S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1799, 6 October 1888, Page 2

S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held last Thursday. Present —Mosssrs Goldsmith (chairman), Talbot, Howell, Barker, Gray, and the Rev, G, Barclay.

The Rev. Mr Barclay reported on the water supply at the Qeraldice School, that the well there is sd deep, that,an ordinary pump will hardly draw up the water, and in a dry summer the water disappears entirely. The committee asked for three or four water tanks. His advice would be that the well be deepened and a force pump supplied ; the tanks would cost a good deal, —Mr Talbot thought a force pump would cost as much, and it would be always getting out of ordsr.—Mr Barclay also reported that the kitchen range was burned out and a new one was badly needed, A letter was also read asking for repairs to fence. A sum of £7 10s was voted to supply kitchen range; the question of water supply to stand over for the present; Mr Barclay to examine and report on the fence. Mr Barclay was to have brought up the report of the committee on amended pupil teacher regulations, but he stated that the committee had not yet agreed to their report. The report of the committee appointed to consider the letting of teachers’ residences when not required by the teachers, recommended that in such cases the committee should have power to let, first obtaining the express sanction of the Board ; the building not to be let for a longer term than one month'at a time; one month’s notice to be given by either side ; the teacher not occupying to give one month’s notice of desire lo occupy ; half (he rent to be paid to the teache, half to be aliocated to insurance, repairs and other

incidentals; rent lo be paid in advance. The report was adopted. A written report from Mr Pearpoint. recommended th it a school be not ereo'ed at Arundel, as it could only bo filled at th* expense of other schools, reducing those to the level of aided schools.

It was agreed to let to Mr Fodon tha contract of painting the master’s house at Hilton for £6 15s.

The Rev. Mr Barclay asked under what circumstances the additions io the Pleasant Valley school are being carried out. He understood that a tender had been accepted for certain work, and the addition had been afterwards reduced. •Some arrangement must have made With the contractor. By whom was the arrangement made ? and what was its nature ! , . . Mr West, the architect, explained that ho prepared plans, and a tender was accepted for the extension of the school, but Mr Gow, the inspector, told him what was wanted was not more room but a class room. He therefore saw the contractor, who agreed to reduce the extension from twelve feet to seven, and put up a partition and fire place, to form a class room} for £ls extra. This was, he believed, cheaper than calling for fresh tenders. At the request of Mr Barclay, the inspector was called in, and Mr Gow said he told the archi ect a class room was needed, but he gave no directions as to the wotk. It was decided that the inspector should consult with Mr West, the chairman, and ■ecretary, to present a report on the matter next meeting. In accordance with notice given Mr Barclay moved : “ (A.) That this Board (South Canterbury) strongly protests against the introduction of the ‘ atri*t average ’ in calculating the attendance at school*, and urges the abolition on the following, among other grounds : I. The great disparity, under ceitain circumstances, between tha ‘strict average’ and the ‘working average,’ this disparity being caused by unpropitioin weather, diitance in many cases of children from the schools, swollen and unbridged creeks, bad roads, occasional epidemics of cold, whooping cough, etc., and by other circumstances over which neither boards, committees, parents, nor teachers have any control. ll.—The constant variation nnd change it gives rise to in the cbaiaoter and organisation of certain schools : 1. There will be a constant iuctuation of st tus, th» independent and regu'ar school of to-day becoming the ‘aided school’ of to-morrow, f. There wi l be a constant fluctuation of staff—dismissal one quarter, and appo ntments the nex'. 3. There will be a constant fluctuation of salary, and this in circnmatsncts (in the case especially of small schools) is calcu’sted to inflict no little hardship. lll.—The great additional work thrown by the system on the Boards and their officers, one week’s severe weathtr, or one week’s prevalent epidemic, entailing all the changes just •poken of, and necessitating thereby gnat additional correspondence, new advertisements, increased expenditure, and augmented inconvenience of various kinds. (B.)-That the Board earnestly recommends the readoption of the 1 working average.’ 1. This would obviate in a great measure the inconvenience and hardships above referred to, 2. it would do away with the temptation of committees in special circumstances to close the schools at times when otherwise they might be opened. 3. And, supposing to any great extent a concession to the. temptation just referred to, the ‘working average ’ would secure a larger amount of actual instruction, and less interruption to the continuous efforts of both pupils and teachers.”

A letter was read from Mr Jarnes> Aitken, President of the S.O. Educational Institute, enclosing resolutions of the institute, expressing regret at the change of system and setting forth its evil iniuence?. It was to the same effect as the Rev. Mr Barclay’s resolution. The motion was then carried, and the secretary was directed to write to the other boards in the colony and seek their fc-operation. L was dec’ded to erect a new class-room to the South Orari Schuo', and to allow some extra furniture for the Pleasant Valley School. After deiling with schools in various other parts of feouth Canterbury, the irteting adjourned.