ; they shall take care that both parents and children be informed (hat attendance at such reading or instruction is optional, and they shall avoid, in the course of the ordinary school instruction, the use of any words or expressions calculated to give reasonable ground of offence to the members of any religious deppminatipn. j5, The time for the read'ng of the Bible shall be positively fixed to take place at the opening or the closing of the school; the time so fixed shall be rigidly adhered to, and a notice of the time for such reading shall be conspicuously put up in every classroom. 6. No religious catechism or religious formulary, which is distinctive of any particular denomination or sect, shall be taught during the school hours in any school connected with the Board. It was further resolved that a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the school committees and school teachers. The Secretary submitted a report from Mr E. M’Glashan, in reference to the claim of Mr Hardy in respect to a building built by him on the South Dunedin School Ground. It was agreed to offer Mr Hardy L 5 for the building. The Board adjourned sine die.