Conference of School Committees.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2898, 30 May 1878, Page 2

Conference of School Committees.

The adjourned Conference of School Committees was held at the Borough Council Chambers last evening, at 7.30. Present — Messrs Speight, Benshaw, Power, Allom, Spenper, Hrnter, Ttuvell, H. Vernon, Erasmus, Grigg (hon. secretary), and the Mayor in the chair.

The Hon, Secretary read the minutes, which were confirmed.

Mr Spencer said that Parawai Committee had met, and had decided not to brinnj the compulsory clauses into operatiom

Mr A Horn said with, reference to the election for the member to fill Mr Lusk's vacancy in the Board of Education, that the - Parawai Committee had received no notice from the Board of the vacancy, so that they were virtually disfranchised. They bad received solicitations for votes. It was e-i)lainel that no report had been ferjuglit up by the Conmittee appointed ,o draw up the report, as they had never met.

Mr Aliom moved that the Conference proceed "o conpidrr the constitution of the Boards of Education, from clauses 13 to 24 of tb » Education Act. .'Carried.

Mr / 'lorn said that t'ae Faiawai Board decidedly objected to the present constitution of the Board, as; they were not properly reprsented on the Thames and could never be.

The Chairman said he proposed that the district under the Board of Education should be divided into sub-districts with nine members each; er.ch sub-district to send a member to tho Beard.

Mr Grigg said that first the Act spoke of the Education districts, and then o: school districts. A number cf school districts might be groaped together to form the sub-districts.

Mr Vernon suggested that the Counties might be taken as sub-districts, each to elect members pro rata according to population.

Mr Spencer said 'that they could not well group school districts together, as it would not work well in any other place but tlio Thames. In Coromandel, say, l.:?:j v:•:•;•.Id not expect the Coromand?'

proper representatives to meet those from the other side of the peninsula. Mr Farrell said that if they had a member elcted by themselves on the Board they wou'd be better represented than at present ■■■- ■ Mr Renshaw thought that Mr Spencer's objection would be fatal to the proposal. Mr Grigs; said he thought the following motion would meet the wishes of the Conference :—" That the Auckland educational district should be divided into — sub-districts, each estimated. Co contain, (as nearly as may be convenient) an equal number of children, and each to appoint through the school committees a representative, such representatives to constitute the Board of Education. The formation or alteration of suci sub-dis-trich to be provided for m clause 12. In case of vacancy in such Board such vacancy be refilled by the sub-district." Mr Allom sa;.d that it might be advisable 'o have lmtaral boundaries for the division of "ab-Jistricts, as well as population. They might have a sub-committee appointed to revi. c the resolution, and other resolutions that might be passed. He had much pleasure iv seconding the moL'OJ.

O nied unar;i Mr.

3k. »• G^'r.% sus^-jiv* that th.> Minister of Education nvght have the power to alter the 1 mndavies of school disi 'cts.

Mr Vernun suggested that the majority of school commLtiee in a district might have that power. Aftv some further discussion the matter dropped, it not being considered advisable to move m tbe matter.

Mr AVom said wit'i reference to Clause 20, the Parawai School Couimilte had decid d to bring under tn« notice of the conference the desfr Jbilily. of ■ striking out lac words "oi* female," rt>fevring to the e'i^lbi'ity of femt-lej to sjats on the Board. He moved a resolution to that eff 3t.

Messrs Grigg and Speight opposed the resolution.

„ Mr Allom said he. objected to females being eligible, on- principle. He did not belieTe in introducing fem-'es into matters of public business in this young colony. It was only, an experiment at home, and they had not yet; heard of its being a success. Women had quite enough to do to look after their house aold duties. Mr Ternon thought that women should fbst have the consent of their husbands or natural guardians. (Laughter.) He seconded the.motion. , •. The*motion was put and negatived. Mr Allom said the Parawai Committee thought that the Committees should have a say in the appointment of pupil teachers, as well as other teachers, and also their suspension; etc. He might state taat the other day the Board had '' attached " a pupil teacher to the Parawai School without the approval, or. without consulting the local Committee. He referred them to sections 45* rud 50. .

Mr Speight said that all the committees were in that position. Mr Vernon said that he considered that the local Committees were the proper persons to recommend. probationary, or pupil teachers. Mr Spe'ght thought that it was a wise provision, viie Beard-1 aving the power to remove pupil ieachers. it must be remembered tlut the pup teachers wereappi'eaiices to thVßo:rd. Mr A'loni mof 7 that the same provision in clause 45 bu added to ciause 50. Tbia was put and r.;ivi <?. Scone discussion on the !oc*»l committees having funds ai their disposal ibr incidental expenses lapsed without resolution.

Mr Grigg suggested the staking out of clause 95, refolding to compulsory eduea f:.on. II • thought that One onus of sumnrwg piople for nt sending their child ion to sch< :>1 should not fall on th"> Cummltteds. Tha committees might serve notices to the parents but the Board should bring them to court. The striking out of the clause would make education compulsorj all over the colony w'.lioui; leaving Cdo comnv! laea power t vote in the matter at all. He moved a resolution to that, effect, which was put and lost.

Mr Vernon moved that the fines inflicted under, the Act be handed over to the local committees.

Messrs Benshaw and Farrell thought that the Act shou i remain as it is in this matter.

. Mr Benshaw « tought that the confer rence was not held to go into all these little matters. They were only to deal with its gen al principles. The motion was then put and lost. Mr Grirg said that the motion he moved at last meeting on the matter of cumulative voting was—"That afte/ five years' experience of the effect of the cumulative vote in the election of school committees in this district, we are of opinion that its tendency is to promote private rather than public benefit." He made the same remarks with reference to this matter that he made at last meeting.

Mr Speight supported the motion. Mr Spencer said, though he did not altogether agre3 with Mr Speight, he would vote against cumulative voting, as what was sauce for the goose was sauce for the gander, and if it was introduced into the Act at all it shov.'d be made a general principle. . Mr Hunter said that since last meeting he had considered Mr Grigg's resolution, and he was sorry it had come from Mr G.'igg. Until the statement made at last meeting, that good men had been elected on the committees here under the cumulative voting sysbm was contradicted, he would oppose the motion. Mr Eenshaw would oppose the resolution. He thought minorities should have a chance of being represented. Mr Allom said that if the system of cumulative voting was admitted into the Act at all, it should be made a general principle. Mr Grigg, with the consent of the seconder, amended his resolution to the effect that clause 65 re cumulative voting be struck out. He said that the only argument used against the resolution was that it had got good men in. He admitted that, but it might also be used the other way. Whe~ other people had a sword it would be necessary for him to have one to defend himself.

The resolution was cari.ed by 6 to 3. A committee was appointed to forward the resolutions to the Government.-

The meeting then adjourned.