SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 147, 23 November 1874, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

KAIAPOI. The usual meeting of the borough school committee was held on Friday evening, present, all the members, except.Mr Johnston, Mr Kerr, chairman, presiding. Letters were read : From Mr D. Leach, asking if he could be supplied with a list of prices of books to be used in the schools, pointing out that at present they could be more cheaply purchased at the stores than the schools at which latter it was understood the Board of Education sold the books at cost price. Consideration deferred till next meeting. From Mr Matthews, master of No 1 school, in reply to a letter from the committee refering to Mrs Weston's complaint. He stated that Dr Watts' book was not used in schools, and he simply did so as one of reference on consecutive portions of sacred history. He did not think he required any further autority for teaching from a particular book than his appointment as a certificated teacher. In the absence of any prescribed list of teaching books he had selected those most suitable. If a list was published by authority he would be willing to adhere to it, but at present teachers had to use their own judgment. The explanation was considertd satisfactory, and it was resolved that Mrs Weston be informed that under clause 68 of the Ordinance, parents have power to withdraw children from the teaching of history in the schools. . From Mr F. Strouts, architect, informing the committee that Prudhoe and Cooper's contract for the wall was completed, and the contractors were entitled to a balance due of £162 Us. This amount was passed for payment. From the Board of Education, forwarding tracing of proposed alterations in the district, in reference to the Kaiapoi North School district, and asking for the opinion of the committee. Consideration of the letter was deferred till next meeting, to obtain an expression of opinion from the householders interested. From the Board of Education, stating the chief inspector's report on the teaching staff had been approved, and forwarding a copy of same. , The alterations hetween the committee s and the chief inspector's reports on the teaching staff were that that the latter did not advise the latter did not advise the appointment second and assistant masters, but in lieu two pupil teachers, and a pupil teacher instead of assistant mistress in the girls' school. . . It waß resolved " That in the opinion of the committee the teaching staff as proposed by the inspector is totally inadequate for the requirements of this school, and that the chairman, with as many members of the committee as can attend, be a deputation to the Board at its next sitting to represent the matter fully."