BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1676, 4 July 1879, Page 4

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The ordinary meeting of the North Canterbury Education Board was held yesterday afternoon at three o’clock. There -were present—The Chairman (Mr J. Inglis), Messrs Montgomery, Duncan, H. J. Tancred, Key. O- Eraser, Mr Saunders, Mr E. 0. if. Stevens, and Mr Webb. The minutes of the last meeting wore read and confirmed. FALSIFYING BEQISTBB9, A communication was received from the Education Department in reference to the dismissal of teachers for falsification of accounts, and impressing upon the Board the necessity of exercising, through their inspector • careful supervision. Circulars wore forwarded from the department as follows : Education Department, Wellington, 25th Juno, 1879. Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of the Minister of Education, to bring under the notice of your Board the circumstance that two Education Boards have reported to him the dismissal of teachers from their service for the falsification of their school registers ; and to say that the Minister has ordered that the names of the offenders shall not bo included in the list of certificated teachers under the Act. The Minister feels that it is scarcely necessary to advert to the extreme importance of securing the utmost possible care and accuracy in the keeping of the school registers, and the making up of the attendance returns. It is evident that, for the perfect truthfulness of the registers and returns, the Education Boards and the department are almost wholly dependent epon the good faith of the teachers and the attention given to the matter by the school committees. Apart from the latter, the Inspectors of Schools are the only persons who have an opportunity from time to time of testing the accuracy of the school registers and attendance returns, and of checking any inattention or irregularity that may occur. Although Boards have no doubt already given their Inspectors strict injunctions to check the attendance registers, and to report all cases of inaccuracy not evidently accidental, yet I am to make the occurrence above referred to the occasion of calling attention to a matter cf such importance, and of requesting Education Boards to be good enough to press it upon the consideration of Inspectors, school committees, and teachers in such manner as they may consider most advisable. I have the honor to he, Sir, Your obedient servant, John Hislop. The Secretary to the Education Board. Mr Montgomery said ho had noticed that a teacher in the south had been guilty of the offence, and ho received three months’ notice, so that he had to be kept on for three months. It seemed to him, however, that inaccuracy in the accounts came within the term gross misconduct, provided for in the Education Act, and making the teacher liable te instant dismissal. He should be prepared to vote in that direction as an individual member of that Board. At the same time he did not for a moment think that any of their teachers would be guilty of such a thing. Mr Duncan thought as they had not acted in the direction hitherto, they should not take special action now without any particular case before them. It was resolved to distribute the circulars among the different schools. KOWAI PASS. An application was read from Mias Rowe for the teachership of this school. The writer stated that she had not passed the Government examination through ill-health, but intended doing so at an early date. The Board resolved to sanction the appointment of the applicant, on tho condition that she passed tho examination. LYTTELTON. Tho committee reported that Mr Louis Sutland had been temporarily appointed to the Lyttelton school as third master. The appointment was approved. INPANT SCHOOL. A letter was received from the secretary of tho Lyttelton school committee as follows : By direction of the chairman of the Lyttelton school committee, I have the honor to bring under the notice of the Board an extract from a letter addressed by the head master to the committee, on the subject of the infants’ department of this school, which runs as follows : “ I must again beg leave to bring the matter of the infant school most strongly before the committee. The school is suffering greatly from the want of an experienced teacher in that department.” I am directed to urge strongly that something be done in tho matter as soon as possible. The Board resolved to postpone consideration of the subject till next meeting. WATHB POB SCHOOLS, It was reported that the amount authorised by the Board for sinking a well at Kowai Bush had been expended without satisfactory results. Mr Duncan thought it would bo well to cover the roofs of tho schools with galvanised iron, and have tanks for the water. Tho Chairman pointed out that it was necessary to do something in the present case. Resolved that authority bo given to sink 10ft. further. Mr Montgomery agreed with Mr Duncan as to the advisability in a general way of adopting the tank system. SOUXHBEIDQB. A letter was received from tho committee in reference to inefficient accommodation. Tho Chairman remarked that this matter had come before the Board on a former occasion, and plans were approved of, hut they | met with objections from tho committee. Tho Board resolved to adhere to th& plans originally approved of. A number of matters of a routine character were considered and dealt with, such as alterations to school buildings, &c.