S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1913, 6 July 1889, Page 3

S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting, of the Board of Education was held on Thursday. Present —Messrs S. W. Goldsmith (chairman), Howell, Pearpoint, Talbot, Jackson, and Barker, and Revs. G. Barclay and T. j Jasper Smyth. » Mr Smyth asked for, and was given, leave to withdraw, his motion that no teacher holding an appointment as locum tentns shall be eligible for permanent appointment at the same school. Mr Barclay moved the motion standing in his name—“ That the board cordially transmit to the Minister of Education the request of the Geraldine Committee and residents to have the school raised to the ptatus of a District High School.” In speaking to the motion, Mr Barclay said a number of parents bad long asked for the change. There were now, he was informed, twelve pupils in the Geraldine School who had passed the Sfeth Standard. Some of these were too young to go to, work and were of no use at home, and their parents wore unable to send them away from home as far as to the Timaru High School. He was not asking for anything outside the law. The Act provides for both kinds of education, and the board were only doing half their duty in administering the Act if they excluded the claims of secondary education. The time would come when this system would be universal in New Zealand. It was only asked for a few schools now. It had been advocated by an ardent educationist, Sir Robert Stout, and the principle was imported into Mr Fisher’s Bill that every school where there were children requiring secondary education, and teachers able to give it, there should be no bard and fast line drawn in the education given. Mr Barclay referred to Scotland, where this principle had been in force many years, wilh the result that no other parr of the British Empire turned out so large a proportion of University men—for the simple reason that lads could qualify in their village schools to go straight to the University. The only additional expense would be £SO or £6O a year to maintain

b, subordinate teacher, and a saving on scholarships would allow them to spread the scholarships more widely. The revenue of the board was £14,000 or £15,000 a year, and £2OO was not too much to spend upon secondary education. Mr Howell seconded the motion. "He had been a consistent supporter of the secondary system on the grounds mentioned by Mr Barclay. Mr Pearpoint strongly supported ths motion. Parents of pissed Sixth Standard pupils in Geraldine hid complained to him that their children were learning nothing now at the school. The proposal, if adopted, would give secondary education to the children of that neighborhood at small expense to the parents and small expanse to the board. Mr Barker approved of the principle, for one thing because it tended to prevent the flocking of country people to town. AH larger schools should, if possible, provide the machinery for secondary education, but those parents who wore able to pay for it should bo made to do so In reply to a question, the secretary stated there 13 scholars receiving higher education at Temuka and 17 at Waimate, Replying to a further question by Mr Talbot, the secretary stated that the cost per annum of the Terauka School as a primary school was £617, and £739 as a secondary school ; Waimate District High School cost £IO3B per annum. The cost of the Geraldine School at present was £486; if the proposed alteration was made, the cost would be £620 per annum. Mr Jackson opposed the proposal because of the extra cost.

Mr Talbot strongly opposed the motion, at the same time complaining that the Timara High School was not available to the majority of parent*. It seemed to be the aim of its managers to make it a class school by high fees. Ho objected to the proposal on the ground that the primary schools most be robbed in order to support the district high schools. At present there were only sis schools which did not cost more than (he capitation they earned. Geraldine was one of these, but if its status were raised it would at once cost more than it earned. The board would not be justified in set up another high school at the expense of the primary schools. He, too, had looked through Mr Fisher's Bill, and saw that he had provided numerous scholarships to draw the pupils to the high echool* proper, where they would be properly prepared for the University. There was not much in the cry for district high schools, for at Temuka and Waimate only about 3 per cent, of the scholars took secondary subjects. If there were children needing secondary education, and teachers able to give it, it could begin after ordinary school hours. It would not be fair to rob the primary schools to give £lO a head to a few secondary pupi's.

!A petition whs read from thirteen passed Sixth Standard pupils of Geraldine School praying the board to r tie the elatua of the school.

After some further debate, the motion was put and carried. There voted for it the mover and seconder, and Messrs pearooint and Barker. Messrs Jackson anil Talbot voted against, and the Key. J. Smyth did not record his vote. Mr Talbot handed in the following “ I beg to protest against the resolution passed at this meeting by a majority of the board re raising the Geraldine School to the status of a district high schoo', on the ground that the extra cost is not justified under the present financial position of the board ; that only about six schools in the district are selfsupporting, that is, in which the capitation grant is in excess of the cost of maintenance ; that if the Geraldine School is raised to a high school the cost of maintenance will probably exceed the capitation grant in respect of it; that the advantage taken of the district high schools at Waimate and Temuka is not sufficient to warrant extending the system to Geraldine.”

Mr Barker gave notice ot motion for next meeting—“ That the extra cost of district high schools be met by proportionate increase in school feas." A memo, from the Department notified that teachers from the colonies visiting England could obtain lessons in the Sloyd (manual training) system in London. Fifteen pounds were granted for repairs to the Pareora Schoo'. And Mr Talbot drew attention to the dilapidated state of the Milford School.

The inspector submitted reports on inspections of the Sutherlands, Makikihi, Hunters, Geraldine, Wnituna Creek, Ho&k, Redciiff, and Terauua Schools. They were ordered to be forwarded to the respective committees. The committee appointed to report upou the question of uniformity of school books in the district recommended a little book for teaching rules and principles of grammar, a simple arithmetical werk, and Nekon’a history for the junior standards. With these alterations, which met the inspector’s Approval, tho recommendations of the Teachers’ Institute were approved, it was decided that the secretary arrange for a new election at Aru.n,del, as no ballot had been taken.

A request from the Belfield Committee to let their school, and for cost of repairs to pump, was acceded to. Tho appointment of Mr Murdoch MoLeod to tl'o Cave School, and Mr James Gillespie to the Temuka School, were confirmed.

Messrs D. Taylor, T. Cadwallader, and 11. Waller were appointed commissioners for the South Rangitata School, no committee h iving been elected.

A request from Gapes’ Talley re using tha school for one year, and asking for a grant ef 10s, was acceded to.

Tho chairman of tho South Orari Committee wrote stating that on enquiry a resident of the district bad replied that he did not send his children to school because they received sufficient tuition at home. With this answer tho committee were not satisfied, and, therefore, asked the board’s advice on the matter. The committee also wrote stating that the ceiling of the school wan dangerous,—Messrs Barker and Jackson supported this, and, as it was agreed that the ceiling in its present state was dangerous, it was decided to have it seen to at once. Wilh respect to the l< hmia teaching,'’ the board decided that if the committee were not satisfied, they should enforce the compulsory clauses of the Act. The Waitohi Flat Committee forwarded their estimate for repairs to the school, which amounted to £l2.—Consideration of the matter was deferred.

Oilur matters not affecting Ibis district were dealt with, and the meeting terminated.