BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2640, 22 September 1882, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The usual hi-monthly meeting of the North Canterbury Board cf Education was held at 3 p.m. yesterday. Pres.-nt—Messrs J. Ijglis (chairmen), W. Montgomery, A. £L Gunning* ham, H. B. Webb, fl. J. Xanored, H, W, Peryman, Bev. 0. Fraier. Messrs Booth and Farr wrote apologising for their absence. The business transacted by the chairman since the last meeting of the Board was sub* mitted and approved. Inspectors’ reports of the examinations held atCarfeton,East Oxford, Oast, Fernside, Stoke, North Loburn, Loburn, HeathooteTalley, New Brighton, Broomfield, Amberley, Mt. Grey Downs, Taldhurst, St. Albans, Hals well and Sumner schools ware commented on by the chairman, who stated that in some instances very grave complaints were made; in one or two instances it beirq arid that the teachers failed to grasp the duties of their position. As regarded the larger schools it had been mutually agreed by the inspectors that the examinations should be jointly conducted. Mr Montgomery remarked that it wes strange that children who had not parsed the Fourth Standard should be presented in the Fifth Standard. It was decided that the school committees be furnished with the reports, and their attention called to the remarks made. Tenders for the erection of the msster’e house at Little Biver were opened, and that of Mr J. S. Jamieson for £429 19s was so - oepted. Certain drainage improvements at the Normal and West Christchurch schools were ordered to stand over pending inquiries as to cost, Ac. The request of the West Christchurch school eommitt:e for the sum of £25 for the erection of an iron fence on one side of the school ground was granted, subject to certain conditions. Anent certain alterations to sohoolhonse and fences at Papanui, the Board decided to adhere to its previous t instructions about fencing, bat agreed to allow alterations in the sohoolhonse other than decided at the Board's last meeting. Messrs J. Joyce (Mayor of Sydenham), P. O. Hall, L. Boston, J, Forrester, and B. Dyason waited on the Board as a deputation from the Sydenham school committee, asking that a swimming bath may be constructed in the school grounds at Sydenham. The deputation laid the plan of the proposed bath before the Beard, stating the total cost was estimated at £4OO. The members of ■ the deputation having severally addressed the Board, the Chairman pointed out that the other school* possessing baths bad provided half the cost. The Board would consider the matter, and duly communicate its decision. The deputation then tharfced the Board and withdrew. It was decided to- let the matter rest till the Government grant wu received. A strongly-worded protest was read from Mr G. Latham, one of the applicants for the post of architect to the Board, in which he asked, if possible, that his name may be erased from the list of candidates and hie credentials returned. The letter was ordered to be acknowledged, and the secretary was instructed to return each candidate’s credentials. The Chairman submitted a letter he had drafted to the architect elaot, defining his duties and the conditions by which he would bo bound, which, after sundry amendments, was ordered to be submitted to the Board’s legal advisers. Mr Foryman fin the absence of Mr Booth) moved and Mr xanored seconded—“ That tha - arrangement of an ofiloe for the Board’s architect in the Normal School be referred to the visiting committee, with power to act.” The Chairman stated what had been done in the matter, which was agreed to be left in his hands. The Bev. O. Fraser moved and Mr Peryman seconded—“ That no appointment shall be made of the valne of £IOO, unless the list of candidates and (if required) their testimonials be first submitted to the Bsard." The Chairman stated that no appointment was made of master, mistress, or teacher without the vacancy had been first advertised and satisfactory certificates produced, and also with the concurrence of the school committees. The power was pat 'into bis hand* to prevent a delay of some times three week*. The Bev. 0. Fraser contended that the powers conferred on the Board were thus virtually delegated to others. As one to whom the power was given, he wished to see how it was carried out. The fact of the Inspectors’ reports read this day pointed out that every care ought to be exercised in this matter. Along discussion followed, daring which it was stated that the Inspectors wars ssridto have a voice in the appointments, to which the Chairman replied that no appointment was made without his sanction, and Mr Montgomery called attention to the fact that the business transacted by the chairman during the intervals between each Board meeting was always submitted. The motion, on being put to the vote, was negatived. It was then agreed, on the suggestion of Mr Montgomery—“ That a detailed copy of the business transacted by the chairman between the meetings should be furnished to each member at the commencement of the subsequent meeting. The Chairman reported that the Government had granted an additional 6* per head capitation for each child, (Cheers.] Certain expenditure at East Christchurch School above the incidental allowance having been incurred, for which the Board hod advanced £6O, which the committee asked to be remitted, was deferred for farther consideration at the next meeting of the Board. A letter was next read from the Sydenham School committee, in which attention was called to the discretionary power given to teachers in presenting children for examination in certain standarde in oases where illness had intervened, to which the inspectors had replied that they did not insist where cause was shown, their only anxiety being to prevent dull children being unduly neglected. The Secretary to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal* having written re facilities for interesting the children in the objects of t' e society, it was resolved to reply that the school committee were the proper parties to whom application should be made, but as far as the Normal school children were concerned, Mr Shaw had the Board’s sanction to meet the children after school hours. Permission wae given to Mr Malcolm to | render certain assistance to the Yonnj lfon’s Oinb, but the consideration of an application from the committee of that club for the use | of the gymnasium was postponed till next meeting. ' The principal of the Normal echos! com--1 plained that only about 85 per cent, of the 1 girls came provided with sewing materials, : and it was resolved —“ That the parents of ' children attending the Normal school bo requested to supply the children with reading r books and with the materials necessary to » enable the girls to be taught sewing, and that i the principal report to the Board the names , of any parents who neglect to comply with ! this request." A communication from the vYeetlfitncL i Board of Education re modification of b standards was discussed, and referred to the - chairman and the secretary to draft a letter 3 in reply. ' A request from the master of Governor s - Bay South school re forage was acceded to, f ,13(1 an application as to status from a teacher ’ at Kaiapoi was also agreed to he granted. It was decided to temporarily appoint Mrc Blythen to the mistress-shipof the side school at Annat; also, that the Board nominate e master for the ilalvern school, subject to the o approval of the school committee. 3 Soma matters of detril having been Iranse acted

The Board went into committee, Eta upon reccming adjourned.