EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 251, 27 April 1880, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.

Accepting the invitation of the Chairman of the Timaru School Committee, the following' Chairmen of School Committees in South Canterbury met or Saturday afternoon to discuss various matters connected with their office as members of Commite i :-~Me„srs R. B. Walcot, Tim. ru ; A. Wilson, Temuka; Rev. J. Preston, (ieraldino ; G. Butler, Point; T. W. Fyfe, Wai-iti; J. Talbot, Waitohi; W. Balfour, Washdyke ; T. Jefcoats, Pareora ; J. Holland, K*kahu ; G. Morton, WaihaO; T. Cooper, Fairlie Creek ; K. A Barker, Orari South ; T. Ley, Opihi; D. T. Carter Mount Gay. Mr Walcot, as convener of the_ meeting, stated his reasons for having invited other Chairmen to meet. The idea was not his own, as a similar Conference had beon held inNorth Canterbury, and the Chairman of the Temuka School Committee hud suggested to him the desirability of holding a similar one here for the purpose of giving expression to their opinion as to desirable amendments in the Education Act. , . Mr Walcot was moved to the chair, and Mr Balfour to act as Secretary to the meeting. Proposed by Mr Wilson, seconded by Mr Cooper—"'That in the opinion of this ConferoiK'p all.existing Boards of Education should be abolished ; that n Council of Education should be established at Wellington, having the supervision of all public schools iJ tho colony ; snd that extended powers as to tho management, etc, of schools bo given to local Committees." This might bo thought rather sweeping, but he believed it would, if carried have a good effect on school management and education. He moved it with no animus towards members of the S.C. Board, but things had occurred on that Board that no one could approve of. The large expenditure for their maintenance, and the depressed state of finances is another reason for abolishing iSoards. Certain rules could be laid down inspecting teachers' qualifications which would guard against imposture, and secure that the teachers employed were efficient, quite aa well as Boards can do. It was said that public moneys would be squandered if left in the hands of Committees but this he denied, as Committees would be more economising than Boards. Another reason why the Boards should be done away with was delaying the appointment of teachers, which, if left to Committees, would be more expeditiously managed. If the Boards were done away with, and tie Committees given more power, they would take mora interest in their duties, which must conduce to the improvement of the schools, besides saving expenditure. Mr Talbot questioned the wisdom of bringing forward a resolution striking at the root of the present system, as most of those present could hardly have given the matter the consideration it required. He could'not see the benefit of abolishing all Boards but one, and would prefer to retain the prosent Boards and abolish Committees. Mr Walcot said the resolution had been framed, leaving it to be arranged by the Minister of Education, Mr Walcot had not given the matter tho umount of attention he would have bestowed upon it if it had'been brought before him sooner and therefore ho felt some diffidenceabout resolution. The principle suggested in tho resolution was in force in England atul other placosy where it was successful ; and if tbo principle could be successfully applied in such colonies it could be so in the smaller one of New Zealand. The Kov Mr Presi-ou agreed with wutit lud been said in favor of fclio resolution. Mr Butler was in favor of things remaining as they were untii a better scheme was offered, Mr Barker opposed the resolution, as it would be waste of time, and not likely to be passed in other Board districts. Mr Jefcoate also referred to the outcry for local control, which had resulted in the establishment of the S.C. Board, as an argument against doing away with it. The wishes of Committees had been better attended to since its establishment. | Mr Fyfe said he was from the first op posed to the South Canterbury Board, and he would support the motion both on the score of economy, and in the interests of education. Mr Wilson thought it best to go to the ! root of the matter. If this proposal were put *side, then they could do their best to amend the existing system. With respect to Mr Preston's remark re doing away with Boards or Committees, it was clear to him that the Committees should not bo done away with. They were the best part of the local government the country possessed. The resolution was then put and lost, eight voting against and four for it. Clause 45 of the Education Act, relating to appointment of teachers, waß next considered. Mr Carter proposed to substitute the word "shall" for "may" in tho two places whoro it occurs in tho proviso to that clause. , Mr Cooper anggested that the proviso should bo altered altogether, bo that the Committees should appoint teachers, and then consult the Boards, who should have a recommendatory but not an absolute veto. Mr Carter thought that the Committees should have first choice, and not allow the Boards to sort out the applications. Walcot said, at present can Boards appoint teachers if they did not approve of the recommendation of Committees. It being pointed out that the words relating to the removal of teachers would be out of place if the suggestion were taken, and it being agreed that the words were quite unnecessary, it was decided to recommend thftir excision. Mr Wilson suggested a reference to the Miniuter of Education in case of a deadlock between a Board and a Committee. Mr Barker asked how a Committee waa to judge of a teacher's qualifications. Mr Preston said there would be a difficulty on that score. But if a Board had 50 or 60 applications, and picked out ha.f-a-dozen of the most suitable, the work of the Committees was comparatively easy. Mr Wilson said there were certain conditions which a candidate must fulfil befoie a Board would accept him. Mr Preston said a teacher's private character had a great influence upon a school one way or another. Messrs Balfour, Talbot and Barker spoke in favor of an alteration of the clause. A resolution waa theP put and carried unanimously that— The word Board be substituted for Committee, and vice versa wherever they occur in Clause 45 ; that

