BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 291, 18 May 1875, Page 4

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Monday, May 17. The weekly meeting of the Board of Education was held at 7 p.m. Present — Messrs J. Inglis (chairman), G. Gould, H. R. Webb, and A. Duncan, LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS. A letter was read from the Board of Examiners respecting Mr Newell Phillips' classification as master. Mr Webb said that Mr Phillips had stated to him that he never intended his letter to come to the Board. He had merely sent it to the committte to place himself in a proper poaition with them. The secretary was directed to forward a copy of Examiners' letter to the Lyttelton Committee. HAREWOOD ROAD. The Board sanctioned the payment of lodging money to the assistant mistress if she was entitled thereto. THE NORMAL SCHOOL. A letter was read from Mr Ottywell, stating that he had conferred with Lord Lyttelton and the Agent-General on the subject of a master for the Normal School, and would write further by next mail. A letter was read from Mr C. R. Blakiston stating that in the event of the Normal School being used as a college and public library, he was willing to sell a site for a district school. The secretary was directed to thank Mr Blakiston for the offer. DRILL INSTRUCTOR'S REPORT. The usual report of the drill instructor was laid upon the table. THE GIRLS' PCHOLARPHIPS, It was decided that the chairman take the necessary steps for receiving and looking after the girls at the ensuing examination for scholarships. SUMNER A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, enclosing plans and specifications for school buildings at Sumner for the approval of the Board. The consideration of this matter was postponed until after the estimates had been passed. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. A letter was read from the chairman of the district, asking the Board to sanction the laying down of shingle at the Bingsland and South town belt schools. Also requesting the Board to sanction the temporary employment of Mr Frigaux at the Music Hall at £2 10s per week in the place of teachers absent through illness. It was decidad as to the shingle that the matter stand over. The temporary employment of Mr Frigaux was sanctioned. WEST OXFORD. A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, asking the Board to sanction the expenditure of £8 10s for deepening and bricking a well, and £4 10s for ploughing. The matter was ordered to stand over. MALVERN. A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, stating that the application for lodging money for the teacher was intended to apply from October 20th, 1874, until the house was built, and asking the Board to sanction the same. The secretary was directed to reply that the Board would sanction payment at the rate of £2O per annum, until the house was built. LINCOLN. A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, stating tnat the committee had been obliged to get an overdraft for £25 ; also with regard to Miss Nellie Fee, aßking that she be allowed to read up for examination until January, otherwise she must resign. The secretary was directed to reply that the overdraft could not be sanctioned. It was decided that Miss Fee's appointment be sanctioned, subject to her passing a preliminary examination in June. PAP\NUI. A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, stating that the committee had appointed John Gordon, a pupil teacher of the third year, as pupil teacher at the Papanui school, and requesting the Board to sanction the appointment. Deferred until next meeting. UPPER HEATHCOTE. A statement of accounts was read from the district committee, showing an unauthorised expenditure of £3l 12s. The Board decided that they could do nothing in the matter until the estimates were passed. HEATHCOTE VALLEY. A letter was read from the chairman of the district committee, containing certain suggestions in the method of the examination of teachers, viz., that the examination of the scholars ought to be the best test of the teacher's ability for the work he has undertaken. The secretary was requested to thank the committee, and to state that the matter would have consideration. LYTTELTON. A letter was read from the secretary of the district committee, stating that in the opinion of the committee the site suggested by the Board was of far too great value to be surrendered by the Borough Council; that the inhabitants generally would be opposed to such a concession ; and that the site already offered is quite sufficient for the purpose required, and is more suitable than the site suggested by the Board. The matter was ordered to stand over, IBWELL. A letter was read from the chairman of the district school committee, asking the Board to sanction the acceptance of Mr G. Rankin's tender for the erection of the school buildings. The matter was ordered to stand over. SALTWATER CREEK. A letter was read from the chairman of the district school committee requesting an explanation as to what their mismanagement respecting Mr Culbert's account consisted of. and inquiring whether it was the intention of the Board to charge the same against the district, otherwise they (the committee) will duem it due to themselves to resign. The secretary was directed to send to the committee copies of the correspondence on both sides, and to point out where the committee had erred. TEMUKA. The Board declined to sanction the appointment of a secretary to the committee at a Biliary of £lO 10s per annum. BOOKS FOR NEW SCHOOLS. It was resolved at the starting of new schools that the necessary supply of books be furnished by the Board, and that afterward the committee keep up the supply. TIMARU. A letter was read from the chairman of ibe district committee, asking the Board to

