WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Patea Mail, 30 April 1881, Page 3

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

At the meeting of the above Board on Wednesday there were present, Messrs 11. Sanson (in the chair) Rev. J Ross, D. Coutts, J. Nolman, G. S. Bridge, J. W. Baker, Sir W. Fox. The committee reported the appointment of William Douglas as pupil teacher at Hawera. Mr Hill was appointed to Crofton school. On the motion of Sir W. Fox, seconded by Mr Coutts, Mr W. H. Watt was elected chairman for the current year. A circular from the South Canterbury Board, containing resolution bearing upon secondary education being imparted by teachers in the ordinaty schools during or after school hours, led to discussion, in which Mr Bridge expressed the opinion that if any change was made it should be in the direction of charging fees for the higher standards. Mr Sanson slated that out of the 84,000 children attending the public schools only from 8,000 to 10,000 were being taught in the fifth and sixth standards. Even if the old capitation fee of £1 per year was charged the revenue that would be received was not worth altering the Act for. Sir Win. Fox thought the weakness of the Act was rather that not sufficient attention was given to the lower standards. Mr Baker thought a teacher’s powers being only limited, if he had extra subjects to teach after hours he might not be able to teach the elementary subjects during the school hours. Moved by Mr Notinan, seconded by Sir W, Fox, and carrried, That consideration of the circular be held over for a month. Sir Win. Fox was re-elected Commissioner of education reserves to represent Wanganui district. The tender of Messrs Duffill Brothers, £29, for erecting- platform, lining, &c., at Hawera school was approved of. A letter from Waverley enclosing resolutions referring to the cumulative system of voting at Committee elections, and also to the advisableness of altering the mode of election of members, by dividing the district into sub-districts, was partly discussed and bold over for future consideration. An account of £4 Is 6d for surveying site for school at Wbakamara was passed, and Messrs Bridge and Coutts appointed a committee to inspect the site and report upon its position. On the motion of Mr Bridge seconded by Mr Coutts, it was resolved that the Secretary write to the Wairoa Highway Board requesting that a footpath be formed from the main road to the Waitotara school.