the words relating to removal of teachers from one sehool to another be excised ; and that words be added to the clause, to the effect that in the event of a conflict arising between a Committee and a Board, as to the appointment, suspension, or dismissal of any teacher, tha samn shall be referred to the Minister of Education, whose decision si.all be final. Mr Talbot moved, and. Mr Butler seconded —That clause 59 be amended by adding the following words, "andany person who shall be absent from three consecutive meetings of the Committee of which he is a member, without the consent of the Committee, Bhall forfeit his seat." After a short discussion, the resolution was carried unanimously. It was resolved —That provision be made for the immediate election of a new Committee in the event of the resignation of the Committe elected at the annual meedng. It was pointed out that great inconvenience had been felt, especially in Timaru, from the want of such a provision. Mr Barker moved, and Mr Preston seconded —That Clause 65 be amended by striking out all the words after elected in thethird line. Mo«t of them no dou t knew of cases in which the cumulative voting had been abused. It might work well in large places like Timaru (No, no), but he could vouch that it did not answer in country districts* The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Balfour moved—" That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable the constitution of Boards of Education should be so far altered so that members thereof should representatives of localities, and to that end it is desirable that for the purpose of returning members to the Boards the Counties should be divided into electoral districts, and that eich district be entitled to return a proportionate number of members." There was no need to aay much in favor of this motion. Mr Wilson seconded the resolution augh gesting to ndd words to the effect that each electoral district should not necessarily elect as a member a person rosident in the district, as he thought such restriction would be a mistake. Mr Barker agreed with the Bpirit of the motion, but doubted whether some of the outlying districts would bo able to find a capable person, as they were sure to elect a local man, who might be' able to take an L 8 d view of things, but unablo to understand broad principles. He moved an amendment—" That the Act stand as it is." Mr Wilson did not think past experience of the S.C. Board would bear out Mr Barker's remark* about local men, as in most cases the Committees had nominated men living out of their own districts. He would be sorry to see each little district insisting upon returning one of its own men, but he did not think thay would do so. The proposal would probably get rid of the anomaly at present existing of one district having two members representing it and others equally or mora important having none. Anyone elected for a particular district.though nst a resident, would be bound in honor to watch over its interests, just as a representative in Parliament was expeoted to do. The Committees would see that they got good \ men to serve them. j Mr Walcot said he framed tho reaolu- ; tion because he thought tho present system extremely unfair. His object was to return a number of members proportionate to tho electors. Mr Cooper said the resolution would thr. w matters into the other extremo. Population never was and never will be the basis of representation, otherwise London would govern the House of Conmons, Mr Ley spoke in favor of members of Boards being elected directly by the Committees, avoiding the roundabout process at present in vogue, which rendered tho Boards entirely independent of the Committees, and practically an absolute body. After a little discussion, Mr Cooper proposed an amendment—That in voting for School Board, Committees representing schools having an average attendance of 300 scholars and under, according to attendance returua last published, have one vote ; 300 to 50U, two votes ; 500 and over, three votes. Mr Fyfe socouded Mr Cooper's amendment, and it waa canlod unanimously, Mr Balfv ur's and Mr Barker's amendment being withdrawn. Mr Birker moved, aud Mr Preston so- ; conded —That in tho opinion of this meeting a clause should be inserted in the Edu cation Act providing that all schools bo opened each day by reading the Lord's Prayer and a chapter of + he Bible without comment, provided that no child be compelled to be present whose parents or guardians object. | Mr Barker said this was an important thing. He knew that certain sects objected to the Bible being read in schools but he did not think they had any right to prohibit the use of the Bible in schools by the rest. The