EDUCATION BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2510, 6 April 1881, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

SECOND EDITION

The usual monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Education was held to-day. Present—Messrs Belfield, Barclay. Wakefield, Lovegrove, Goldsmith, Barker, Gray, and Howell. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. On the motion of Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Barclay, Mr Belfield was re-elected chairman. Mr Belfield briefly acknowledged the honor that had been done him. He considered that the office of chairman should be a rolling one, and he should gladly have been relieved of the duties it involved, but since the Board had thought proper to re-elect him, be felt bound to acquiesce, and he thanked them fer the expression of confidence and approval which bis re-election signified. APOLOGY. Mr Barker apologised for not attending the Finance Committee. Mr Postlethwaite was not in the train, and he knew it was no use coming up. chairman’s statement. The Chairman stated that he had authorised the supply of furniture for the Timaru side school and Geraldine Flat School, also the appointment of teachers for the Orari Bridge and Kakahu schools, and the Scotshurn Committee had been authorised to advertise for a teacher. With reference to the Washdyke School, as there were seven applicants he suggested in order to save the expense of advertising, that one of these should be selected. To this, however, the Washdyke Committee objected on the ground that their school was an important one, and applications should be invited in the usual way. His (the Chairman’s) desire had been to economise the expenditure of the Board in advertising which was considerable, and it would be for the members to say, when the matter came before them, whether they approved of his action or otherwise. SCHOLARSHIPS. The report of the examiners for the annual scholarships was submitted. It stated that there were 14 candidates, five in Class A, four in Class B, two in Class C, and three in Class D. The total amount available was £196 4s, and the examiners recommended that it it should be allocated as follows : Class A.—lst. J. McKenzie, Geraldine, £25 ; 2nd. Alice Balfour, Washdyke, £l3 ; 3rd. Harry Smith, Geraldine, £9. Class B.—H, J. McLean, Timaru, £3O ; 2nd. Alfred Stubbs, Timaru, £l2 ; Class C.—Ashton Kay, £35. Class D. —lst. W. F. Ward, Timaru High School, £4O ; 2nd. Herbert C. Barclay, Timaru High School, £22 ; 3rd. Mary Jane McLean, £lO. No second scholarship was awarded in Class C, owing to the second candidate failing to obtain the minimum number of marks.

Mr E. Wakefield, examiner in English grammar, writing, and spelling, reported a marked improvement, many of the papers, especially in Classes B and D, being admirable. He considered, however, that there was a want of sufficient grounding in the rudiments, the candidates answering the most advanced questions best. Archdeacon Harper, examiner in history and Latin, reported that in Classes ABC there was no improvement on the standard of last year. In Class D the result, especially in Latin, Was more satisfactory. He suggested that the extent of knowledge in history required by the present regulations was too great, and that far better results would be obtained if the examination of each class were limited to a certain portion of British history, of which an accurate knowledge might be expected. The Rev B. T. Hallowes, examiner, in geography, reported satisfactory results, and an improvement in map drawing in several instances, but that a few candidates showed great ignorance. Mr M. Gray, examiner in arithmetic, algebra, and euclid reported.—ln Classes A and B the examination shows the candidates to be indifferently equal to the standards prescribed, while in Classes C and D the papers were done remarkably well, and indicated that the principles of the various subjects were generally understood. The marks were as follows : Class A.—J. M’Kenzie ... 272 „ A. Balfour ... 266 „ H. Smith 265 „ B. Kippenberger ... 228 „ R. F. Andrews ... 187 Class B.—H. J. M’Lean ... 374 „ A. C. Stubbs ... 272 „ J. Kaiaugher ... 267 „ A. H. Jones ... 235 Class c.—A. Kay 358 „ F. Brown 242 Class D.—W. P. Ward ... 681 „ H. Barclay ... 523 „ M. J. M'Lean ... 502 The examiners recommended that the prizes given by Sir Julius Vogel be awarded to the two candidates who

