BOARD OF EDUCATION. (From The " Auckland Star-," May 23.)

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 52, 31 May 1884, Page 6

BOARD OF EDUCATION. (From The " Auckland Star-," May 23.)

The ordinary meeting of this Board was held this afternoon. Present: — Messrs Hobbs (Chairman), Luke, Carr, MoKenzie, Goldie, Cooper, Moss, and Clark. Chairman's Report. —This report was brought up, showing that Miss Jessie Weston had been removed Irom Training College to assist at Wellealey-street school, that Mr Arthur Gifford had been removed from the College to Grafton Road school, and that repairs to Nelson street playground had been completed at a cost of £27 18s, being t.6 ISs in excess of estimate. Absence of Teachers. — The Chairman introduced the question of pay to teachers during absence, in accordance with a motion by Mr Goldie. — The Chairman thought the presence of maiTied lady teachers in public schools was of advantage, and gave a good tone to schools. — Mr Luke held a similar opinion. — Mr Carr asked if any of these ladies had applied for leave of absence. — Mr Rice said three had applied. — Mr Carr offered some objections to married ladies in schoels, who in certain conditions, had excited talk among other teachers. There may be advantages, but there were also disadvantages. — Mr Cooper considered that there were reasons, which he urged, why married women, especially wives of teachers, should not be in the school. In the case of Mrs Phillips, whose husband was in receipt of a good salax'y, he would support Mr Goldie's resolution, "That Mrs Phillips do not receive pay for the month before and after confinement." — Mr Moss thought some consideratijn should be shown to these teachei'S. — Mr Clark said that tne whole question should be opened up. — Mr Goldio said the husband in this particular case was earning t300 a-year. He moved, therefore, that in this case leave of absence be granted without pay.— Carried." Mr McArthur.— A long letter was received from Mr McArthur in explanation of his financial difficulties, and further stating that he had made arrangements with his creditors to pay 20s in the £. — Mr Moss said the creditors ought to release Mr McArthur and trust to his honour, the business of the Board was not to fight with the creditors ; but whether the school was a good one, and Mr McArbhur a good schoolmaster. Mr Moss had understood that Mr McArfchur was well qualified for his position, and it would be a misfortune to lose a good schoolmaster Mr Clark said this was an awkard case ; he differed slightly from Mr Moss ; it was a question of example. If Mr McArthur had been reckless, and had recourse to money-lenders who invariably increased a debtor's difficulties. He would like, not to re-instate Mr Arthur, but to give him an opportunity of reducing his expenses and putting himself straight with the world. — Mr Luke considered |that the motion was carried rather hurriedly. He was very popular at the Training College, and he thought he should have a fair chance of retrieving his position. He might say further that he had been assured that some of the statements respecting Mr McArthur's affaiis were untrue. — Mr Cooper kneAv something of MrMcArthnr's matters, and he also knew that he had fallen into the hands of money -lender?, and had been paying in some instances 100 per cent., and money-lenders and bill-discounters were the most unrelelenting people in the world. The Board had a duty to perform, especially on the moralaspect of the question. His personal feeling was with Mr McArtUur, yet, as a member of this Board, he felt bound to vote against rescinding the former resolution passed in March last. — Mr Carr spoke against rescinding the resolution. — Mr Goldie complained of interviews which had taken place between friends of Mr McArthur and certain members of the Board. — Mr Goldie then went over the assets and liabilities of Mr McArthur vvith the view of showing the reckless, way in which Mr McArthur had been living. The Chairman reviewed the case, which, according to the Official Assignee's report, was a very bad one, and he saw no reason to alter his view as previously expressed. — Mr Moat came to the Board perfectly undecided as to what he should do. Mr McArthur had raised himself from a humbler position to that of a schoolmaster, and possibly from lack of a practical knowledge of the world, he had easily fallen into trouble. He was inclined, with Mr Moss, to give him another chance of retrieving himself. — The Chairman put Mr Clark's motion, "That the Board decline to alter its former decision," which was carried.

Mb Newell Phillips's Letter.—A letter was received from Mr Phillips, Waikato, touching certain damaging allegations made by Mr O'Donoghue as to the state in which he found the school when Mr Phillips left it. —lt was agreed, on the motion of Mr Goldie, to forward to Mr Phillips a copy of that portion of Mr O'Donoghue's letter referred to by him. Punishment of Children. —The correspondence on this subject from the City Schools Committee was introduced, to which the Inspector appended the following memo :—": —" The plan followed in some of the schools is that corporal punishment shall not be inflicted on girls except by the order of the head-master, who selects one of the female assistants to inflict it This is a good plan so far as it goes, but is evidently not applicable to all the schools. lam inclined to think that it is best to leave the matter to the discretion of the head teachers. Corporal punishment is not often really required for boys or girls, but the possibility of its being used should be always present." —It was agreed to forward the memo to the Committee.

Mr Joseph Brabazon's Case. — A long letter was received from Mr Brabazon, enumerating his actions and services for forty years in the cause of education, referring particularly to the case of the girl Hicks, about which such a fuss had been made, and complaining that no examination of the girl's hand had been made. He would not complain of the decision of the Board, but asked, as a compensation for years of steady service, twelve monch3' salary, — It was decided to forward Mr Brabazon's letter to the City Schools Committee. The remainder of the business consisted in dealing with country applications and passing accounts.

Major Atkinson's panacea for hard times is retrenchment and industry, and the doctrine which he preaches would seem to bo practised by the Chinese residents of the colony. The Napier " Telegraph " says :— While "working classes" are agitating their mindi about politics, trade unions, and labour councils, about a land tax, the nationalisation of land, and the seizure of the unearned increment, John Chinaman keeps steadily at work growing cabbages and making money. We saw this morning one of our Chinese market gardeners pay into a bank fifty pounds in silver and gold coin ; he then asked for three twenty -pound notes, aud he took from an immense roll of notes a ten-pound note, which he handed to the bank clerk as the difference between the fifty he had paid in and the sixty he had drawn out.