EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4406, 4 May 1875, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

The Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. Brandon (in the chair), Toomath, Hutchison, Bunny, Andrew, Lowes, and Pharazyn. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, The Board proceeded to consider the report as brought up by the sub-committee, clause by clause, which was passed in the form following, and ordered to be printed ; The Education Board of the province of Wellington, in compliance with the provisions of the Wellington Education Act IS7I Amendment Act. 1872. presen t to the Provincial Council a report of their proceedings since their last report, dated filli May. The two vacancies in the Board at the above date have been since filled up, the Hon. C. J - M.L.C., having been elected tor tho Wan„anuiWaitotara district, and T. R. Cash, Esq., Marton, for Eangitikel. Two other y a “nci€s wcre caused during the iast'year by the resignations of the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse and J. Vale £ t “® 8 win ' Esq., which have been filled by Henwßunm, m., M.H.B. and William Lowes Esq., M.P.C., for the Featherston and Masterton districts ec T V™J> rom During the past year the revenue of the Boar.d : from all sources has been £13,057 4s. including P sent overdraft of £2Ol os. Od. at the Bank of New Zcakmd; particulars of which revenue are given n appendix No. 1. attached hereto. , From tinsreu™ t will bo seen that of the property rate for « 10 c " rr “"‘ vpar the sum of £2Oll 2s. Bd. only lias been as yes collected, leaving a sum of £3200 still outstanding The bank overdraft of £204 os. 9d.,—a balance ot £llO4 Is. 9d. at credit of building account, being the unexpended portion ot the Government grant on «ocount of school buildings now in course of and for which payment is not yet due,—and the sum. of £7OO in full of salaries duo to teachers to : March 31, being the amount of one month’s salary of retained by the Board under one of the regulations, have to bo taken into account. Deducting these three suras from amount of the outstanding rates, there will be an available balance of £1071145. Cd, towards the ordinary expenditure of the ourrent year. As under tho provisions of the 27th clause of the Education Act, 1871 it will be necessary that there be a new assessment of all rateable property in the province for the three years, commencing Ist July, 187 j, it is anticipated that the revenue of the Board will be materially enhanced by a more correct valuation and the addition of much valuable property not included in the previous assessment. This increase may be safely estimated at at least £2OOO. The school fees which have superseded the old capitation fees, and are now being paid much more willingly and regularly by the parents of children attending school will, it is anticipated, realise fully £3OOO for the current year. Altogether from rates, school fees, and rent of education reserves, being the three only sources of revenue of the Board independent of Government aid it is estimated that the total revenue for- the current year will be about £11,820. The same appendix No. 1 also shows details of expenditure for the past twelve months, by which it will be seen that the advances for which tho Board was indebted at date of last report, £.1337 Gs. 7> u.. have been reduced by the sum of £loi3 ss. 10ct., leaving the present overdraft of £2O-4 os. 9d. , When the various schoolbuildings and teachers residences, now in course of erection, and contemplated, are completed, the item, £460 16s. 4a., for schoolhouse rents, &c., will be obviated, but for tins purpose it will be necessary that the unexpended moiety of the vote of the Provincial Council of last year of £6457 be again voted, with such other sums as tho Council may think fit. The item Insurance Account, £lll 3s. 9d., includes four quarterly sums of £25, which are paid into a fund with interest accruing, held as an insurance fund against loss or damage to any country school or residence; the schools in the towns of Wellington and Wanganui being insured In insurance ottices. There is at present the sum of £179 lls. 3d. at credit of the Board in this account. . . Interest account, £9SICs. 2d., consists of the mterest on the overdrawn account with the Bank of New Zealand for the last eighteen months. In appendix No. 2 will be found a detailed account of the amount of rates collected in the respective educational districts up to date from the coining into force of the Education Act. The large amount of arrears in the rates for the current year is accounted for by the late period when collection was commenced, caused by the delays in making up the amended assessment for the year, which is dependent by the Act on the receipt from the various Highway Boards of copies of all amendments and alterations in the rate-books of their respective districts, some of which did not reach this Board until the month of December last, though the rate is supposed to be payable from the Ist of July. It will be for the Council to decide whether some means cannot be devised by -which this obstacle can be averted. Appendix No. 3 Is a detailed account of the .expenditure on school building account in the respective districts, from the commencement to 31st .March, 187-4 and again from that date to 31st March, 1875, showing a total of £4517 45., to which, however, will have to be added the liabilities incurred on account of buildings now being erected. Appendix No. 4 shows a detailed statement of the number of schools now established by the Board in the respective districts, together with a nominal list of the teaching staff ; the grade of the teachers, whether certificated or not; the actual number of children attending the various schools, as per last returns; the average attendance; annual salaries, and allowance in lieu of house rent; the latter being granted in the case of all country schools where no residence is provided. From the above return it will be seen that there are sixty schools open at present. Including the Castle Point district, where there is an itinerant master, who will act in that capacity until such time as the settlers have agreed as to the most suitable site for a schoolhouse. An actual attendance of 3332, being 273 in excess of the corresponding quarter of last year, and an average attendance of 2469, a similar increase of 130. The low average attendance lately is accounted for by the extreme prevalence of measles for the last few months, both in the town and country districts. According to the last census returns there are now in the province 7526 children between the a»es of five and fifteen : but in addition to the children attending the Board's schools, the Government tables return 809 as attending other schools. This latter number is probably only about half the actual number, so that we have as a fact that about 2500 children are at present unprovided with the means of education. The above estimate, however, does not take into consideration tho probable increase of children between the statute ages of five and fifteen since the census was taken in March, 1874. In nearly all parts of the province, where an average attendance of twenty children can be maintained a temporary or permanent school now exists : and. except a considerable expenditure for Wellington city, where one or two new schools are required, the Education Board will have only occasional now schools to build other than the permanent buildings required to replace the temporary ones. Much complaint is made by outlying settlors residing more than four miles from any school at being called on to pay education rates without any direct participation in the benefits of the educational system which they are taxed to support. The teaching staff consists of ninety head teachers, assistants, and pupil teachers of both sexes; the aggregate salaries amounting to £8405, which gives an average expense ot £2 10s. per head, or, including the other current expenditure, an average of £3 per child. This last average of £3 per head will, however, be materially reduced as soon a« the other new schools, to the number of thirteen, ns enumerated in the foregoing list, are opened, which will bo. in most cases, as soon as the requisite buildings now in course of erection are completed, contracts for most of them having been already accepted by the Board. In the city ot Wellington it is proposed to build another school capable of accommodating 224 children, on a most eligible site in Buckle-street, overlooking the cricket ground. In Sussex-square, the requirements of that portion of the city for further school accommodation having become most urgent. The various schools now undergo a thorough periodical inspection by the Inspector of Schools, Mr. Leo, who has introduced a system of standards by which the comparative progress of tho various schools can bo easily ascertained, and whieli has tended greatly to excite a spirit of emulation among both teachers and pupils, not previously existing. On the whole, notwithstanding many difficulties, the Board feel that considerable advances have been made in the organisation of a thorough elementary system of education in the province, much of the opposition originally exldbited by the settlers having been dissipated, the general efficiency of the teaching staff greatly enhanced, and altogether a healthier tone of feeling on educational matters pervading the community. , , , .. , , , , „ The Board have, as required by the Act, had all their books, accounts, warrants, and vouchers audited up to the 31st March last, and append hereto tho report of the auditor, Mr. William Durot (see appendix No. 6.) By order of the Board. Charles C. Graham, Secretary.