obtained the highest proportion of the maximum number of marks—thus Longfellow’s works, W. F. Ward— Waverley Kovels, H. J. M’Lean. It was moved by Mr Howell, seconded by Mr Barker and carried : ‘That the Boards thanks be given to the examiners for the able way in which they discharged their duties in the recent scholarship examinations. A BLACK LIST. A circular was read from the Education Dept, Wellington, requesting that teachers who were dismissed for disgraceful conduct should be reported at headquarters. The Chairman stated that there had been cases of the kind refen’ed to. For instance an individual had imposed on the Board by producing certificates that were subsequently proved to be forgeries. He thought the information asked for should be fui’nished. It was resolved—ln answer to circular 75 it is ordered that the information asked for be furnished under the seal of confidence. THE LATE ELECTIONS. Telegrams were read from the Education department, asking information re date of Mr Gillies’ retirement from the Board, and the name of his successor ; similar enquiries were made re Mr Tancred. The Secretary intimated that the information had been furnished. Mr Wakefield said there appeared to be an erroneous impression abroad respecting the filling of the Board’s vacancies. It was concluded that when one member retired another jumped into his seat, like men on a chess board. This was an error. He was aware that Mr Gillies had written to the Minister of Education with the view of upsetting the late election, but he fancied this could not be done. (Hear, hear.) Mr E. B. Walcot, Chairman of the Timaru School Committee, forwarded a formal protest against the way in which the late elections had been conducted. He enclosed an opinion from Mr Harper of Christchurch re the election of Mr Howell, through the admission of two voting papers by the Geraldine Flat Committee, to the effect that according to the provisions of the Act, the Committee had no power to send two lists, and that the word “ send,” clearly meant that the lists were to be sent so as to arrive on or before the last day of Feb. Mr Walcot protested against the election on the ground that the reception by the Board of a second voting list from the same Committee was illegal, and further, that even if admissable, it was not received within the time required by the Act. Mr Howell said he was absent at the time when the election wa sdealtwith and had no opportunity of ascertaining whether there had been any irregularity. Sooner than have had any doubt about the validity of his election he should have retired. Mr Barclay—lt is not a question for Mr Howell at all. (Hear, hear.) The action of the Board cannot be called in question. (Hear, hear.) We have a perfect right to determine the legality of the voting. (Hear, hear.) Our proceedings are in accordance with the Act, and must not be disputed. (“ Hear, hear,” and “Certainly” from several members.) It was moved by Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Barker, and carried—- “ That Mr Walcot’s letter be acknowledged, and that Mr Harper’s opinion be returned.” SCHOOL AMALGAMATION. Resolved on the motion of Mr Howell, seconded- by Mr Barclay—“ That the arrangements for amalgamation made by the Mount Gay and Opihi schools be acquiesced in by the Board, and that Mr Behnin’s salary date from February 10. A SUBSIDY DISPUTE. Mr Howell, on behalf of the Opihi School Committee, submitted that a sura of £lO deducted from the incidentals as subsidy towards the teacher’s salary should be refunded as a certificated teacher had never been appointed, and the salary for which the subsidy was claimed had never been paid. Several members exprressed their opinion that if the money was refunded a dangerous precedent would be established, and similar applications would be made. It was resolved to refer the application for Mr Hammond’s report. CHARGE AGAINST A CLERGYMAN. The Chairman of the North Orari School Committee again wrote in reference to the alleged breaking into the School by the Eev. G. Barclay, intima-. ting that the Board’s explanation of the occurrence was eminently unsatisfactory, and asking that the subject of the complaint be reconsidered. Eesolved on the motion of Mr MJakefield, seconded by Mr Goldsmith — “ That the North Orari Committee be informed that the Board have no question before them for decision re breaking open the school, and that they see no good object to be gained by prolonging the correspondence.” TIMAEU SCHOOL. An application from Mr Walcot, Chairman of the Timaru School Committee, for £2O, to be devoted to repairs to the school was granted. A SOP FOR TEMUKA. A letter was read from the Temuka Committee, representing that the school was overcrowded.. Resolved on the motion of Mr Barclay, seconded by Mr Wakefield—“ That the Chairman of the Board obtain a design for new schools at Temuka, showing an infant school, capable of accomodating a sufficient number of children to relieve the crowding of the main school.” A FAITHFUL WATCHDOG. . Mr Barclay moved, Mr Wakefield seconded, and it was carried—“ That whereas it is desirable that Education Boards should have the means of ascertaining, in course of regular audit, whether the sums granted by them to School. Committees are expended on the special objects for which such sums were granted, and inasmuch as the present mode of audit prescribed by regulation 1 (vide “New Zealand Gazette”) does not effectively secure this end, the Education Department be requested to make such alteration respecting this matter, as shall require and authorise the Board to undertake a direct audit of School Committees’ accounts. ANOTHER INNOVATION. Correspondence was read from the Washdyke School Committee re the appointment of a teacher, declining ,to select one from the seven applicants submitted by the Board and requesting that applications be invited in the usual way. Resolved on the motion of Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Goldsmith.—

.‘That the Washdyke Committee be informed that the Board see no necessity for advertising the vacancy, and that they be requested to select a master w 'th as little , delay as possible from among the candidates whose applications have been sent them.” TIMARU SIDE SCHOOL. A communication was read from the Timaru School : Committee asking the Board to sanction the appointment of three teachers for the Side School ; also, that incidental allowance for Side School might be paid to the credit of the Com mittee. The Committee also enquired whether the Board intended to treat tlie Side School as a separate, school or as part and parcel of the Timaru School. The consideration of the letter was deferred until the return of the Inspector. NORTH OKAEISCHOOL. It was resolved, with reference to the above school, on the the motion of Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Goldsmith ■—‘‘That the Committee be informed, in answer to the Chairman’s personal application, that a pupil teacher cannot be placed in charge of a school or in a position where his or her education cannot be continued.” CLAREMONT SCHOOL. ' . A petition was read from a number of residents. in the Claremont district, praying for the removal of the school to a_ more eligible site, as its present position had a detrimental effect on the attendance, being too far removed from the majority of the settlers’ houses. The Secretary was instructed to interview the residents, and report to the Board. Sundry accounts having been passed for payment, the Board adjourned.