Education Board

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 47, 27 September 1888, Page 3

Education Board

Tuesday September 25th. Ordinary monthly meeting I—present1 — present • — Messrs Carson (chair), Sanson, Fry, Bridge, Torke, Baker, Notman, and Beckett. Appointments — Marton : In answer to an application for a cadet the Committee are to be asked if they can recommend a suitable person. Halcombe: James Collier to be at his post on October Ist. Feilding : The committee wrote recomending the removal of the head teacher, Mr Dowling. It was resolved that a copy of the letter be sent to Mr Dowling and Inspector Bindon. Waituna — A petition from Waituna for a school there was adversely reported upon by Mr Fry, and his report was adopted by the Board. Upper Taonui — The committee wrote asking for funds for repairs to chimneys— referred to the executive. Circulars - The Education Department drew attention to the practice of closing schools to keep " strict average, and asked if the Board were aware of the malpractice in their district There was also another circular asking whether, in the opinion of the board, its Inspector and teachers, it was necessary that in addition to the subjects now taught, there should be instruction in the " natural resources and features, climate, products, &c, of New Zealand." The Minister him- . ' §4f was of opinion no change should ) be made. — Circulars received. I Tenders — School furniture : George Ander.Oa's tender accepted ; Binning-

ham School, Trapp's tender accepted. For the Stanway residence it was resolved to call for fresh tenders. Aided Schools. — Mr Bridge moved in accordance with notice, that all schools where the average is under 25 he rated as aided schools. In moving this, he said that for a school of 25 the Board received £93 15s from tho Government, and if they paid a salary of £100, with house allowance, payment to committee, and bonus to certificated teachers, it was evident they were working the school at a loss. The regulation provided that 25 scholars were required before a school was established, but if the attendance dropped below 20 the school became an aided school, it again became a Board school. — Mr Notman seconded the motion. — Mr Fry, as an amendment, proposed that 20 he substituted, i He pointed out that there were 16 schools in the district which had an attendance of from 18 to 27. He moved this in the interests of pioneers who had quite hardships enough without being treated in this manner. — The Chairman advised the withdrawal of the amendment, as it did not fit on to the motion. — Mr Fry, agreed to this, with a view to further motion. — Mr Notman pointed out that according to the scale of salaries each such school would cost £57 10s more than thev earned. If Mr Fry's motion was carried they would have to re-draft their scale of salaries. — Mr Sanson said his sympathies, like those of Mr Fry, were altogether with them. If retrenchment was necessary it might ibe applied to the teachers in the larger schools rather than ou those in in country districts. — The Eev Mr Ross and Mr Baker spoke on the motion, the latter supporting it on the ground that the finance of the Board required the alteration. — Mr Carson said his sympathies were against the motion. — Mr Yorke opposed the motion. Mr Beckett opposed the motion. Many of the salaries were larger than necessary, and he was sure they could save from £800 to £1000 a year without injustice. The motion was put and lost— Ayes — Notman, Bridge, and Baker ; Noes— Fry, Yorke, Beckett, Sanson, Boss, and Carson.