EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5823, 27 November 1879, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Education Board was held at the offices at a quar-ter-past 11 o’clock a.m. yesterday. Present— The Hon. C. J. Pharazyn (in the chair), Mr. Toomath, Rev. J. Paterson, Yen. Archdeacon Stock, Mr. Hutchison, and Dr. Newman. FINANCE. Teachers’ sdaries to he paid to December 1, £1303 9s. 6d. Building account, available balance to 30th June, £llOl (is. A tender of £27 10s. by Mr. Hopwood, for new closets, at Te Aro, was accepted. COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. The master of Tliurudtm school wrote, pointing out that in the competition for the College scholarships a number of subjects were included which did not come within the ordinary curriculum of common schools.—Copy of letter ordered to be sent to the College authorities. CLAREVILLE SCHOOL. An application was received from the Clareville Sohool Committee, asking for the erection of an attached infants’ class-room. The present accommodation was fur seventy children ; average attendance, eighty. Request agreed to. TAWA FLAT SCHOOL. An application was received from this school for payment for a number of small fittings and conveniences. Matter referred to StandingComruittee, with power to act. JOHNSON VILLE. An application was sent for repairs to the schoolmaster’s residence, amountiug to £7. Agreed to. . PARK VALE, CARTERTON. Application was sent fur a number ol extras for the new schnolhuuse and master’s residence, amounting to about £3l. Deferred till next meeting ; the Inspector to report. KAIWARRA. Application sent for erection of fence, closets, removal of a bank, and converting the old school into a master’s residence. Estimated cost, about £3OO. It was resolved that the architect should be directed to prepare definite p'ans and estimates for the new residence. The other matters were referred to the Standing Committee, with power to act. THORNDON. The committee of the Thorndon school wrote, asking that the Board should remit the rent due to the Board by Mr. Lewis, who occupied a cottage on McNab’s property, lately acquired by the Board. The rent was £SO a year, but as Mr. Lewis had officiated as temporary head-master in Thorndon sohool for six months, and acted as custodian of the Board’s property, the committee thought he should have some consideration.—The rent was reduced to £lO. OLD BUILDING IN FRASER’S LANE. Mr. Tinuey wrote, asking that the Board would allow him to clear away an old cottage in Eraser’s-lane on the land of the Board. The building was only fit for firewood, and as it now stood was dangerous, boys going there to let off fireworks, &c.—Mr. Tinuey was given permission. NEW DESKS. A Mr. Schwartze wrote, suggesting that the Board should employ him to construct new and improved desks for schools. He submitted plans and drawings of his proposals, and claimed that his desks would hs far more conducive to health —the prevention of consumption, &c.—than the ones at present in use.—lt was resolved that £5 should be spent on an experimental sample for the Newtown school. ART TEACHING. Mr. Holmes wrote, offering his services as teacher of drawing, &c., for male pupils.— Offer declined. RESIGNATION TO IIARRV. The resignation of a lady teacher (Miss Richmond) at the Te Aro school, who wished to get married, was accepted amid loud applause. DISMISSAL FOR DRUNKENNESS. The Chairman of the Mount Cook Committee wrote as follows :—lt is my painful duty again to have to call the attention of the Board to the gross misconduct of Mr. Thos. Donnelly, schoolmaster, at Newtown on Monday, the 17th inst. Complaint having been made to me by Mr. Weedon, of Newtown, charging the afore-mentioned schoolmaster with drunkenness, and protesting against such a man holding the responsible post of head master ; and in other respects referring to the hardships entailed upon himself and the other residents in that district in having to send their children to the school under his charge, I, accompanied by Mr. Sweeney (secretary), waited on Mr. Donnelly on Tuesday morning, and informed him of the report, and asked if there was any foundation in the charge. He emphatically disowned all knowledge of acting as imputed to him, although to my own and Mr. Sweeney’s minds, from his appearance, the report had too much truth in it. However, that same afternoon he was again (undoubtedly) under the influence of drink, and on Wednesday was in a worse state, acaording to the evidence of Miss Barnard, his assistant, and a lad named Wilson. Several of the parents in consequence withdrew their children from the sohool, at the same time loudly complaining against the cause. With such clear evidence of facts before me, and after consulting with several of the committee, I suspended him on Friday, pending an inquiry and investigation into the charges brought against him at a special meeting convened for Monday night, the 24th inst., informing him of the same, and inviting him to be present to repudiate the charges if he could. The evidence adduced at the meeting was so conclusive to the committee that they unanimously recommend Hs instant dismissal by the Board. I would stop to mention that Mr. Donnelly attended that meeting very much the worse for drink ; and in fact, bordering on delirium tremens. In conclusion, the committee respectfully request that a teacher be temporarily appointed by the Board to take charge of the school at once. —C. Mclntyre. Nov. 25, 1879. It was resolved that Mr. Donnelly be instantly dismissed, a temporary teacher appointed, and a permanent head master for Newtown advertised for. ABSENT TEACHERS. It was agreed that the secretary should report at every meeting of the Board on the cases of teachers absent from duty. It was reported that Mrs. Huntley (Mount Cook) was absent through bad eyes —granted another month’s leave. The absence of Mr. Austin (Terrace school) was reported, and a course of action resolved on by the Board, BALLOT FOR MEMBERS TO RETIRE. It was resolved that this should be postponed till next meeting. The Hon. C. J. Pharazyn said he should himself retire voluntarily. It was also stated that Charles Pharazyn would retire. . TENDERS FOR STATIONERY, ETC. Dr. Newman had given notice of a motion that all stationary, books, and general school requisites required in all schools under the Board’s charge should be tendered for annually, the committees to obtain their supplies from the successful tenderer, and to retail those portions to be bought by pupils at cost price. Dr. Newman stated in support of his motion that at the present time teachers were in the habit of selling books, &c, to children, at 2d. or 3d. in the shilling over the ordinary shop price. The Board generally expressed an opinion that this practice should be put a atop to. The motion was eventually postponed till next meeting, the Board to communicate with local committees, requesting their aquiesceuce in the proposed new system. NEW SCHOOLS. Some petitions were received with reference to a new school at Petone. Their consideration was postponed, the Inspector being directed to report generally to the Board at a future ’:. ' i -as to the needs of the Wellington D : "is matter of school buildings. Thu ... uf the members of the Board were avcisu u increasing the number of small schools more than was absolutely indispensable. The Board, having fixed its next meeting for Tuesday, December 23, adjourned at 1.45 p.m.