reconsider their decision with regard to lighting the large hall, and to place on the estimates a reasonable sum for that purpose. Also asking the Board to apply to the Government to place £4OO on the estimates for the purpose of building a gymnasium. Enclosing reports from acting head master and head mistress, in which each recommended the employment of an additional pupil teacher in the infants' and girls' departments; and further enclosing a letter from Mr Muller, third master, asking for an increase of salary.

It was decided that the Board could not reconsider the decision respecting lighting the large hall. As to the .£4OO for erecting a gymnasium, the Board regretted that they could not recommend that amount Jto be placed on the estimates. The matter of the appointment of pupil teachers was deferred until the inspector had reported upon it. The inspector was also requested re Mr Muller's salary to report generally upon the staff. STANDARDS FOB EXAMINATION. The following report from the Board of Examiners as to standards for examination to be adopted in the schools was read: " Christchurch, May 10th, 1875. " To the Chairman of the Board of Education. " Sir, —With reference to your letter of March 24th, 1875, and to Mr Hammond's report thereby submitted to our consideration, and also to certain papers since received from you, and relating to the same subject, I have the honor, on behalf of the Board of Examiners, to report as follows : " We cordially agree with Mr Hammond in recommending that a system of standards be at once instituted, and differ but little from him in regard to the details. "We have prepared the accompanying scheme of standards with a view throughout rather to what is practicable than to what might be deemed desirable. It is possible that the requirements may, at first sight, appear to be too moderate, but experience of examination by standards elsewhere shows, as we think, that it is a common mistake to expect too much. It should be remembered in this connection that the standards are fixed for the purposes of examination, and are not intended to impose limits upon the work of the classes for which they are designed. It may be assumed that the work will be always in advance of the standards. With regard to subjects not included in the standards, our object was not to exclude them from the scheme of instruction, but simply to avoid the difficulties which would be created by making the classification of the children depend upon a symmetrical knowledge of a very large number of subjects. We have included geography, grammar, and history, in addition to the essential parts of the Euglish standards, and we are of opinion that it may well be left to the teachers to introduce othsr branches of knowledge at suitable stages. In ourjjudgment. work done by any class in any such branches should be examined at the same time as work demanded by the standards.

•' The work prescribed is so graduated that all the children in fair attendance ought to advance one stage in each year. We recommend, however, that opportunity should be given by examination every half-year for those who are prepared to do so, to pass from one grade to another in six months. No child ought to be presented for re-examina-tion in any standard which he has already passed. It would seem very desirable, if not necessary, that a child transferred from one school to another should be furnished with a certificate from the school he is leaving, showing what standard he last passed, so that he may at once take his due place in the new school.

" We have not thought it advisable, in the absence of local experience of the work of a scheme of standards, to complicate our proposals by any reference to the number of school days on which any child has been in attendance. A sufficient test of the efficiency of a school, and a means of comparison with other schools, will be afforded by a return of the number of children who have passed one standard, or two standards (as the case may be), in a year. "In all cases—even where it is not so stated—the children presented for examination in any standard ought to be prepared to exhibit proficiency in the work also of the lower standards.

