EDUCATION BOARD

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2480, 2 March 1881, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD

The usual monthly meeting of the above was held to-day. Present — Messrs Belfield (Chairman), Wakefield, Postlethwaite, Gray, Barclay, Howell, Goldsmith, and Barker. * chairman’s statement.

The Chairman intimated that Mr Hammond, the Boaid’s secretary, was absent through illness, and the acting secretary had therefore been called upon to perform his duties. The first thing to be done was the election of new members, but before doino- that he ck. ired a letter which had ueen received on the subject to be read and considered AN ALLEGED IRREGULARITY.

A letter was read from the Rev. W

Gillies calling attention to an irregularity which he submitted had occurred in reference to the retirement of members. After citing section 15 of the Act. which provided for three members retiring in 1879, 1880, and 1881, the writer contended that, inasmuch as Messrs Barclay and Bellicld had been balloted out in 1879, and bad been reelected they should not have retired again in the year following. Their retirement, he was advised, was null and void in consequence, “ and all proceed inga for re-election also, they retaining their seats for another year in virtue of thei r re-election in 1879, and whether re-elected this year or not.” Mr Gillies pointed out that the three members who should have retired this year were Messrs Howell. Inwood, and Gillies, or, the two last gentlemen having retired, their representatives. In conclusion he stated that lie had called the attention of the Secretary to the Board to this matter nearly a month ago, and that he had left a message for the Board on the subject before the voting for the year had taken place. Mr Wakefield —I have a motion which I think will save time.

The Chairman —I may state that the Board received a renly from the Government on this subject, that they are in a position to decide the matter for themselves. lam inclined., however,to think that Mr Gillies is correct, and that the Board will do well to see that it is not led into a mess. Mr Wakefield —For my part I am not going to sit here and give up my time to the discussion of letters of outsiders respecting the position of the members' of the Board. I think after the advice we have received, and the consideration we have given the subject, we should be doing wrong if we entertained the views of interested individuals. Mr Postlethwaite —I believe we have had legal opinion on the subjectalready. Mr Barker —Yes ! and the question is—would it pay him to get another lawyer’s opinion to upset’ the one we obtained ? The Chairman —Apart from any opinion we are supposed to comply with the Act.

Mr Wakefield moved —“ That the receipt of the Rev. Mr Gillies’letter on the subject of retiring members be acknowledged. ’ Mr Postlethwaite seconded the motion which was carried. NEW MEMBERS. The result of the voting returns for new members was follows : Barclay ... ... ... 20 Belfield 18 Howell ai Walcot 10 Gillies 7 Steward ... ... ... 7 Acton ... ... ... 7 Sinclair 3 Chisholm ... ... ... 3 McLennan ... ... 1 Messrs Barclay, Belfield, and Howell were therefore declared elected. SECONDARY EDUCATION. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Barclay, seconded by Mr Wakefield : “1. That this Board cordially endorse the recommendation of the Royal Commission touching the advisability of providing for a certain measure of secondary education in connection with common schools. “2. That where the teachers are qualified, the conditions of imparting such instruction should be;—(a) The wish of the parents. ( b ) The higher branches of instruction to be taught either out of school hours, or, if within, under such regulations as would secure satisfactory progress in the ordinary standards. ( c) That fees be charged. “ 3. That with a view to furnishing the necessary extra funds to School Committees the Board respectfully direct the attention of the Government to the secondary education reserves unalloted to High Schools, as an obvious and legitimate source of revenue.

“4. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Education Boards in New Zealand.”

SCHOLARSHIPS, Moved by Mr Barker, seconded by Mr Postlethwaite, and carried—“ That for the ensuing examination scholarships in Class D be open for competition to ail children of school age, the remaining scholarships to be available only to children attending public schools as interpreted by the Education Act. A second motion on the same subject occasioned a long desultory and .uninteresting discussion, and was eventually withdrawn. A KNOTTY POINT. Mr Scott, Head Master of the Timaru Public School, submitted, as a mathematical problem, to the paternal members of the Board the case of a pupil named Albert Horatio Jones, the anniversary of whose birth took place on March 1. The Board’s regulations provided that pupils who have not attained the age of twelve on the first day of the month in which the examinations take place shall be eligible for examination in Class A. A letter was read from Jotes’father, certifying that his son was born on March 1, and submitting that as he only attained the age of twelve late on that day he should be eligible for competition it Class A.

