S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2380, 9 July 1892, Page 3

S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Education was held on Wednesday. Present—Messrs S. W. Goldsmith (chairman), R. H. Pearpoint, W. Storey, R. H. Rhodes, J. Talbot, and W. B. Howell. chairman's statement.

The chairman reported that since the previous meeting Mrs Glanville had resigned the post of sewing mistress at Belfield. The pupil teachers' examination was held in the Main School, Timaru, from the 28th June to the 2nd July. 40 pupil teachers and 17 candidates, in all 57 persons, sat for examination. Pupils —fourth year, m. 1, f. 11 ; third year, m. 1, f. 8; second year, m. 4, f. 7 ; first year, m. 3, f. 5 ; total 40. Candidates—third year, f. 1 ; second year, m. 1, f. 2 ; first year, in. 2, f. 11; total 17. The Inspector would probably present a report on the results at the next meeting. Mr Gow sent in a note that many of the " candidates " had been badly prepared. The result of the election to fill the seat vacant by the resignation of Rev. T. J. Smyth, was in favour of the Rev. J. White. BUILDINGS. Mr West reported that the painting of Woodbury school, the only work in hand during the month, had been completed. Plans for a school at Ashwick Flat would be presented to the board. Messrs Talbot and Pearpoint reported on the master's house at Geraldine, to the effect that Mr Famie, the new head teacher, would be satisfied with the house if two rooms were added, and the whole thoroughly renovated. They were of opinion that, as the work couid be done for less than £l5O, it would be cheaper to expend such a sum than to pay house rent, and it would be improving the property for any future sale. As the board could not afford to erect a new house, the renovation of the old one seemed the best course, as the master would then be satisfied with it. —It was resolved that the report beaccepted and tenders called for the work recommended by next meeting. IMPROVEMENT IN EDUCATION. _ Mr Talbot, for the committee appointed for the purpose, reported on suggested alterations in the scholarship syllabus. The changes, which were detailed, were intended, " (1) to bring the junior scholarship syllabus into harmony with the requirements for Standard V., as these are set forth in the regulations; (2) to give greater freedom of choice in the subjects foa the senior scholarship examinations by the addition of geography and history to the optional subjects." The alterations were drafted by the Teachers Institute, and approved by the headmasters of the high and district high schools and the Timaru schools, and by the Inspector. The committee recommended the adoption of the alterations. The same committee reported as follows : —« n e proposed Manual and Technical Instruction Bill. Your committee have as requested considered the proposed measure, which provides, (1) To allow any teacher, subject to the boerd's consent, to give manual instruction to pupils attending the school, and if given outside school hours and no fee be charged the Minister of Education may make a payment of 2s a quarter on the average attendance at the classes. (2) To allow technical instruction to be given to classes not connected with the schools, meeting in the evening or on Saturdays, by instructors who may form such classes themselves, or by instructors appointed by the Board of Education or by any society or committee ; under this provision fees may be charged, and the Minister of Education is if, satisfied with the instruction given, authorised to supplement the fees by a payment of Is 3d per hour and per each unit of the average attendance. (3) To appoint inspectors who shall visit and report on the instruction given under either of these provisions, and further to have the right to visit all public schools and to observe, advise andreport on certain branches of the school curriculum. It may be noted that manual instruction is defined as "teaching use of tools, modelling in clay, wood," &c, while technical instruction is defined as "teaching the principles of science and art as applicable to industries, but not teaching any trade." Your committee are doubtful if the provisions of clause 4, relating to manual instruction by school teachers, are at all practicable, for various reasons, or would even be desirable of application, but would recommend approval of the clause relating to technical instruction; not, however, from any strong conviction that it will prove successful, but as appreciative of the effort to make a start in the direction of providing a means of technical instruction being given, and in the hope that when once started it might develop into usefulness. The proposal relating to the appointment of inspectors should, we consider, be strongly objected to, in so far as it relates to interference with the ordinarywork of the primary schools. We feel sure that serious trouble would soon arise out of such an arrangement. It may naturally be expected that it would lead to conflicting opinions between the Government inspector, who would be charged to look after the progress of the pupils in some few special branches of instruction only, and the board's inspector, who has to watch over the interests of the whole of the branches of education provided for in the primary school syllabus." The reports were adopted. COMMITTEES' CORRESPONDENCE. On the report of Mr Talbot, £6 was granted to Upper Waitohi for the draining of a half-acre pool in the middle of the school site, and for the erection of a fuel shed. Timaru asked for permission to hold cooking classes in a room at the main school.—Mr Howell spoke strongly in favor of such classes, and recommended a general reply that the board would be exceedingly pleased to see cookery classes established in every school. A resolution was passed to this effect. Washdyke and Pleasant Point wroie respecting fences. —£3 was granted to the former, to carry out an improvement estimated at £5; and the latter half cost of a total not exeseding £B. On the motion of Mr Talbot it was resolved that tenders be called for building a schoolroom at Ashwick Flat, suilicient time to be allowed for the timber to be on the ground long enough to be thoroughly seasoned. WINCHESTER SCIIOOE. A mass of correspondence was received from the Winchester Committee and from the master, respecting disagreements between them for some time past, and a petition signed by about 30 householders urging the desirability of a change in the headmastorship, " as owing to tl*e unsatisfactory results of past examinations a very large number of parents have taken their children from the Winchester school and are now sending thorn to other schools at great personal and expense." Only a Uttlo of tl«* correspondence was read., im „ t]le papers read were, ono or twoiiotel from pupils, respecting tho alleged ro;uHn<* u f newspapers m school, stated lltat tno maator did not r «*d tfcu poors. yJcmd.

