PATEA EDUCATION BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 October 1875, Page 2

PATEA EDUCATION BOARD.

A usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held at the Court House, Carlyle, on Saturday last. Present Captain Wray (chairman), Messrs. Milroy, Mediae, Christie, and Middlemas. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous mooting were read and confirmed. INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS. Mr Lee, who was p-esent at the request of the Board, in reply to a communication, requesting him to nominate or recommend a t -acher for the Kakaramea or Manutahi schools, said there was a great demand for qualified teachers in the Wellington Province at present. He had lately received three applications from gentlemen desirous of attaching themselves to the Wellington Education Board—one was really a good man. a. resident of Victoria, but lie feared that his services could not lie commanded under a salary of £ISOO per annum ; Hie second was a gentleman, at present engaged in the Marlborough Province, and he believed him to be a well-informed man. The only reason that he was desirous of making a change, was in consequence of the small salary (£IOO per year) he was receiving. The third was a Mr Sherlock, the present Editor of the Rangitikei Advocate, who is a B.A. of Trinity College. He believed hj iwover, that it would lie wiser for the Board to advertise, and forward the various applications and testimonials to him, when he would ho happy to advise the Board on their respective merits. TEACHERS’ SALARIES. Mr Milroy would like to learn from the Inspector the usual salaries paid by the Wellington Board ? % Mr Lee said that the Board adopted a scale—viz., 3rd class teachers, £l2O ; 2nd class, £l4O ; Ist class. £l6O. The inspector brought, np a report each year,, and if the 3rd class teacher obtained the necessary certificate he was advanced to the second division. In addition to the salaries, teachers were allowed £2O per annum for house allowance, and £1 per head for each child who passed a standard 3 or 4. £lO per year was also paid to the master for every pupil teacher for special instruction. CARLYLE PUPIL TEACHER. The Inspector paid a high compliment to Miss Williams, the Carlyle pupil teacher He found her to be well informed, and in every way competent to cuter upon tho pupil teacher’s second year list, under which she would be entitled to receive £3O per year. HALF-TIME SCHOOLS. The Inspector said that teachers in the Wellington Province, having charge of half-time schools, devoted six hours per day, but these schools were not very popular. teacher's examination. A communication was read from Mr Dyer, requesting to be allowed the same privilege as accorded to teachers holding appointments under the Wellington Educational Board, viz., six months notice to prepare for an examination. / Mr Lee stated that it would be onljrrair to" Mr Dyer to grant the request. He had examined Mr Dyer six months ago, but ho was not put through the eight subjects. He was examined in the usual subjects for a third-class certificate, and obtained 300 marks out of 600. Mr Dyer passed his third-class examination very satisfactorily, and he considered that it was only fair that he should have the time to prepare himself. Out of the 60 teachers employed in the Wellington Province, there only four who held first-class certificates, and 8 second-class certificates, and the others required time for preparation. The Board t might possibly consider that it was desir-r I

able to have at least a second-class teacher in charge of its schools, hut the Board must understand that it would have to offer increased salary to secure the services of a teacher possessing that certificate. The difference between the two grades was a plain ordinary English education and the other a collegiate education. 'Teachers securing 200 marks cut of 300 were classed as second, and 300 out of 400 as first. It was possible to find a man emiiientl} - qualified to conduct a school who might fail to pass. Ho bad inspected Mr Dyer’s school, and considered him a fair average master for the salary paid. He found that his instruction consisted of solid teaching, and that the school was fairly satisfactory. II AW ERA TEACHER. With regard to the Ilawera school, he bad no hesitation in recommending that tin; teacher be superseded, as his general tone and inllnencc were not calculated to serve the children attending the school. He found the reading of the children throughout bad, the writing moderately fair, the school noisy and badly disciplined. The Inspector here read a letter which lie bad received from the teacher, tendering his resignation on the ground that equity was not to bo expected from the Board, and declining to attend the examination, fearing that justice would not be done bin.. Mr Milroy looked upon the letter as a perfect insult, and considered it desinble to have it published. Mr Middle-mas moved —“ That the Secretary inform Mr Dunne that the Board accept his resignation of the mastership of the Hawora school tendered to Mr Lee. and that his appointment terminates at the end of fie preesnt month." Mr Milroy seconded the resolution, which was carried. Onthe motion of MrMiddlcmas, seconded hy Mr Mcßae, it was resolved “ That the Secretary advertise for a teacher for the Ilawera school at a salary of ,£IBO per annum. ’ KAKARAMEA AND MANUTAHI SCHOOLS. On the motion of Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Christie, it was resolved, “That the Secretary advertise for a teacher for two half-time schools—Kakaramea and Manutahi—at a salary of .£lt!0 per annum, and forage allowance &20 per annum." THIRD CLASS CERTIFICATE. Mr Lee recommended that a third-class certificate from the Board be granted to Mr Dyer. The Inspector was authorised to have the necessary certificate of merit engrossed. CHRISTMAS FRIZES. The opinion of the Inspector was elicited as to the desirability of the Board issuing prizes at the forthcoming Christmas examinations. Mr Lee said that it was not cnstomaiy to offer prizes, but did not discourage it. He knew that a great deal of popular interest was exercised in that way. TEACHERS’ SAEARI ES. Mr Middlemas considered it advisable to change the system as regards teachers’ salaries. He would recommend that all salaries he increased to £l5O per annum, to take effect from the date of Mr Lee’s next visit. 'The matter dropped without any definite motion being made on the subject. MIXED SCHOOLS. Mr Lee said he regretted to find so few girls attending the Carlyle school, and feared that there must be some cause for it. It was a mistake for persons to suppose that any evil arose from the, two sexes being taught in the one room, and if any evil did arise it did not. occur in the, school-room, as the master was already there. It might occur in the playground, or going to or returning from the school. For his own part, he lead never heard of any evil, and it was only reasonable to believe that children were likely to receive a sounder education from certificated schoolmasters than attending private schools, where teachers were perhaps unqualified. Mr Milroy said that Mr Dyer was accustomed to draw the boys and girls up in lino in soldier-like fashion. Mr Lee disapproved of both sexes being drilled together, but it was customary to put girls and boys through certain evolutions. He would recommend a division fence to be established, and the pupil teacher to take charge of the girls. TENDERS. The following tenders were received for the erection of the Ketemarae and Kaka-