majority of the sects were [ in favor of the Bible being read, and he did not see why the majority Bhould refer to the minority in this matter, and it was not fair of the minority to raise a clamour about it. The reading would take place in the first quarter of an hour of the school day, and these children need not attend and no one's feelings would be hurt. There were many parents who could not give their children any religious instruction. Mr Preston seconded, and said children were being brought up as heathens, God not being acknowledged in any way. Mr Cooper said he thought Government ■ should provide a book of Biblical lessons. Mr Preston thought that no man with a position to maintain would read any portion that he ought not to read,or read any of it in an improper way. The Committer would take care of that, as they would be sura to he«r of it. Mr Wilson said it was nri extraordinary thing, perhaps, that among a people professing to bo Christians, the Bible should not be read in schools; and he had no spmpathy with religious teaching in schools, having never known any good come of It. It was the duty of ministera to look after the religious instruction of the children, but where provision had been mado for their attending the schools for the purpose, little or no advantage was taken of the provision, except by Roman Catholics. Mr Talbot was altogether against the resolution, as the introduction of Bible reading would endanger the whole education system. They all knew that reading the Bible without comment could do very little good, and with comment it became religious instruction. A uational system of education riiust sink all differences and »

give no class tho power to say " you are teaching what we do not beliove " If tho people were really believers in tho Bible they would see that their children were taught it ut church or elsewhere, if it coull j not bo taught in the public school. j Mr Fyfe spoke in favor of the motion, ■ and on being J put, it was carried by ten votes to two Instances of inconvenience arising from the present method of electing the whole of each Committee annually were cited, and after a short discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Talbot, *"- conded by Mr Jefcooto—'"That all tnem bers of School Com mil tees be elected for two years ; four to go out of office one year, and three the next." A motion was made respecting rates for school purposes, and the opinion was expressed that if it were found necessary te levy any rates for educational purposes, such rate should bo for building purposes only, and not for ordinary expenditure ; but after some conversation on the subject the motion was withdrawn. Mr Preston suggested that some recommendation Bhould be made respecting holidays. Sometimes holidays were so allotted by Committees as to be of littlo benefit to the teachera They should l-e denned in some way so that the Committees could not cut them up. Mr Walcot thought the teachera generally received more considerate treatment from the Committees than they would from the Board. It was resolved—" That the midsummer and midwinter holidays be defined by the Boards, and the allotment made by tho Committees." Mr Butler referred to the doubt wiiich had arisen concerning the position of tho Chairman of the South Canterbury Board, and moved the following resolution, which would provide for the annual election of the Chairman—" That in clause 33 the words ' and each subsequent annual' be inseited after the word ' first' in the fourth lino." Mr Fyfe seconded the motion, nnd It was carried. Mr Barker moved—" That in th« opinion of this "meeting the compulsory clan mob of the Act should be enforced by all Committees," Mr Walcot said it would be wholly impracticable to enforce the clauses iu Timaru, owing to the impossibility of accommodating all tho children in the town. Mr Preston, Mr Balfour, and others spoke in favor of the Boards undertaking the duty of enforcing the compulsory clauses, the Committees being proved to be too much influenced by personal considerations to do it properly. ! Mr Jefcoate thought the clauses should be made to apply to at least throe miles from school. After a little discussion Mr Barker amended his motion to read—" That clause 95 be repealed, and that a clause be inserted making it imperative upon tho Boards to carry out tho compulsory clauses of the Act." On being put it was carried. Mr Kelland drew attention to tho too great stringency of the regulations under which good attendance certificates wero granted. Owing to that stringencr the plan entirely failed to achieve its object, and was of no use as an encouragemont to children. To secure a certificate of the first class, a child must be present every lialf day on which the Bchool was open. Evon a teacher's child living on tho gruuuds could Bcarcrly obtain a certificate on Biich a condition He moved a resolution to tho effect that first and second-class good attendance certificates should bo given to the two children of each class who had attended the greatest "Utnber of times during the year. If his proposal were carried out, the children would be really encouraged, for they would have an attainable and not a practically unattainable object to strive for. The resolution was carried unanimously. It was resolved—" That copies of tue resolutions passed at this meeting bo sent to the Chairman of the Board of Education, with-a request mat he will fv>rward them to the Minister [or Education." A vote of thanks to the Chairmm terminated the meeting.