BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 110, 9 April 1880, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Tuesday, April 6th. (Continued from onr last issue.) THE HIGH SCHOOL. Mr Henderson moved :—“That instructions be given to the master of the High School, that he is forthwith personally to teach in the High School all pupils who have passed Standard 111, and are studying to pass in Standards IY, V, and VI, and that he is not to demand or take from such pupils on account of being taught in the High School, and that the School Committee be informed of this regulation, and respectfully requested to see it carried out.” Mr Henderson said this motion had its origin in the feeling of dissatisfaction which was generally felt as to the present manage ment of the Blenheim Borough Schools. Several boys had been moved out of the High School by the Head Master, and relegated to the Girls’ School under Miss Macklin, and great dissatisfaction existed in consequence of this, both with the children and parents, causing much unhappiness in families and being altogether adverse to the cause of education. It was in accordance with common sense that the head teacher should teach the head scholars, and this was the practice which he understood was adopted at most public schools, but here it appeared tc he the case that the Head Master was teaching the inferior classes instead of the head pupils, and that

the lower teachers were employed inteaching the children which the head master ought to teach. By the last report of the Inspector it appeared that there were .30 children presented for examination in the 3rd, 4th, and sth Standards, and he estimated that the increase from that time would not be more than 20. In ‘he 4th and sth Standards there were boys who were not in the High School because they had not paid fees. There were, as Ire understood, some 12 boys who were sent down from the High School to the Girls’ School, because they had not paid fees, which fees had no right to be charged, and the pupils and the parents felt this as a degradation to which they ought not to be submitted, as it was clear that by the Act they were not obliged to pay these fees. There was a very wide spread feeling throughout the town as to the unjust manner in which these fees had been levied, and because children whose parents would not pay these fees which they had no right to pay, were sent back in the school because they had not paid. The boys who were sent back to the Girls’ School on this account, were “ chaffed ” by the others on Thursday afternoons by being asked “how are you getting on with your sewing? ” these lads having to sit and twiddle their thumbs whilst the girls were doing needlework and sewing. This might appear a trifling matter, but it illustrated that the management and organisation of the school were bad and required improvement, and he urged that it was the duty of the Board to see that this was done.

Mr Ward said he would second the motion proforma, but he should not support it as it would interfere with duties which he thought should devolve upon the School Committee. It certainly, however, did appear reasonable and in accordance with common sense that the head master should teach the head scholars, and in so far he agreed with Mr Henderson. Mr Fell said he was glad to find that Mr Ward took that view of the question. He did not look upon the motion in itself as dictatory, and the Committee were always glad to receive suggestions. The latter part of aVIr Henderson’s motion as to the payment of High School fees was only repeating what had been gone over before and was unnecessary, because fees were not charged for teaching Standards. He objected to the motion and would point out that if a Committee or Board interfered with the schoolmaster’s organization they took upon themselves the responsibility of the success or failure of the school. He did not agree with the notion that the head master should confine himself to teaching the head scholars ; on the contrary he thought it would often be better if the head master taught the little children. That was the practice adopted in admittedly the best taught schools in the world—the Jesuit schools in France —where the best and cleverest masters were put to teach the youngest scholars. If a master was particularly skilful in any particular branch of learning—classics, mathematics, or whatever it might be —it would be bset for the interests of the school fcr him to teach that branch throughout the classes. This question had been considered by the Committee, and Mr Hodgson, the Inspector, had been consulted upon it. What was said in conversation by him it would not be right to repeat, but he quite coincided with this view of the matter. He (Mr Fell) did not think it was advisable to interfere with the organization of the school, which should be left in the head master’s hands. As regarded the boys stated to have been sent back from the High School into the Girls’ school, he believed it was an advantage to the boys, Miss Macklin being an exceptionally good teacher in the opinion of the Inspector, and in saying this he did not mean to imply that the head master was not a good teacher, for he believed that he was a very good teacher, but he did not think it was a disadvantage, to these boys to be placed in Miss Macklin’s class.

Mr Ward said if this school were a Col* lege and had all the appliances for teaching different subjects as in a College he should agree with Mr Fell, but he certainly thought that under the circumstances here that Mr Henderson was right in saying that the head teacher should teach the head scholars. According to Mr Fell, it appeared that children were being better taught in the Girls’ school rhan under the head master. If the organization of the school was bad, its alteration and making it a good one should not interfere with the success of the school, for if it did, the head master was not fit for his place. He agreed to some extent with Mr Henderson’s motion, but should not vote for it, as it went too far.

Captain Baillie said he thought the Board would be travelling outside of its functions if it interfered with the details of the management of the school, wHch should be left to the Committee and the master. When the High School was established Mr Macklin, who was the master did not gvie np the mastership of the Primary school. , . Mr Parker said he understood the origin of Mr H’s motion was that children had been turned out of the High School because they had not paid fees, which ought not to be paid. Several parents had complained about this, and had written about it, and the question was whether the High School was to be kept up at the cost of the primary school? The Head Master had told him that if the boys had paid fees they would not have been sent back to the girls’school. Mr Conolly, who was a good authority, had said the whole school was a High School, and fees could not legally be charged for teaching standards. Mr Fell said Mr Macklin told him he had never said anything of the kind. There were a large number of children always in the High School who paid no fees. Unless they were taught extra subjects fees were not charged. Mr Henderson said that Mr Macklin had stated oefore the Committee that it was impossible for a master to teach the standards and extra subjects together. It appeared from what had been said that the boys were being better taught by Miss Macklin for L 75 a year than by the Head Master who got L4OO. He would modify the words of his motion in any way so long as it was agreed that the Head Master should teach the head scholars.

