BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 180, 10 December 1880, Page 4

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Tuesday, Dkcembbr 7th. Tifb Board met at half-past 10 o'clock. Present—Messrs Seymour (in the chair), Baillie, Ward, Parker, Henderson, and Dive. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Leave of absence was given to Mr Conolly and Mr Live from this meeting. TENDERS. The tender of Smith and Co. for Waitohi school repairs being the lowest was accepted. The Chairman said the tender for printing and advertising would expire at the " end of the year, and it would be for the Board to take what steps they thought proper. Would they call for tenders ? Mr Ward said he would move that tenders be called for. Mr Parker said the proprietor of the Times would continue the contract on the existing terms if the Board thought fit. Mr Henderson said he would second Mr Ward’s motion, which was carried. KELSON COLLEGE SCHOLARS]III’. Mr Conolly’s letter in reference to the vacant scholarship at Nelson College which has been already published, was again read. It will be remembered that M r Conolly suggested that K. Itobinson, the present holder of a Marlborough spholarship whose time expired at Christmas, should have it for a year, but the Chairman explained that Mr Robinson had other views for his son and had written to Mr Conoily declining the scholarship. It was resolved that the scholarship vacant by W. Conolly’s death lie given to the second hoy at the next examination. sir j. vckikl’s prizes.

Mr Hislop wrote to the Board stating that he had received a letter from Sir J ulitis Vogel informing him that he had arranged to send by the s.s. Durham a number of prizes for. the pupils of schools in New Zealand, and asking him to arrange for the distribution of the prizes in such a manner as he thought best. Mr lli.slop, on behalf of Sir Julius, asked the Board to accept two prizes, to be awarded to pupils of public schools in this district. The Board is at liberty to adopt such course as it may consider most advisable. Mr Hislop suggested the following as a convenient plan for awarding the two prizes 'The prizes to he awarded in connection with the Hoard’s next examination for scholarships and is to lie conferred upon the two candidates from public schools who stand highest in point of excellence amongst those who fail in gaining a scholarship at the examination. The prizes might be regarded as “ consolation” prizes. The prizes are “ Boeton’s Dictionary of Universal Information,” two large volumes, and “ The Sea,” in one volume. It was stated that the books had not yet come to hand but might be expected immediately in the course of the post. Mr Ward suggested that the lirst prize should be given to the next hoy to the one who gets a scholarship, (i.e., to the third hoy), and the other to the best girl. The Chairman said he should suggest the Dictionary being given to the girl, and the work on “ The Sea ” to the boy. It was resolved that Mr Hodgson, the Inspector, set the papers and that the examination be held at the same time and place as the scholarship. ' KEKEP.ANGU. The following tenders for the school at Kekcrangu were laid before the Board : W. Newman LUO, I’. Ucamsley Li 2-1 I Os, A. Bed die L 220, 0. Norgrove LI 27. The lowest tender (l I ’. Beamsley’s) was aecepiled. I'll TON. 'l’he tender of Smith and Co. at H 122 Ids .‘!d was accepted for i'ieton school. REN WICK. The Chairman of the Committee wrote stating that they had appointed Miss (lee sowing mistress. Mrs Maeauley wrote objecting to the continuation of this appointment on the ground that her (Mrs Macaulay's) application was the only one that was legally sent in. and that the proceedings of tiie meeting were irregular. The matter was referred to the Committee. Mr Henderson said that a resolution passed on September 7th in reference to teachers’ salaries was a revocation of a previous motion made without notice, and was contrary to clause .'ll! of the Act. He asked the Chairman to rule that the resolution of September 7th was irregular and should be expunged from the minutes. The I ('hairman concurred. TEA MARINA. Captain Baillie brought under the notice of the Board that the salary of Mrs Peake was only L4O and ought to he augmented. He would be in favor of the appointment of a Committee to enquire into the whole : system of salaries. According to the /Vcss the cost of I’ieton school was Lit os "id per head, and Blenheim Lf> Is 4d, and if this were true it was monstrous. He gave notice to move at next meeting that L2O be given to Tua Marina for a sewing mistress.

THE INK ['El TOR ANli MR I! EX PERSON. Mr Hodgson, Inspector, wrote to Mr Henderson under date November Nth, asking the latter to point out the passage in the former's report wherein it was stated that the teaching stall' in the Blenheim school was at that time insullicient. His remarks on the point, he states, were made generally, and by no ingenuity could lie twisted to apply to the Blenheim schools only. There were, as stated hv Mr Henderson, sometimes as many as seven teachers in the Blenheim schools in 1878—an ample stall'—and for that reason he (Mr Hodgson) made no reference in that year's report to the inadequacy of the'teaching staff. Mr Hodgson fully acquits Mr Henderson of any intention of giving a false coloring to Mr Hodgson’s remarks hut points out that lie cannot submit to the imputation of having published inaccurate and misleading statements. After an interval of two years Mr Hodgson does not. see any reason for retracting oreven modifying a single expression in the passage referred to.