A long discussion erfsued, some of the members contending that young Jones not having commenced the twelfth year of his existence on the day in question was eligible for Class A, and others that as he had reached his twelfth birthday he was ineligible. Eventually after the pros, and cons, had been severely weighed by Mr Wakefield and the Rev George Barclay, it was unanimously resolved to evade the difficulty of solving the problem by replying to the Head Master that young Jones should bo examined in Class B. WAIMATE SCHOOL. The report of the sub-committee on the Waimate school buildings re space required for school purposes, the space available, and the ventilation of the school buildings, was read. The report showed the total available space to be 3940 square feet, and the committee were of opinion that not less than 10 square feet should be allowed for each scholar, and that taking the area per scholar as the basis of calculation the school buildings are at present only capable of accommodating 394 pupils. The number of scholars on the roll is 520, and the largest actual attendance at any one time during the quarter, 426. The first figures were 126 and the last figures 32 in excess of the proper capacity of the building. The report went on to say that the necessity for increased school accommodation was fully made out, and added that*,the ventilation of class-room No. 1 was very defective.

It was mover! by Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Postlclhwaite and carried—“ That the application of the Waimate Committee for extra school accommodation be allowed to stand over until the result of the opening of the Homan Catholic school be observed, but that the improvement of the ventilation of class-room No. 1 be attended to forthwith.” NORTH ORARI SCHOOL. A letter was road from Mr F. W. Bad ham, enquiring' who he should give up the keys of the above school to. . There had been a committee meeting, called for Saturday last, hut there was no quorum on that day. The letter added, “On Sunday the Rev G. Barclay, one of the members of your Board, had the impudence to cause the school to be broken open. It seems he had not made an application for the use of the school, nor did he enquire for the keys. I therefore wish to be relieved of them, as soon as possible.” Attached was a notification that the Committee had nominated Messrs Belfield, Walcot, and Howell as members of the Board of Education. The Committee also wished to know on what terms the Board would grant them a pupil teacher. It was further intimated that Mr F. W. Badham had been chosen Chairman of Committee, and that the Committee endorsed his action with regard to reporting the breaking up of the school. It was moved by Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Postlethwaite and carried—' 1 That the North Orari School Committee be informed that the Board are satisfied that the statement made in Mr Badlam’s letter as to the schoolhouse being broken open by a member of the Board, is wholly unfounded, and that the school-house was merely used for divine service in accordance with the usual custom and the permission of the late Committee.

MU JONES’ CASE,

Mr Edward Jones waiter! upon the Board with reference to his son competing for the scholarships. He was informed by the Chairman that although the Board admitted that his was a hard case, it could not sanction Master Jones entering for the scholarships, as, if lie were to win one, there would be no end of complaints from others that the boy was never fairly entitled to have competed for it. The Board could not, therefore, possibly alter its rules and must refuse the application. It was a hard case the Chairman added, “ but the applicant’s son should not have been born on the first of March.” uu rice's PASS school. The Board sanctioned the appointment of Mr Taylor as master of the above school, under the aided schools regulations. A report from the Committee of the school stated that six members of the Committee had subscribed £4B between them to supplement the grant of the Board for a master. The Board expressed its gratification at the conduct of the Committee and the following resolution was proposed by Mr Howell, seconded by Mr Postlethwaite and carried —“ That this Board wishes to record its satisfaction at the way in which the Burke’s Pass school Committee have come forward in re the matter of supplementing the grant of the Board.”

KANGITATA ISLAND SCHOOL. The Assistant-Secretary intimated that the householders at llangitata had failed to elect a School Commitee fertile current year, and the Eev. Mr Barclay proposed, Mr Goldsmith seconded, and it was carried —“ That the following gentlemen, viz , Messrs Smith, Buck, Buxton, Kobinson, Watts, and Wright be appointed Commissioners to administer the affairs of the Eangitata Island School for the current year. UPPER OTAIO SCHOOL. With respect to certain repairs needed at the above, it was resolved that the Chairman be authorised to arrange with the Upper Otaio Committee for necessary alterations up to £6. TEMUKA SCHOOL. It was resolved with reference to a report from the above, that the Committee be asked to submit their proposed revision of the teaching staff with as little delay as possible, in order to avoid the inconvenience of having two scales in operation. FREE POSTAGE WANTED. It was proposed by Mr Wakefield, and seconded by Mr Goldsmith—“ That the Postmaster-General be respectfully requested to authorise the Board of Education to receive letters free of postage addressed to the Board on Educational business, as an assistance to School Committees rendered desirable by the recent reduction of the incidental staff.” amalgamation. The Board passed a resolution in favour of a proposal from the School Committees of the Opihi and the Mount Gay schools, that those schools should be amalgamated. TIMARU SCHOOL. With regard to the proposed revision of the teaching staff of the Timam School Cummttee it was resolved that the Committee be asked to submit such revision as soon as possible to avoid the inconvenience of having two scales in operation, and that no additional appointments be sanctioned until such revision is made.

After the transaction of some further routine business, and the passing of Sundry accounts, the Board adjourned.