SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 13, 15 January 1914, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

A NUMBER OF GRIEVANCES. At New Plymouth last night a conference was held between members of the Taranaki Education Board and delegates from the school committees at Koru, Inglewood, Okato, Kent, Fitzroy, Central (New Plymouth), Frankley, West End (New Plymouth), Bell Block, Tataraimaka, Opunake, Tarurutangi, Hurford, Oakura and Pungarehu, and from the Moa Association. In all, they numbered about thirty. --< The idea of the committees was for the conference to pass certain resolutions covering the matters they desired to have ventilated; but the chairman of the Board (Mr H. Trimble) objected to this course. He thought that a combined resolution would not carry very much weight and he pointed out that the delegates might out-vote the Board members and the resolution would still be taken as representing the opinions of the Board.

Mr S. G. Smith, a delegate, asked for an explanation of the methods pursued by the Board in paying the capitation moneys to school committees. "Why was. it," he asked, "that these moneys were always totally inadequate for the needs of the committees ? On what basis were the payments computed?"

Mr Morton: They are computed according to the regulations. Mr Smith: The regulations are not strictly adhered to.

Mr Trimble then explained that a few years ago, the Education Boards paid only what amount they thought fit. There was nothing further in the Act. The Taranaki Education Board had always been as liberal as possible, and had never paid less than 5s per. head. This payment, however, had not been the same for every school. This would have been unfair, as the schools with a large attendance would have received much more in proportion than the smaller schools. The payment had therefore been made in; proportion to the size of the school. Then, in 1910,. an amending Act had provided that of the capitation paid to the Board (then increased to 12s) not less than 5s 6d per head.should be paid to school committees in the aggregate. The Board ■ had since then paid 5s 6d per head on a scale proportionate to the jsize of the school. He knew that the capitation paid was bare ly sufficient for mere necessities, but the Board itself had little enough money wherewjth to make ends meet. The committees should keep up a constant united agitation for more money. The Government could grant it, but not the Board. V

Mr Ballantyne explained, that the matter of hoinework was, left to the discretion of jfche teacher, who was instructed not. to give an undue amount, or to give homework by way of punishment, or in lieu of work which should have been done in school.

~,. ;*$ R • , Masters remarked £hst., he., somewhat regretted the attitude which the chairman of the-Board had taken up. . He thought that resolutions of a conference between the Board and delegates would have, had conisderable. weight with the Education Depart-' ment. Referring to the question of salaries, he remarked that these were utterly inadequate. The average salary for males was £199 per annum, and for females £122. When it was considered that some teachers received £4OO or £SOO per annum, it would be seen that others were being sweated. Reverting to a complaint which had been made concerning the recent medical examination of children, he stated that in bis opinion this did not go far enough. The Government should provide free medical attention for children whose parents were too poor to pay for it.

A vote of thanks to the Educatioii Board concluded the conference, and a meeting of the delegates was i then held, at which the following resolutions were passed : ' Increased Capitation.—That in the opinion of this meeting, the time has arrived when the capitation grants to committees should be substantially increased.

Subsidies.—That the Government be urged to bring into vogue a system whereby all monies raised for educational purposes by committees of primary, schools, shall be entitled, to a Government subsidy. Physical and Gymnastic Instruction. —That in the opinion of this representative meeting, all equipment required for use in teaching children physical and gymnastic lessons, should be provided by the Education Department.

Taranaki Education Board* District. —That the Government be strongly uurged to alter the present district of the Taranaki Education Board, so as to include the whole of the provincial district of Taranaki.

Salaries.—That this meeting strongly urges the Minister for Education to go thoroughly into the question of the present salaries paid to school teachers, with a view of at least bringing teachers into line with other branches of the Public Service as regards adequate remuneration for services rendered, particularly as regards those just entering the profession. That the Taranaki Education Board be urged to bring into vogue a satisfactory method of allotting homework to school children.