nd made no remarks on what he read did not use the paper, except, said one, that he told them things out of the paper when explaining a word. A deputation representing the committee, Messrs R. Smith (chairman), and J. Stewart, waited on the board. Mr I Smith handed in a list of 21 children who had been taken away from the school by their parents and sent to other schools. These children, Mr Smith said, except perhaps three or four, would return to Winchester school if a new master were appointed. He believed some others had been sent elsewhere since the list was made up. The petition which had been sent in was got up outside the committee as a,committee, though some of the members', as outsiders, had had something to do with it. The present committee had been elected by a large majority, on the well understood ticket of securing a change in the mastership. The school had not been working smoothly since Mr McCarthy went there ; he and the committee were always at loggerheads. The masetr had been challenged to face the householders about reading papers and books in schools, but he would not do that; he wanted to come before the board. Mr Talbot remarked that the petition said nothing about newspaper reading, but alleged unsatisfactory teaching. The chairman : That children are being taken away from school is a most important fact. Mr Stewart said the committee were willing to let the matter of newspaper reading alone, though it was felt to be a serious matter by the householders. Mr Talbot : The teacher seems to think that fs the sole ground of the objection to him, but the committee and the petition now allege unsatisfactory teaching. Mr Pearpoint understood the newspaper was the real ground. Mr Smith said the reason the committee were taking action was that they received letters from four parents complaining of the loss and inconvenience of sending thsir children to other schools, which they thought it their duty to do, and being asked by the teacher to refer the matter of the newspapers to the board, they decided to send in all the correspondence, and receiving the petition from householders he sent that also. There would have been nothing done about the newspaper reading if the master had not denied it. But one parent of two girls, about 12 and 13, complained of the things the children got to know about from papers being read in school, and thought the committee should take some action. Parents were continually complaining about what children said they were told from the papers. Mr Pearpoint: On what subjects ? Mr Smith : A good deal was said about the Deeming case. I know he read about Deeming burying his wife under the hearth. Mr Stewart could bear out that the children heard a good lot in school that they ought not to hear. A lad, who had been staying with him, used to tell him a good deal about Deeming that it was not desirable for children to hear, and that the teacher referred in uncomplimentary terms, in the presence of the children, to the committee and others against whom he had a grudge. The deputation then withdrew. Another deputation, Messrs Carston and Jones, had sent notice that they would attend on behalf of the masier, but they did not appear. After waiting some time, this business was resumed. Mr Talbot moved, and Mr Pearpoint seconded, " That while abstaining from expressing any opinion of the merits of the quarrel that lias arisen between the headmaster of the Winchester school and his committee, the board consider that in the best interest of the school it is desirable that Mr McCarthy should sever his connection therewith at his earliest convenience, and therefore the board will be pleased to accept his resignation." Mr Talbot said it was very difficult for the board to settle such disagreements, and the best way out of them was for the teacher to be shifted. He had not the slightest doubt that Mr McCarthy had been injudicious, to say nothing stronger. The resolution was put and carried. Mr Howell asked if it would prelude his making application for other schools, and members replied, " Not at all." The Board then rose.