BOARD OF EDUCATION

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1249, 8 March 1878, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION

The usual fortnightly meeting of the members of the Board of Education for the Canterbury district was held yesterday afternoon in the Board room. Preseut— Messrs Inglis (chairman), T. W. Hall, Duncan, Montgomery and Webb. chairman's report. The Chairman reported appointments and grants made since the last meeting, aho expenses authorised during the same period. The reports were approved. EDUCATION RETURNS. A letter from the Secretary of Education at Wellington was read, requesting a clear and succinct return of the state of education in the district of Canterbury. The items to be.included in the return were suggested, namely, list of schools and teachers' names, number, attendances, and ages of scholars, branches of education taught with number of scholars being instructed in each, expenditure on each school, a copy of the Board's account of income and expenditure, report on any colleges or normal schools with statement of their annual coßt, copies of all reports on the schools, &c, list of text and class books hitherto msed, and what books the Board now desire to use, list of libraries, &e, list of school buildings, and any orders and regulations. The Secretary stated that he was not in possession of all the data requisite for the formation of the return exactly as suggested by the Education office. It would require a very heavy amount of clerical labour. Tho report intended for the Board, which would be ready on the 31st March, would contain much of the information asked for.

The Chairman proposed that the secretary write to the Education office, painting out the difficulties of the case, and stating that the Board are preparing a report which will give most of the information required. All the work required could not be done by the 31st March, and would cost probably £IOO. The proposal was unanimously agreed to.

THE NEW BOABDB. The Secretary stated that the new Boards would take office on the 14th March, and asked on what day they should hold their first meetings. The Chairman pointed out that when the election was postponed by Government it was distinctly stated in the " Q-azette" that the Boards should hold their first meetings on the 30th April. It was resolved that the first meeting of the new Board for North Canterbury should take place at the Board room on Tuesday the 30th April at 3 o'clock, and that of the new Board for South Canterbury, at the committee room, Timaru. PUBLIC LIBBABIE9. A letter from the Minister of Education was read, requesting the attention of the Board to the 2nd section of the Public Libraries Subsidies Act, 1877. It stated that the whole amount voted for subsidies to public libraries was £SOOO, and that of this amount £IO6B 17a is to be allocated to the Canterbury district, and distributed by the Board in accordance with the provisions of the Act, viz. :—l. That the requirements of the 2nd section of the Act shall be strictly complied with ; and (2) that if the limits of the education district are altered by the Education Act, 1877, an equitable distribution of the money shall be made by the Board nevertheless amongst the public libraries within the provincial district, the managers of which shall comply with the provisions of the Libraries Subsidies Act. Should the Board undertake the distribution on these conditions, it was requested to forward a voucher for the amount named. The letter conchidpd by suggesting the advisability of the Board including in its annual report information relative to public or school libraries within the district.

The Board accepted the trust, and resolved to advertise for applications from libraries entitled to share in the grant, and for information as to the amount of voluntary subscriptions paid in 1877. MISCELLANEOt'S. A report from Mr Howard of the work done at the Normal school during the past year was read. It suggested that an infant school should immediately be built. The attendance was too largo for the present accommodation. The report was received. A report from the Timaru school was also received. Both the above reports were deemed very satisfactory. The Board granted leave of absence for a month or six weeks to Mr Tanored, who is visiting Auckland. The question of making the Bible a textbook for history came before tho Board through applications from persons wishing to study for scholarships and other examinations. The decision in the matter was postponed until the opinion of the Minister of Education, to whom reference had been made, had been received. In the meantime the form of advertisements relating to the examinations is not to be altered.

A number of applications from various schools for maps, grants for repairs, new buildings, appointmento to teachrrships, and on other matters of detail were dealt with, and the Board adjourned. ~ ' -~u"