Proposed by Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr M‘Rae, “That Mr North’s tender for the erection of a cottage at Kakaramea be accepted, and that the Secretary sec that he enters into tho necessary security required by the specifications.”—Carried. Mr Middlemas moved —"That Mr Syme’s tender be accepted on the same conditions.” Mr Christie held that the Board were not dealing fairly towards Manutahi in the matter, as there were only 26 children available for school at Ketemarae against 156 at Manatahi. He considered that the building should be erected at Manutahi first. The Chairman ruled Mr Christie out of order Mr Middlemas quite agreed wilh tho Chairman’s ruling. Mr Christie thought that as soon as the saw-mill was commenced operations timber would be obtained at a cheaper figure. He considered that it was too large a sum to vote away, Mr Milroy pointed out that the specifications provided for red pine, and that he was aware that the mill could not supply that class of timber. If tho Board failed tn accept tenders, it would find that carpenters round would not be found willing to tender on the third occasion. There would not be a saving in tho coat of more than £5 or £lO. APPLICATION Foil SUBSIDY. Mr Middlemas considered it most important to offer liberal salaries to induce good teachers to apply for the- management of our schools, and moved—" That the Secretary he instructed to communicate with the General Governmenr, to apply for a share of the vote of the £50,000 for educational purposes.” The motion was seconded by Mr Christie, and carried.

SCHOOL PADDOCK. MrMilroy stated that the school paddock was nightly occupied by horses. On one occasion he ordered the removal of certain horses, and for bis trouble he was abused and threatened to be summoned by Mr Stewart, who had informed him that Major Turner had given him permission to place his horses in the paddock, and bo would not suffer their removal. EXAMINATION OF CARLYLE TEACHER. Proposed by Mr Middtomas, and seconded by Mr Milroy—“That the Secretary inform Mr Dyer that be will be expected to pass the second-class examination at the end of six months. The resolution was carried. MANUTAHI SCIIOUI,. Mr Christie thought it would bo advisable to build a small school at Manutahi, as the Blockhouse would he found totally unsuitable. Mr Middleman agreed that the Blockhouse would not. serve long - , and in the event of the Board securing a share of the £5U,000, he would he in favour of the work, but considered that the Blockhouse would answer very well for the present. Mr Milroy would not like to see, too much undertaken at once. He would prefer to soo the work in hand completed. If the Board undertook any further work, (hey would require an inspector of works. [Mr Coutts here entered and took his seat.] .school kooks. A letter was read from Mr Darkness, asking the Board for permission to be allowed to keep the school books for sale on commission. The request was declined. FINANCE.

ramea schools : — Kakaramca. Ketemarae. £ s. d. £ s. d. HolthamA Warren 157 0 0 185 0 0 George Symo 159 0 0 Ifio Ifi 0 W. Aitcheson 170 0 0 187 0 0 Thomas North 149 10 0 177 0 0

The following accounts were passed for payment:— T s. d. \V-Cowern .. 1 17 3 .1. Dnfhic .. 0 4 0 H. I. Jones ... . .. s o a — Symes .. G 2 G The Hoard then adjourned.