BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1917, 16 April 1880, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The regular fortnightly meeting of tho Board of Education for tho District of North Canterbury, took place yesterday at threo o'clock. All the members were present. The secretary read a list of appointments which had been made and business done since the last meeting of the Board. The drill instructor's report, also the reports of Mrs Paterson on the subject of sewing, and the inspectors' on pupil teachers' examination, were laid on the tablo. Mr A. H. Cunningham expressed his opinion that much good would accrue from tho Press publishing the inspectors' report of pupil teachers' examinations. The Chairman (Mr Inglis) said that was at at tho option of the newspapers. Every facility was given to tho reporters who attended the meetings of the _Board to publish documents of public interest. The following is the text of the inspector's report on the pupil teachers' examinations : We have tho honor to report on the examination of pupil teachers and candidates held at the Normal School on March 16th, 17th and 18th, 1880. In all 101 presented themselves for examination ; of these three were candidates for the commencement of the first year, forty-one for the end of the first, thirty-one for the end of the second, thirteen for tho end of the third, and thirteen for the end of the fourth year. Of the foregoing numbers, one new candidate and seventy-six pupil teachorß passed, the failures being distributed as followß : —Two candidates, fifteen end of first, four end of second, one end of third, and two end of fourth year. The number of failures in the first year is increased by the attendance of several pupil teachera who having been recently appointed upon their passing the fifth standard, could scarcely be expected to be able to meet the requirements for Standard VI., the authorised test. <Jf the failures generally, five have succeeded in gaining more than half of the possible marks, but they have failed so signally in one or more essential subjects that it would be injudicious to allow them to attempt the work of a higher year. Although we have each examined in separate subjects, we have brought together the papers in which pupil teachers did not succeed in obtaining more than half of the possible marks, aud having given them full censideration we concur in the failures reported. We cannot but observe the very low range of marks obtained by some, even of those who pass in certain subjects, and that, taken with tho answers given, they indicate negligent and unskilful teaching. We desire to impress upon teachers and committees the importance of effecting some improvement by more intelligent and methodical instruction, and less dependance upon the mere verbiage of the text books used. We forward herewith Mra Patterson's report on tho needlework. As on former occasions, Mr Thornton rendered valuable assistance in supervising, and generally throughout the examination.

w.^sr} 1 -^™- A letter was read from Mr Knowl.«3, at Kaikouras, asking for compensation on account of his salary having been reduced, although he was teaching more scholars than ho did at Eyreton, from whence, at great persuasion from Mr Restell, he had been induced to shift. The Chairman thought that before anything was done in tho matter it should be brought under the notice of the chairman of the school committee at Kaikouras. An application was received from the school committee at West Melton for certain repairs and improvements to the school, at a cost of £SO. The Board sanctioned the expenditure, subject to certain modifications. The school committee of Stoke applied for a bell, at a coat of £ls. The Board acceded to the request. A letter was read from the chairman of the Kirwee school committee, asking the approval of the Board to a site for a school which had been offered by the Messrs Tosswill. The Board accepted the offer on the condition that they were not bound to place the school buildings on the land if not desirable. Some drainage which had been recommended by the Normal School committee was ordered to be done. Mr Berry waited on tho Board to prefer a claim for half the value of tho fence dividing his section from the Lower Heathcote side school. After hearing the particulars of the claim, the Board directed the claimant to send in the particulars in writing. The Rev. O. Eraser suggested to tho Board that the principal of the Normal School should be asked if there were any, and if so, how •many students were desirous of learning French, and what hours could be conveniently set apart to teach that language. Mr Montgomery thought that before that question was put the Board should determino whether payment for teaching the language should como in the ordinary course out of the funds of the Board. Eventually the matter was allowed to drop, and the Board went into committee and subsequently adjourned.