City East School Committee and the Education Board.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2842, 25 March 1878, Page 2

City East School Committee and the Education Board.

In the Herald's report of proceedings at the last meeting of the Board of Education we find the following rather important correspondence and discussion :—

CITY IAST. The following correspondence was read: —" Auckland, Iffarch 13, 1878.—Gentlemen,—'The Committee of the Citj East most respectfully beg you will supply them with the means of discharging the liabilities connected with the carrying on of the schools in the abore district, as the members of the abore do not feel justified, in. discharging debts out of their own pockets as they hare already done. It would be a great pity to hare to close.the school, as they fear will be the,ease,, the city authorities having threatened to stop; the supply of water.. If such-a thing, does occur the committee will at once close the school.—l remain (Signed), Thomas Stbabmak."

It was stated that the Town Clerk had told Mr Steadman that there was a sum of 10s due for water rate, and if it wattaot paid he would be obliged to cut the water off.

The Chairman: If that be a correct representation of what took place, then, I think, it was most improper that the Town Clerk should hare made such a threat in respect of a school of 6C9 children, without malticg any communication to the J3oard. Mr Luckie: There is a question involred in the communication addressed to ns by the committee, how far they hare power to close a school. The Chairman : If they hare power to do so for any cause, they must be the judge of the sufficiency of the reasons on which they act. Mr Luckie: I do not think that any committee possess the power capriciously to clo*e a school. In practice, I think that committees ought to be allowed some moderate amount that would corer such contingencies as gas, firewood, &c, But thit a committee should say, " We will close the school," and .act upon that determination, is far beyond their power. The Chairman : The letter appeared to hare come connection with certain matters that had already come before the Board, and it was thought to make some reprisal. There was also a letter from the chairman about certain furniture. It appeared this furniture, was not wanted for tho school but for the committee-room, which had been furnished sumptuously nt a cost of nearly £70. The teacher had no information in respect to this furnishing.the committeeroom cntil he found it bolted from the inside. As to the right to close the school, that was a s?perate question. The Board hesitated to pay for such rrlicles. Dr Campbell: The.committee should come and see the room in which the Board of Education meet...

Mr Luckie then moved, "That in respect to the proposal of the. City East Committee to close the school, the Board directs it to be notified that no committee has power to close any school except under the authority of the Board." The motion was unanimously adopted.