BOARD OF EDUCATION

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2557, 1 June 1881, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above took place at the offices of the Board to-day. Present —Mr H. Belfield (Chairman), and Messrs E. Wakefield, Barker, Goldsmith, Howell, and Eer. G. Barclay. WAIMATE SCHOOL. The Chairman reported the appointment of Miss Grant and Miss Nicholl to the fourth and fifth teacberships at the Waimate School RESIGNATION. Mr Postlethwaite wrote tendering bis resignation as a member of the Board. The resignation was accepted. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr Lovegrove wrote stating that he proposed visiting England, and asked for leave of absence. The application was granted. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS. It was moved by Mr Barclay, seconded by Mr Howell and carried — “That in case of any organisation being started in this district with the view of ascertaining the minds of parents respecting the reading of the Bible in schools, with a conscience clause, the Board places in the Lands of such organisation the machinery at its disposal.” THE VEXED QUESTION. A letter was read from the Educational Department,Wellington, acknowledging 'lhe receipt of a resolution passed by the Board of Education with reference to the election of members of the Board. The letter stated that in Mr Dick’s opinion the Education Department had no authority to go farther than it had gone, vizTo point out to the Board, what it appeared to it to be the proper course under the provisions of the Education Act, regulating the election of members, and that the Department is unable to advise what action should be taken in the matter. CAPITATION GRANTS. A circular was read from the Education Department, Wellington, notifying that after June 30 next no capitation grants would be paid on account of the attendance at public schools of children under five years of age. With reference to this matter the Secretary of the Board (Mr H. W. Hammond) submitted the following memorandum —“The number of children under five years of age attending schools in this district according to the last quarter’s returns is 173, this should give an average of 127 earning by capitation grant, £470 ss. As against this I do not think that the saving in teaching staff by their dismissal will amount to much more than £IOO per annum, and the consequent net loss to the Hoard’s revenue will be about £370. This will again throw our income under our expenditure to the extent of some £142. It was moved by Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Barker, and carried—- “ That in reply to the circular No 79. from the Education Office th*- Minister be informed that the withdrawal of the capitation grunt on children under fire years of age will place the Board in a serious difficulty for funds, a difficulty

which it was not possible for them to anticipate from anything contained in “ The Education Act, 1879,” which distinctly provides (clause 8, sub sec. 2) that capitation shall be paid ‘ for each child in average attendance at a public school,’ without any limits, tion as to age; and that the attention of the Government be drawn to Clause 83 of the Education Act, from which it appears that though ‘ school age ’ is stated to mean ‘ any age between the years of five and fifteen,’ no power is given to either Boards or Committees to exclude children under five from the school, though power is given to exclude children over fifteen, except in the case of district High Schools.’ SCHOLARSHIPS. A communication with reference to scholarships was read from the Tiraaru Board of Governors, and Mr Barclay remarked that he would like to say a few words on the question of scholarships. The arrangements regulating them at present were not the best possible. The great defect of the system at present obtaining was that it was not a general one. The scholarship arrangements differed all over the colony. Thus in Auckland they had a different system to that pursued in Southland, and, in fact, no two places adopted the same method. It would be far better that one general system should be adopted embracing the whole colony. He would therefore move —“ That a Committee be ap* pointed to reconsider the scholarship with the view of meeting, if possible, the wishes of the High School Board of Governors.” The motion was seconded by Mr Wakefield and carried. It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr Wakefield—“ That with reference to the letter from the Board of Governors of the High School, they be requested to state whether they will be prepared to give any assistance to the resources of the Board of Education in respect of scholarships, either by remitting fees to the winners of scholarships or supplementing the scholarship money out of High School funds.” Mr Goldsmith seconded the motion which was carried. It was then resolved, on the motion of Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Goldsmith—“ That the Chairman, the Rev Mr Barclay, Mr Barker, and Mr Gray be a scholarship committee, and that the committee be requested to draw up a representation as to the uniformity of standards &c., in scholarships throughout Hie colony. Some further business having been transacted (too late for insertion in to-day’s issue) and sundry accounts passed for payment the Board adjourned.