CONSTITUTION OP THE BOARD. The Chairman gave notice that he should move the following resolutions at the next meeting of the Board : (I.) That a representation be made to the Government to the effect that, after three years’ experience of the present system, the Board considers its present mode of constitution a mistake. That the country members hardly ever can attend, and even if it were proposed to pay their travelling expenses, the cost would bo very serious; thus the country districts have to elect some on© resident in Wellington, who may have no personal knowledge or interest in the requirements of his constituents. That the Board suggest the substitution of a Central Board, consisting of three members, nominated by the Superintendent ; that the Inspector should have the control and supervision of the teachers, 'See.; that Local Boards should be appointed, to have charge of the buildings, &c.; to report to the Board any requirements, and to recommend any special cases for remission of fees, and to report any remisaness, &c,, on the part of the teacher. That all officers should be under the control of the Central Board. (2.) That as many complaints are made by the outlying settlers that they derive no benefit from the educational system they aro taxed to support, the Board should grant subsidies to families more than four miles distant from a school, such subsidy in no case to exceed the amount of rates payable by those subsidised. AID TO OUTLYING SETTLERS. Mr. Andrew moved, —That in consequence of complaints having been made by outlying settlers, residing more than four miles from any school, at having been called upon to pay educational rates without receiving any direct participation in the benefits of the educational system, these settlers should receive some assistance towards the payment of tutors or private teachers. A short conversational discussion ensued, when it was agreed to postpone the further consideration of the motion to an adjourned

meeting, to be held on Wednesday (to-morrow), at 11 a.m., at which the unfinished business of this meeting would be taken up, as well as the Chairman’s motion for rescinding the resolution ot the Board for amalgamating the offices of Secretary and Inspector. The meeting then adjourned.