BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5098, 26 July 1877, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The Education Board held a meeting yesterday morning at half-past 11 o’clock. Present —TheHon.C.J. Pharazyu (chairman), the Rev. Mr. Ross, Mr. Watt, Mr. Beetham, M.H.R., Mr. Gisborne, M.H.R., Mr. Dalrymple, Mr. Fleetwood, Mr. Bunny, M.H.R., and Mr. Toomath. FINANCE. The Secretary stated that the overdraft in the hank account was £5205 12s, 6d., while £1965 15s. Id. stood to the credit of the new account. In consequence of a letter from the Department of Justice, requesting the Board to curtail all necessary expenditure for the present, Mr. Pharazyn indefinitely postponed his motion to increase the salaries of the Secretary and Inspector. HOUSE ALLOWANCE. A memorial was received from the Wellington Teacher’s Association pointing out that the present rate of house allowance was insufficient, and requesting the Board to favorably consider an increase. This subject was also postponed, in consequenceof the letterrelativeto curtailing expenses, received from the Department of Justice. inspector’s report. In the report which Mr. Lee placed before the Board he remarked that he had only mentioned those schools in which the education was not up to the standard. He referred to the upper section of Te Aro school, Wanganui Grammar School, and Karori school as being the worst. So far as Te Aro school was concerned Archdeacon Stock admitted that the standard was far below what it should be, and in Karori the local committee made a similar admission as to the school there. Mr. Lee mentioned that the teachers seemed anxious to do better, and in his opinion their failure was attributable chiefly to want of direction. After a brief discussion on the report, it was resolved to let matters rest as to the inefficient school until the next examination, in order that the results then obtained might be compared with the present report. It was suggested by the Inspector that it would be well ts appoint a thoroughly good master to assist Mr. Holmes—(that gentleman has been engaged in Wellington teaching for the past twenty-five years)—as there was really too much to do in the school. SCHOOL LIBRARIES. The following report of the Inspector of Schools was read in reference to the above : “ Wellington, April 10. “ Gentlemen, —I have the honor to recommend the following plan for the establishment of school libraries : “ 1. That there be a small permanent library in connection with each school. “2. That a certain depot of circulating books be maintained. “The permanent library should consist of books of reference, histories, biographies, technical education, dictionaries, a good general atlas, and other books of general utility. Your Board might contribute one-half the cost Of such books, provided, that the grant shall not exceed d. per annum for each child in the books of the school. The central depot shall supply new, entertaining, and instructive books. Packets of such books shall be sent to each school at the beginning of every one volume being allowed for every children on the books of the school. The permission of the General Government might be obtained for allowing such packets to travel free of charge. Each school may make its own selections of books from a printed catalogue furnished by the Board, I need not now give minor details of the plan. , I estimate a grant of 6d. for each child in aid of a permanent library, and a supply of one book periodically to every ten children in the books will cost £2OO per annum, supposing that new books are obtained every year, and the old books given to the permanent libraries. If found to work well, the plan admits .of large development. Where there is a desire on the part of the local authorities to establish a good library, the annual grant made by your Board will be a valuable encouragement. In districts where less interest is taken, or where there is less need of a school library, there will be no waste of public money. I think when school libraries are once started, in many cases they will grow in a few years to fair proportions, as local funds are often available for such useful purposes of general education, and donations of books might be made from various sources. Good reading is undoubtedly one of the best means of educating a nation, and by means of school libraries such education may be brought into the homes of the people.” The Board passed a resolution declaring the expediensy of establishing libraries, but the consideration of the subject was postponed until a copy of the report, with other information, should be sent to: the local committees, to see how far they were willing to co-operate in the scheme. , ■ ■,' WANGANUI. It was determined to accept an offer made of a school site (for the proposed new school) at a nominal rental of £1 per acre, the lease extending over a period of 21 years. It was also resolved to erect a school, but that the matter should be referred to the school committee before immediate action was taken. HUTT SCHOOL. With reference to the appointment of Mr, Huntly, which had been called in question by the chairman of the local committee, a memorial was enclosed in a letter from Mr. Huntly asking that the appointment be confirmed. The Inspector stated that Mr. Huntly was provisionally appointed on condition that h« passed the recent examination; but he tacked out of the examination. His wife came to him (Mr. Lee) pleading that , her husband might be excused on the ground that he as an old man regarded an examination as a trying ordeal, being slightly nervous. A discussion arose on the point ns to whether an exception could be made in this case, and it was resolved to appoint another teacher. APPLICATION FOR INCREASE OF SALARY. A letter was received from Mrs. Wilkinson, teacher under the Board, applying for additional salary on the strength of her service to the Board and long experience as a teacher in a private school of her own. The question was allowed to stand over. MR. ROSS AGAIN.

Two characteristic letters were read from Mr, Ross, teacher of the Claireville school, one of them being of a dictatorial and amusing character, in which the writer complained very bitterly of the policy of the Board and of neglect in respect to certain repairs necessary at his school. He also favored Mr. Beetham, the member for the district, with a little condemnation.

Other correspondence was read as to the dispute which had arisen between Mr. Ross and the late chairman of the local school committee (Mr. Corpe), which had resulted in the resignation of the chairman. That dispute—during which Mr. Ross accused the chairman of sinister motives in his official capacity—had arisen out of the controversy between the teacher and Mr. Vile, which will be well remembered by those who read these reports. Mr. Beetham felt it necessary to say a few words as to the letter of Mr. Boas, that gentleman having made pointed and unpleasant reference to him. The onlj time he had occasion to visit Mr. Rosa that gentleman had treated him in a way he had never been treated before ; and he had carefully refrained from doing or saying anything in his position os a member of the Board which should injuriously affect Mr. Boss, because it would be thought that he so acted as a salve to his wounded feelings. Mr. Watt moved that Mr. Rosa be dismissed. . The Inspector stated that Mr. Ross was a good teacher, but had an irritable disposition ; and the only thing that could be said in his favor in this respect was that in whatever he did, or in whatever way he did it, he always appeared to act in the interests of the school. tt was resolved to call upon Mr. Ross for an apology, it being understood that if he refused his services would be dispensed with. The Board then adjourned until 10 o’clock to-day.

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