SOUTHLAND EDUCATION BOARD.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 380, 5 August 1884, Page 5

SOUTHLAND EDUCATION BOARD.

(From the ' Times.') The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held on Friday last. Present — Messrs Macdonaid -(chairman), Lumsden, Baldey, Morison, M'Leod and Matheson. The Inspector-General Wi'ote, calling attention to the fact that somo of the teachers named in tho Board's report were uncertificated. He further wished information as to the supply of certificated teachers ill the district, and the demand for tliem. The Chairman was not clear as to the object" ef the request, and recommended remitting the matter to the Executive Committee with power to act. — This was agreed to. The Executive Committee reported as follow, j— That the following appointments be made : — Mr James Milne, headijn aster, Waikaia School, vice Mr ElwcU resigned, Mr Gilchrist, temporary teacher-,' Millar's | F^at, vice, Mr Stock resigned ; Miss fraser, pupil teacher, Lnmsden vice Mrs Legge resigned, ; ' \

~ That the Inspector be requested to visit and report on applications for the establish-. ment' of schools "in "the following districts, ' viz., Longridge, Gibbston, Charlton, Glen--1 kenich, and Mabel. i That the usual steps be taken to constitute a new school district at Ferndale (Tuturau). That the School Committee at Redan ! Valley be authorised to erect 10 chains of fencing at the school, the cost to be refunded ' when the Board is in funds. All the clauses were adopted as read without much discussion. . Referring to the proposal to alter the date, at present the fourth week in January, for. the exa--1 mination of teachers, the Educational Institute, whose opinion had been requested, replied that it - would* hot-be ■ advisable to do so. Mr Grammell, Jn a report, gave reasons at length for "liis" recommendation, -that the time be the fourth week in either March or Septem- ; ber. The Chairman and Mr M'Leod favored the latter month, though it was admitted that there was an objection, as it interfered with the Normal School's term. Mr Matheson pointed out that the present time time interfered very much with the opening of the schools — extended the holidays unduly. Mr Baldey, speaking of the country schools,, considered September very objectionable. If it was determined to change to that month, the' first week he considered would be preferable to the last week. After a conversational discussion, the object being to select a period which would interfere least with school worlc and the teachers' examinations,* Mr Matheson moved Mr M'Leod seconding, that the Minister of Education he in** ; formed ■ that it was desirable to alter the time to the fourth week in' September. This was agreed to: An Order-in-Couneil on the question of' standing examinations conflicting in its instructions with those issued by theBoard— a lengthy report on the subject, prepared by . JV,_r .Gammell jjwas read. After giving strong reasons, for it he recommended that the resolution come to by the Board remain in force. The Teacher's Institute, which had taken up this subject of the Order-in-Couneil, also wrote at length in support of the' Board's regulation. Mr Lumsden, commenting on these, thought that the Order-in-Couheil was a good one, as inhis opinion teachers were too 1 apt to shirk the work of bringing on weak pupils. The Order, Mr Lumsden thought, was in favor of those — would make the teacher take more care, and -interest in' -hem. Having no strong feeling however in the matter Mr Lumsden would, support the ■ Inspector's report, and asked leaveto withdraw a motion, notice wkichhehad given. --This was granted. .Mr M'Leod having supported the resolution of the Board, . it was decided , to let it stand. Twenty-eight, settlers in the district petitioned the Board to reconsider its decision to remove the Waikiwi schoolhouse to Makarewa township, a mile-and-a-half distant. Among other reasons urged against the change was the fact that the Waikiwi site was granted for : school purposes only,. and if the building was removed, there was danger that the site would be. lost. Messrs M'lvor and Toshaclr appeared as a deputation in support of the petition The former stated that it ' was rather hurriedly got up. and if there had been, more time there would have been more signatures.'* -The present site was givenby the late Mr Ott, for the special purpose of being u*?ed as school ground. Mr M'lvor held that - the?. Board v_ould,be doing the residents'" - "a- great. injusticei; * v ; 7m>p-' M^^^^7^€^^^^^^ Mr a£q sha'ch; expl"*ii^ v^^he'\3b^'-€s*iS"_ffe f ffi&^&sent\.itc about" "fairly . divided the distance between the Waihopai- "(Gf-lad- • stone) and 'Wallacetown- schools, ahd in other- respCcts-'wa's' .most favorably .'situated in view .of the. present and . prospective population. I'he 'Chairman pointed out that, the petition for removal was signed by 41 parents, representing 106 children of school age, and 115 younger. Mr Toshach was not in a position to give the number of children who were represented in the petition read. The Chair- ' man remarked tliat the larger humber of children in the Makarewa could not attend the Waikiwi School on account' of the roads 5 that the Board was not in a position to build a school there, and hence the reason for removal, it being intended that the teacher's residence should remain. Mr , Mclvor did not . see . any reason at all for the removal, except that it seemed every man wanted a school at his own door. It was different when he was young — a walk of four or five miles to school was thought nothing of. He, with others, were the first in the district to get the . school where it was, and it would be hard if they were to lose the benefit of their exertions. ' Mr Lumsden thought the petition of the deputation should have the number of children attending the school attached. He noticed the names on it of several gentlemen whom he knew had no young children, or, if they had, they were not attending, the Waikiwi School. The deputation having thanked the Board and •with drawn, all the correspondence, and report on the question of removal, were read by the chairman. Mr M'Leod suggested remitting the petition against removal back to those signing it, to have the number of children attached. .Mr Lumsden moved, Mr Morison seconding, that- the petitioners be informed that the Board saw no reason to alter the decision' come to. — -This was agreed to. A petition for tho 'removal of a country schoolmaster was held over, .pending a report from the Inspector. In another case, the Committee called for the removal of the teacher, because, as alleged, of, his. inefficiency, and want of care of the school property. This was also held over for the Inspector's report. Accounts to the amount of Ll6Bl 5s 3d (including salaries, L 1275 2s 6d), were passed for payment. The Board adjourned till Friday, sth September. I .IIIM«OMMa»»MMM—