SOUTH CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1161, 5 April 1884, Page 2

SOUTH CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Board of Education was held in Timaru last Thursday. Present Rev Geo. Barclay (Chairman), Dr Foster, Messrs S. W. Goldsmith, J. Talbot, R. A. Barker,

G. G. Russell, W. J. Steward and E. Wakefield. After the Chairman had made his statement Mr Wakefield, after some very eulogistic remarks, said he had much pleasure in moving —‘ That the thanks of the Board be accorded to the Rev. Geo.,/ Barclay for his services as Chairman V during the past year, and that he be elected to that position for the current year.’

Mr Steward seconded the motion, which was put by the Secretary and carried unanimouslw.

Mr Barclay returned thanks. Moved by Dr Foster, seconded by Mr Goldsmith, and carried —‘ That Mr Wakefield be appointed by the South Canterbury Board of Education as one of the School Commissioners of the Canterbury Provincial District.’ Amongst the correspondence was a letter from the Education Department stating that there was such a large yearly demand for copies of the Edncatien Act, that Government must in future make a charge of Is per copy, and the Board could make a charge to Committees when supplying them. The Architects reported that the contractors for the Belfield school were making good progress, and the repairs to the Waitohi school and master’s house -were about completed. Mr Hammond, the Inspector, who with. Major Bamfield, the Secretary, had audited the School Committee’s accounts, submitted a report on the audit. In many cases they fouud the accounts incomplete, causing much unnecessary labor in completing the audit. In some" cases they had to send back the accounts, as they were quite unintelligible. On the whole they could report that the disbursements had been faithfully made, but the records had been negligently kept.

This negligence was by no means confined to the smaller schools. A long report by Mr Ollivier, Provincial District Auditor, on the same subject was read. Mr Ollivier found great fault with the accounts, and with the system of audit by the Board’s officers. The accounts themselves were ‘ for the most part unin-« telligible,’ and in one case the Committee was in debt; ‘of course that could not be allowed.’ On the motion of Mr Wake-

field, seconded by Mr Steward, the report of the Board’s auditors on the Committee’s accounts was adopted. The Inspector stated that on going out to a certain country school one morning, a which had been a little wet, but not wet enough to keep him at home, and was ■ improving, he found the school closed. He considered it would have a very bad., effect on the attendance if a school was, closed on account of the weather, because* on its appearing a little threatening parents would not send tbeir children for fear of having them sent back again. Mr Wakefield moved, Mr Talbot seconded and it was carried—‘That the of Committees be drawn to the inadvisability of schools being closed on account of small attendance on wet days, and that they be informed that it is the duty of teachers to receive and instruct those children that do attend, no matter how few they may be.’ A grant of £3 was made to tbe Temuka School Committee for forming and shingling footpath in the school ground. The Committee also applied for the £2O for planting which had been handed to them some time ago, and not being expended was returned to the Board, The Chairman said the £2O was not originally granted ‘ for planting,’ as the Committee persistently represented, but for ‘ fencing and planting,’ as the original grant showed. The Board had spent a largo sum on fencing, and the Committee ought to be content with less than £2O for planting. Several members said £lO would do all that was required, as planting is very cheap now, and it was resolved on the motion of Mr Barker, seconded by Mr Wakefield, that a sum of £lO be granted for planting. The Committee of the Winchester school wrote, reminding the Board of the unsatisfactory examinations passed by the school on the last two occasions, stating that the attendance had fallen off greatly, and requesting the Board to remodel the teaching staff'. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Barker, seconded by Mr Talbot— ‘ That in accordance with the request of the Winchester Committee, notice be given to tho teachers of the termination of their engagements.’ After a further discussion, it was resolved on the motion of Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Steward That an examination of the Winchester school be made in June, and that the final arrangements as to remodelling the staff' be postponed until the result of that examination are before the Board.’ It was understood that if

the result o£ the examinatmn are satisfactory the teachers may be retained. _ The Committee of the Eangitata aided school, which had been closed for some time, wrote asking that Mr H. Hamilton might be appointed master. The request was acceded to, his retention brirg conditional on his obtaining a certificate at the nest January examination. Some time ago the Board resolved that head maste_ ; of District High Schools must be graduates of some University, but present head masters of such schools who are not graduates should be given reasonable time to obtain them degree. * .Reasonable time 1 had been defined to some extent by deciding that they should present themselves for their first examinations in November next. The two teachers affected, Mr Wood, Master of the Temnka District High School, and Mr Ward, Master of the Waimate District High School, had both written, and now in reply to further communication wrote again, that they could not promise to comply with the Board’s requirements in the time fixed.

Mr Talbot moved that the resolutions requiring Messrs Wood and Ward to graduate be rescinded. Dr Foster moved, and Mr Qo’d mith seconded, that the usual thr-e months notice he given those masters, with the understanding that if they undertook to comply with the Board’s wishes the notice would be cancelled.

Mr Talbot protested against this on the grounds that the masters of two sue important reboots, with pupils in secondary subjects and pupil teachers to instruct, could not much time to study themselves, and that it would defeat the object the Board had in view, to order these teachers away at short notice. Ultimately it was agr d to hold a special meeting on the 17th instant at 11 a.m., to deal with Mr Talbot’s and Dr Foster’s motions, and the depot question. The Inspector, some three months ago having given six months' notice of his intention to resign, it was resolved—‘That steps be forthwith taken with a view to filling up the appointment of Inspector to the Board, which will be vacant three months from date in consequence of the resignation of Mr Hammond, the salary to be £4OO, inclusive of travelling expenses,’ The following motions, to be brought forward at the special meeting on the 17th inst., were then given notice of. Mr Talbot to move—* That with a vietv of giving the winners of the Board scholarships a chance of prosecuting their studies at some High School under more favorable circumstances than at present exist, on account of the examination taking place so late, the examination in future he held during the month of December.’ Mr Talbot to move— ‘ That the resolution of the Board adopting the recommendation of the Committee re status of teachers in District High Schools be rescinded.’

Ur Fo .ter to move—' That the usual three months’ notice be given to Messrs Wood and Ward of the termination of their engagements.’ The Board then rose.