BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5157, 2 October 1877, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

o A meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday. Present Messrs, J. C. Pharazyn (in the chair), Bunny, Toomath, and Beetham. SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION. _ The insufficiency of accommodation at the Terrace School was brought under the notice of the Board by Mr. Toornath, who stated that the master, Mr. Young, had to send away a number of pupils in consequence. The Board agreed to have an estimate of cost prepared, with a view to enlarging the building. The consideration of several applications for repairs and additions to other schoolhouses was adjourned until the next meeting of the Board. DEPUTATION. A deputation consisting of Messrs. Mowbray and Young waited upon the Board in reference to the present salary of male pupil teachers not being sufficient to induce youths to seeksuch positions. The salary was £3O for the first year, with an increase of £5 a year for five years. The deputation pointed out that m the Telegraph Department, the worst paid branch of the Government service, £SO was paid to cadets to commence with, with a rise in a few months to £BO or £9O. At the present time there were not more than three or four male pupil teachers in the whole provincial district. The deputation also brought under the notice of the Board the amount paid to the masters for the tuition of pupil teachers, viz., £lO for the first pupil, and £5 each for all others. The deputation also complained that it was unfair to school teachers to publish the Inspector’s reports in the newspapers when, they were of an unfavorable nature. The Chairman pointed out that the pupil teacher, in addition to what he was paid, had the benefit of the education, and that he really received the benefit of the £lO paid to the master. His firm found no difficulty in getting youths of sixteen at £25 a year for the first twelve months, and the pupil teachers could enter when thirteen years old. The deputation, at tho suggestion of the Board, reduced their Hews to writing, as follows ; “The teachers representing the Wellington Teachers’ Association respectfully make the following suggestions to the Board of Education :—l. That the scale of payment of male pupil teachers should be raised at least £lO per annum, and that other inducements, in the shape of prizes and special scholarships, should be provided for them. 2. That the payment for the instruction of pupil teachers be at the following rate :—For the first, £l2 ; for the second, £8 ; for every other, £5. A forfeiture of £3 to take place for every pupil teacher who fails to pass, and a like bonus for each one who passes with merit; that is to say, makes three-fourths of the total number of marks. 3. That the Board should not allow any reports of the Inspector which are of) an unfavorable character to appear in the' public Press, but should printjjthem in a separate form, and supply only committees and teachers with copies. “W. Mowbray, “J. Young.” The further consideration of the memorial was adjourned until the next meeting of the Board. The Board then adjourned.