S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1901, 8 June 1889, Page 1

S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Education was held in Timaru on Thursdty, Present—Messrs S. W. Goldsmith (chairman), J, Jackson, J. Talbot, R. H. Pesrpoint, W. B. Howell, and R. A. Barker, and the Revs. G. Barclay and T. J. Smythe. The chairman stated that one resignation had been received during the month, that of Mr Valentine, of Pareora. Mr Marshall, D 4, hid bean recommended bj (he Committee for the post. Other recommendations hac been made—By the Sutherlands Committee, MrH.A. Stewart, E2 ; Milford, Mr J, Campbell, B 3 ; Orari South, Miss Ida Gardner, as assistant mistress; Tiraaru, Miss L. Hassell as pupil teacher. The recommendations were confirmed. After considerate discussion the Chairman’s action in sanctioning the enlargement of the schoehoora now being erected at the Cave by fi/o feet in length was endorsed. The cost of the enlargement is £2O, and of this the Cave School Committee have agreed to pay half. A circular from the Government asked for a retnrn of payments made to teachers under several classes,—The return had been supplied. The architect, Mr D. West, reported on the repairs dona sines last meeting. The principal was the Totara school, tin roof of which, it had been reported, was in danger of being blown off. He found the nails holding down the roof timbers drawn, and had had the whole well braced and nailed down. A number of reports on the half-yearly inspection of schools were prsented by the Inspector, and a few only were read. The chairman drew attention to two of them. One was on the Pleasant Valley school, with some aspects of which the teacher was dissatisfied. The other was on the Winchester school, and _ the chairman drew attention to a particular remark, that on the 9th and 10th May, two very wet days, the head teacher had not marked the register of his classes.—lt appeared that only a very few children attended on the days mentioned. The assistant mistress had posted her registers. After some discussion it was decided to ask the teacher for an explanation. Mr Smythe gave notice to move at next meeting-—“ That in future a teacher holding the position of locum tenons shall be ineligible as a permanent teacher for that particular school.” A memorandum on the subject of school (ext books" with a list of those considered most suitable for adoption in an attempt to secure uniformity, was received from the Inspector. It was resolved unanimously —‘That tho Revs. Barclay and Smythe and Mr Pearpoint be appointed a

committee to consult with tho Inspector as to the books mentioned, and report at next meeting,” The Geraldine Enabling Bid, drawn up by Messrs Perry and Parry, was read, and it was aoreed to hand a copy to Mr Barclay with a view to his consulting the local Members of the Assembly about getting it passed next session. The B ; 1I provides for the sale of some surplus sections belonging to the board at Geraldine, and also tho present school site, which is inconvenient ; the proceeds to bo devoted to the erection of rew buildings in another nart of the township. The inspector s request tor special examiners in music and sewing to be appointed for the pupil teachers' examination was acceded to. The results of elections of school committees for Belfield, Rangituta Island, Sutherlands, Mount. Giy, and Claremont were read, and also the appointments of commissioners for Otaio. For the South Rmgitata school the board appointed Messrs D, Taylor, W. McLeod and J. Robertson as commissioners. The Glenavy Committee wrote asking for £5 to build shelter shed. —Half cost to be granted. Board to be given a description of building. The Hilton Committee wrote asking if,, ns one of their number had resigned, they could elect a person resident outside their district to the vacant seat. —The secretary was instructed to reply in the negative. The Milford Committee wrote asking if Mr Hamilton could remain at the school until the Cave school was ready.—-The secretary was instructed to reply in the affirmative. The Pleasant Valley Committee requested to be showed to use the schoolroom for a dance in aid of the prize fund, —Permission granted. The Scotsburn Committee wrote asking if they would be allowed to grant the school for meetings of Good Templars,— Permission granted. 5 The Waitohi Flat Committee asked for certain repairs.—Estimates to bo supplied. The Geraldine bchool Committee wroie, requesting the Beard to raise tho status of their school to that of a District High School. Mr Barclay said that they had had this question before them pretty often for the last seven or eight years. He was of opinion that the time had now come when the board should acoede to the request. Members should bear in mind that their decision was not final, but for the future of education he thought the board should grant the request, for if education was good for anything the higher the education they could possibly give the better. In the next p'ace it would remove a great disability under which a number of porous in the Geraldine district now labored, for members knew that the children of that district had baen very successful as scholarship winners. He thought also that it would be economical for the board to raise that status ot the school, as they would save money on the scholarships. Instead of giving £3O or £4O for a scholarship as at present, the cost, if the status were raised, would be only a very few pounds. He had also made enquiries as to what change of staff would be needed, and was assured that an additional pupil teacher or an assistant, at a cost of £6O a year, would be all that would be required. The board would save this sum in two scholarships, and on the whole ho thought it would be courteous to accede to the request. He then moved —“ That this board cordially transmit to' the Minister of Education the request of the Geraldine committee and residents to have the school raided to the statue of a District High School.” Mr Howell had pleasure in seconding the motion, pleading for the poorer class of people, who could not afford to send their chidren to the Tiraaru High School. Mr Pearpoint endorsed the remarks by Messrs Barclay and Howell, and cordially approved of the step, Mr Talbot, though not particularly objecting to the motion, said it was a fallacy for Mr Barclay to say that they would save money on the scholarships if the request were aeqeeded to, for the scholarship money was set apart for a specified purpose. However, without discussing it at length, he thought that a full board should have an opportunity of discussing tho motion—it would only be courteous to postpone tho matter until they had done so. Mr Barclay explained, in reply to Mr Talbot, that what he meant by a saving on scholarships was that by the change they would be able to distribute the scholarship moneys among a much larger number of children, It was then agreed that the motion should be postponed, and the motion was tabled ai a notice for next meeting. Other matters not relating to this district were also dealt with, and the meeting terminated.