The motion was put and the Board divided :

Ayes, 3—Messrs Henderson, Parker and Paul; noes, 4—Messrs Seymour, Baiilie, Ward and Fell.

The motion was consequently lost. Mr Henderson then moved : —“ That a demand be at once made upen the collector calling upon to immediately account to the Board for the sum of L 7 10s, being part of the fees for higher education for the year 1879, and that he also account for the fees for the first quarter of 1880, and pay both amounts into the Bank aceoiiut of the Boad.” He said the list furnished to him at his request by the Secretary showed that LC>7 10s had been paid in fees for last year, but by the balance-sheet only LSO was accounted for. The Act clearly laid down that all school fees belonged to the Board, a id should be paid into the Bank. He want ed to know if the sum of LI 7 10s had been accounted for. If it had been he would withdraw his motion. It seemed that the business had been very irregularly conduct

c !, and not at all in accordance with the I ovisions of the Act. Who the collector w.,s he did not know, but he presumed thei was some one whose duty it was to collect the fees ai d account forthem. From a newspaper report he gathered that the fees had been handed to Mr Macklin oefore the Board had voted for their being paid to him. (He had referred to a report of the Express of what took place at a meeting of householders to elect a School Committee.) Capt Baiilie said he would second the motion pro forma, wit' nt pledging himself to support it. He should like to be informed who was the collector. The Chairman said there was no collector. No such officer had been appointed by the Board, and in its presentshape it would be useless to put the motion, as it referred to an officer who had no existence. All money received by the Treasurer had been accounted for by him, and appeared on the books. It was a very serious charge to make that monies had been misappropriated. The Treasurer informed him that the Head Master had been in the habit of receiving the school fees, but that did not make him collector. ~ . . Mr Henderson said he would ask leave to substitute the words “ Head Master, instead of the “ Collector,” in his motion. Mr Fell said an insinuation had been made broadly, in nearly as plain terms as could be used, that money had been misappropriated by somebody, which was a serious and uncalled for charge, unless it could be substantiated." It was all very well for Mr Henderson to insinuate that people were rogues and scamps, and then when he found he could not prove what he said, to go back and say he would withdraw his motion, or alter it, or do what the Board liked. He objected to the motion being withdrawn, and thought it should go to the Board for what it was worth. Mr Henderson had been going about the town for weeks making insinuations that money had been misap p printed, and some satellites of the Fress had said t' ; same tiling, which was altogether without foundation, and he thought such broad insinuations had been made, that the motion should not be ’ withdrawn. Certain questions had been submitted to him in reference to fees, which questions Mr Macklin could answer and he (Mr Fell) had referred them to him. The fees had not been paid back to Mr Macklin before the authority of the Board had been obtained. (He referred to the Bank cheque for the amount to prove that such was the case.) Mr Ward said he agreed to some extent with Mr Henderson’s motion and thought he deserved thanks for bringing it forward but lie thought it went too far, and therefore he could not support it as it stood, although there appeared good grounds for bringing it forward. He had no doubt that the apparent deficiency could be satisfactorily accounted for. The alteration of the words of the motion as proposed by Mr Henderson were agreed to, and it was put in the following form and carried “ That the Secretary write to the head master who is understood to be the collector of the school fees for Higher education, asking for an account of the fees collected from the commencement to the end of March last, and how disposed of.” Mr Henderso r then moved : —“ That the Secretary obtain a printed receipt book, after the form handed in ; and that for the future the speeial fees for Higher education be paid to the Secretary of the Board, who shall give a receipt from the receipt book, and shall keep a record of the same on the counterfoil, and bank the moneys as by law prescribed.” Mr Parker seconded the motion proforma but thought it would be imposing too much work on the Secretary, who was not too w 'll paid, to make him collector. He appr ved of the idea of there being a book kept in which the receipts from this source should appear. Mr Henderson withdrew the motion, and substituted for it the following, which was carried :—That the head teacher be furnished with a receipt book, from which he shall give receipts to those pupils who pay fees for Higher education, keeping a record of particulars on the counterfoil, and shall pay the money to the Treasurer of the Board.” PICTON SCHOOL. Mr Douslin reported as follows :—“Blenheim, sth April, ISBO. I have the honor to forward plans for the proposed additions to the school at Picton, some portion of which has been built 1 / years, and in the course of a few more years general repairs will be required. In preparing plans for additions I have done so with a view to the erection of a portion of a new school-house, which can be extended at any time. The estimated cost is £145. The Board decided that under the circumstances of their finances they could not undertake the work without assistance from Government. FINANCIAL. The following memorandum form Mr Hislop was read “ Wellington, 10th March, 1880. To the Secretary of the Education Board, Blenheim. School Buildings account. Amount of grant, £2/00 : passed September, SOO ; December, £450 ; March, £1250—£2500 ; balance £200.” With regard to the small balance of £2OO coming to the Board out of the amount of the grant, Mr Seymour said it would be better for the Par. liament to be the guardians of the purse and distribute the money than to leave it to the Department. It did seem very hard I that where Boards worked well and econo- i mically, and tried to keep their expenses within their income, that they should be placed at a disadvantage compared with th se who were less careful and prudent in the management of their affairs. He considered this matter should be looked to by the Legislature next session. The grant it was stated was made for extraordinary expenses, and that those Boards which had not run into debt were the sufferers. It was agreed to ask for an advance of £SOO.