" It is possible that in the course of time a higher standard than the sixth may come to be required for the superior schools. But the consideration of this, as of several other matters that have occurred to us, may be postponed until necessity arises. " I return herewith Mr Hammond's report and the various printed papers forwarded to us, " I have the honor to be, Sir, "Your obedient servant, " Wm. Jas. Habens." reading and spelling. I. Sentences composed of words of not more than one syllable to be read intelligently. Spelling: one syllable. 11. Sentences containing easy words of two syllables. Spelling : two syllables. 111. Child's easy reading-book (as Nelson's 3rd book). Spelling from the same readingbook. IV. An easy book of prose (narrative and dialogue) and verse. Spelling and dictation suited to the stage represented by the readingbook of this standard. V. A book of general information, not necessarily excluding matter such as that prescribed for Standard IV. Spelling and dictation suited to this stage. VI. A book containing extracts from general literature. Spelling and dictation suited as before. WRITING. I. Short letters (i.e., letters not extending above or below the line of writing) and the ten figures—on slate. 11. Short words in copy-book. 111. Large and text hand (as in Darnell's books Ito VI). Writing on slates from reading-book of Standard 111. IV. Large, text, and round hand (as in Darnell's books up to IX). V. Small hand in addition to work of Standard IV (as in Darnell's books up to XII). VI. Same as Standard V, with the addition of letter-writing and the making out of bills. ARITHMETIC. I. Counting and oral addition by twos, threes, and fours up to 100. Numeration and notation of not more then three figures. Multiplication table to 5 times 12. 11. Oral addition, by small numbers, up to 1000. Numeration and notation of not more than four figures. On slates—Addition (of not more than five figures in a row either way), and easy subtraction, Tables to 6 timet 12

111. On slates Addition, subtraction, short multiplication, and short division. Numeration and notation generally. Tables to 12 times 12. Easy mental arithmetic, to cost of dozens and scores. IV. The work of Standard 111., with long multiplication and long division, and the money rules except long division of money. Money tables. Mental arithmetic, to simple interest. V. The compound rules and reduction, Menial arithmetic generally. VI. Fractions, proportion, practice, and interest. GRAMMAR. 111. The distinguishing of the nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and verbs, in easy sentences. IV. The distinguishing of all the parts of speech in easy sentences. The inflexions of the noun, adjective, and pronoun. V. Inflexions of the verb. Parsing with regard to both accidence and syntax. Composition—Paraphrase of a reading lebson. VI. Derivation of words. Analysis of simple sentences. Composition as in Standard V, but of a higher order. GEOGRAPHY. 111. Knowledge of geographical terms, of the meaning of a map, and of the leading features of the map of the world. IV. Outline geography of the world, and of New Zealand (as to principal features). V. Good general knowledge of New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. VI. General knowledge of simpler facts of physical and mathematical geography, and of the countries of the world ; with more special knowledge of the British Empire, HISTORY. IV. Names, dates, and houses of English sovereigns. V. The place in history of the principal events from William the Conqueror to Victoria. VI. History of England (Collier's British History, or equivalent). Mr Duncan moved—" That the standards as recommended by the Board of Examiners be adopted, and that they be requested to put them in form for circulation." The motion was agreed to. THE ESTIMATES. It was decided that the chairman ehould point out to the Government certain sums which had been omitted in the estimates, but which had been sanctioned by the Board, with a view to their being placed on the supplementary estimates. SCHOOL BOOKS. It was decided that the question of a supply of new books, for the schools be left over for the present. SCHOLARSHIPS. A letter was read from Dr Deamer, stating that he had sent to England for a certificate of the birth of his son, who had gained a scholarship. He complained that his veracity had been doubted. The secretary was directed to state that the Board had no intention to cast any reflection on Dr Deamer's veracity, but had acted only as the regulations required. They would, however, wait for six months' for the arrival of the certificate. A similar letter was directed to be sent to the Rev G. Barclay, of Temuka. INSPECTORS' REPORTS. Reports from the Inspectors of visits to various schools were read. BUSINESS DONE BY THE CHAIRMAN. The business done by the Chairman was approved. The Board adjourned for a fortnight.