BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 233, 9 March 1875, Page 4

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Modnay, March 8. The weekly meeting of the Board of Edu cation was held at 7 p.m. Present —Messrs J. Inglis (chairman), A. Duncan, W. Montgomery, H. R. Webb, T. W. Maude, and J. N. Tosswill. ENTERTAINMENTS. A letter was read from Hon Colonel De Benzie Brett, calling attention to a practice which prevailed amongst certain school committees in the outlying districts of giving entertainments, composed of mixed classes, for the purpose of raising funds to pay off debts contracted by the schools, and terminating the “supposed innocent entertainment in dancing and revelling to a late hour in the morning.” Colonel Brett asked the Board to endeavor to put a stop to the practice. The chairman said as Colonel Brett did not refer to any particular instance, the Board could not take any action. It would be better to write to Colonel Brett, stating that if he gave any particular instance the Board would consider it. TIMARU A telegram was read from the chairman of the district committee, asking if Mr Watkins was to be paid at the; same rate as the late head master. The Board decided to pay Mr Watkins after the rate at which he had been engaged, viz, £2OO, with a liberal allowance extra to be left with the chairman to arrange. PUPIL TEACHERS. The Board fixed the allowance for pupil teachers attending examinations at 6s per day. LOWER HEATHCOTE, A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, asking the Board to sanction the appointment of Francis Staples as a first year pupil teacher. The Board sanctioned the appointment, provided the staff was not increased. LITTLE AKALOA. A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, asking the Board to sanction the appointment of Mrs Speight as sewing mistress. The Board sanctioned the appointment. ASHBURTON. A letter was read from the Chairman of the district committee, requesting the Board to sanction at once the carrying out of the contract for additions to the schoolroom. The Board sanctioned the acceptance of Mr Parkin’s tender. KAIAPOI ISLAND NORTH. A letter was read from the Chairman of district committee, stating that the engagement with the present master terminated on 31st inst, and asking permission to advertise for another master, but that the committee would prefer one recommended by the Board or the inspector of schools. The Board recommended Mr W. H. Wake, late second master of the Kaiapoi Borough school. CUBT. A letter was read from the Chairman of the district committee, stating that the estimate for incidental expenses for the year ending 31st March, 1876, was £32. The committee also requested the Board to consider the case of Miss Kitchingham, who had lately passed her examination and been appointed assistant-teacher, whether she was not entitled to some increase of salary, and also to expenses whilst attending the examination in Christchurch, The Board sanctioned the allowance of £ls per annum, lodging money, to Mrs Kitchingham. inspectors’ reports. The chairman said that he had requested the inspector and sub-inspector to send in monthly reports. The Board approved. COLOMBO ROAD. A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, enclosing estimate and specification of appliances and furniture required for immediate use in the school. The Board sanctioned the expenditure of a sum not exceeding £lO2. LYTTELTON. A letter was read from the secretary of the district committee, asking the Board to sanction the immediate erection of three stone mantel pieces, as this work must be done before fires could be lighted in the schoolroom. The chairman said that the wooden mantel pieces at present in use were considered to be dangerous from their proximity to the fires, and it was proposed to substitute stone at £7 10s each. The Board sanctioned the expenditure, not exceeding £22 10s for stone mantel pieces. MOUNT GREY DOWNS. A deputation, consisting of Messrs J. Buff (chairman), Sutherland, and McLeod, members of the committee, attended and presented a petition from the ratepayers, that the services of Mr McCallum, the schoolmaster, might be retained, subject to his presenting himself for examination in January next. The deputation also drew attention to Ihe insufficiency of the schoolroom, which was much crowded, as seventy children were at times in attendance, and the room would only accommodate fortyfive. The Board said that they would consider the matter of Mr McCallum. The deputation then withdrew. The Board then decided to refer Mr McCallum’s case to the Board of Examiners. TIMARU. A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, suggesting that the Board should consent to place a sum on the estimates for providing the nucleus of a museum in connection with the school. Also requesting the Board to sanction the appintment of another pupil teacher, and enclosing a report of the staff. The Board decided that they would consider the propriety of placing a sum on the estimates for the purchase of materials for object lessons. The Board also sanctioned the employment of an additional pupil teacher, It was also decided to defer the consideration of the report respecting the staff. COLOMBO ROAD. A report was read from the inspector on certain proposed increases in the salaries of the teachers in Colombo road school. The secretary was directed to forward a copy of the report to the committee. WEST CHRISTCHURCH. A letter was read from tbehon secretary of the district committee, giving an estimate of the anticipated income for the year commencingSlst March, 1875, and ending 31st March, 1876, and also of the anticipated expenditure under the head “ Incidental expenses ”—ln£o»ci«Houßehold rate, £950; school fees,

£150; total, £llOO. Expenditure—£B43 13s 6d, With reference to Mr Fuhrman’s account for furniture, the committee had the verbal sanction of the late chairman of the Board for that expenditure. The chairman said that there was no record in the office of the verbal promise on the part of the late chairman. The secretary was instructed to write to the Hon C. C. Bowen on the matter. A letter was also read from the secretary, enclosing a copy of a report by Mr Edge, the head-master, to the committee, and stating that the committee agreed with the report, and desired to add that the number of children now on the books (601) being far in excess of the number (500) for which accommodation is provided in the present schools (and the numbers being steadily on the increase), renders additional accommodation imperative. The committee suggest the ertetion of a detached building for an infant school, about 60 feet by 30 feet. The cost, including proper fittings, is estimated at £2500, which the committee requested might be provided for in the Board’s estimates for the ensuing year. The consideration of the report by Mr Edge was deferred. The question of erecting a separate infant school was postponed until the estimates. LIGHTING THE NORMAL SCHOOL. A communication was read from Mr Farr, the architect, respecting the laying on of gas to the Normal school, and submitting an estimate of the cost. The Board approved, and ordered the work to be carried out.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence for a month was given to Mr A, C. Knight. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE. Miss M. Kauffman, who had passed at the last examination, applied for a certificate, as having failed to obtain employment here she wished to go to Otago. The Board declined to grant a certificate. The Inspector said that Miss Kauffman had better apply to the Southbridge committee, who were advertising for a mistress. He was also directed to consult with the Board of Examiners as to the propriety of the certificates of teachers not being granted until the expiration of two years’ service. USE OF STOVES. The Board decided that in all cases of applications for the use of stoves in schools, the Board would not sanction their use unless the pipes passed into a brick chimney, and in no case passed through the roof. GERALDINE. The Board sanctioned the appointment of J. B. Barclay as pupil teacher, subject to examination by the inspector. WOODEND. A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, asking the Board to allow the works to the master’s house to be proceeded with at once, as they were much needed, and the contractor was willing to wait for bis money until after the estimates were passed, The request was granted. BUSINESS DONE BY THE CHAIRMAN. The Board approved of the business transacted by the chairman since the last meeting. The Board then adjourned.