To the above letter Mi' Henderson replies under date November (Sth, saving that lie is glad the Inspector acquits him of any intention to give a false coloring to the former's remarks. “ I do however,” says Mr Henderson, “now that 1 have looked the matter over again—hurriedly, T must say— continue to regard the very quotation which you make from your report in your letters as arguing that we had too few teachers to do the work required by the Education Act.” If Mr Hodgson’s remarks j were intended to apply to all the schools in i the district of course they apply to Blenheim, and Mr Henderson took Blenheim as ; an instance. lie (Mr Henderson) holds ! that Blenheim did not then have too few teaelrers, and that they were paid enough ; for a greater number of teachers than there, j were. Time lias since shown that more j children can he taught the required course ; by one teacher than were then being taught by one teacher in Blenheim. Mr Hodgson, in reply to the above, , writes under date November (ith, thanking j Mr Henderson for the promptness of his | reply and proceeds as follows: Althoughl 1

demur to some of the conclusions that you ] still draw from my report, I have no desire j to prolong this correspondence, and am j content to have shown that in my report j for IS7B I neither meant nor wrote that ; there were at that time too few teachers in j the Blenheim schools. 1 cannot howe\er, ; forbear from pointing out that iny anticipations as to the effect of imposing so many additional subjects have been fully justified by the result, though not exactly in the way that 1 expected. In the 07 Nelson schools I can call to mind only three teachers who carry out the programme in its entirety including music and drawing : in Marlborough I know of only one, where at Kenwick the energies of an able master, assisted by an efficient pupil teacher are fully tasked in teaching about 00 scholars. The other teachers, not unwisely, have settled the difficulty by simply omitting one or two of the extra subjects, knowing well ■ that the essentials would be insisted on.” SEWING MISTRESS AT REN WICK. Mrs Maeauley wrote to the Board objecting to the appointment of Miss (lee as sewing mistress on the ground that she (Mrs Maeauley) was thf only applicant who sent in her application in due form, and that the proceedings of the meeting were not in accordance with the Act. Mrs Macauley’s letter was referred to the School Committee. GROVE TOWN. Mr W. F. Bassett, Chairman of the j Drove Town School Committee, wrote co i the Board acknowledging the receipt of the j Inspector’s last report on the Marlborough j schools, and calling attention to that por- ! tiou of it referring to the Drove Town school. He enclosed a letter from the master, Mr Andrews, who complains that

a “ gross mistake ” has been made by the Inspector in stating the average age of the children presented in the Ist and 2nd Standards : the average standard being only 10 years 2 months. Mr Bassett forwarded statistics “ carefully prepared by himself, assisted by the teacher,’’ in support of the above statement, and also referred the Board to a letter from the late teacher of the school (Mr Leete) who, in resigning the mastership, said :—“ I have had to contend with the indifference and caprice of parents and constant irregularity of attendance. It is impossible under such circumstances to produce satisfactory results.” In reference to a passage in the Inspector’s report that the scholars at Drove Town school “ have not yet learnrcl to work in silence,” Mr Andrews says I understand this does int imply that there was any chattering amongst them (although the public think this). \ou perhaps refer to one or two of the “ aged ” doing their sums aloud. Alas ! it is easier to bend the twig than the tree !” Captain Baillie said lie apprehended the Board could do nothing in the matter, which was between the Inspector and the master of the school. The Chairman said the correspondence appeared to admit that all the Inspector said was correct, unless indeed there was a mistake as regarded the ages. The school certainly appeared to have gone backwards in the average attendance year by year. Mr Barker said there were as many children from the Northern end of the town or more who went to the Drove Town school as came from Drove Town to Blenheim school.

The Chairman and the Secretary said the Drove Town school had always been irregularly attended. The Board resolved that they could take no action in the matter, wlueh'rested with the Inspector and the master, and the matter dropped. It was stated that no answer had been received by Mr Andrews from the Inspector.

MR 11. HUDSON AND Till-; DOROnill SCHOOL. Mr Henry Dodson wrote a long letter to the Board complaining of the Borough school. He complained that his son had been turned out ot the High school because Mr Dodson declined to pay any further fees after a certain date as no attempt was made to teach the lad any of the higher subjects, and the payment of fees in such cases was illegal. Mr Dodson complained that the work of the school was so unsatisfactory that he had removed his sons to Nelson to receive that education which he considered ought to lie imparted at the Borough school here. He concluded by respectfully requesting the Hoard to institute an enquiry with a view of ascertaining the reason why so many parents (who can afford it) are sending their children to other schools." (hi tlie motion of Mr Ward, the Hoard referred Mr Hudson's letter to the School Committee for them to report upon it.

KAMJ.MA. Mr H- Forrest, Chairman of the Belorus Sound School Committee, wrote to the Hoard in reference to the teacher s salary, and also informing them that at any time the Inspector may wish to visit the school he will lie provided with tin* means of getting there and hack to Havelock free of charge. ACCOCXTS. The salaries of teachers, kc., for the months of November and December were j passed for payment, and also the following ' accounts :—.Mahon HO 2s, Crook HO" 12s, Kimmonds 12s, Maklrorocgh Times LB I 10s (id, Leary LO 10s, By thc-11 L 8 10s ml. NOTICE OB MOTION. Mr Seymour gave notice to move at the ! next meeting that the report af the Select j Committee on the amended rules applying j to teachers’ staff ami salaries brought before ! the Hoard and adopted on Jane 7tli, ISBO, ! he re-considered with a view to its revoea- j tiou, alteration, or suspension. NELSON COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP EXA MIN A- ! tton. The Inspector wrote to the Board stating j that lie had arranged with his fellow- ' t examiner, Mr Mackey, to hold the exam- : ination for the College seholai'ohip on the 3rd and 4th January, commencing at 9.30 a.m., in the subjects already announced, PAYMENT TO COMMITTEES. Captain Baillie gave notice to move at the next meeting that the present rate of payments to Education Committees be revised. HAVELOCK. Mr Dive gAve notice of motion that instructions be given to the architect to attend to the ventilation of the Havelock .schools. GRANTS TO THE KOAUI). Mr Hislop wrote to the Board notifying that vouchers had been passed for grants to the Board for the month of November for attendance, inspection, &c., of L 333 1 us 111. The Board then adjourned.