EDUCATION BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 255, 19 December 1872, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board was held in the Superintendent's room on the 13th, there being present the Superintendent (in the chair), Messrs Turnbull, Bastings, and M'Dermid. The following business was transacted :— A deputation from Green Island attended, and urged that an arrangement said to have been entered into by the Inspector of Schools, by which Miss Freeman, pupil teacher, was continued in that office, should be set aside, the local school committee urging that it wag illegal. It was stated that the committee had been endeavouring for some time past to make j provision for obtaining the services of a schoolmistress, and to that end appointed one of their number to collect the school fees, but through inadvertence their intention was misunderstood, and no action was taken. They had never been able to get from the schoolmaster a knowledge of the fees actually collected, and therefore had been unable to gut at -what amount could be set aside for the schoolmistress 1 salary. They still intended to appoint a schoolmistress, but wished to make a selection. The Inspector's memorandum, which was read, explained that Miss Freeman, the pupil teacher, had served the fifth year of her apprenticeship, and under the Board's regulations it was competent for her to continue in that capacity another year, or for the school committee to determine her engagement. She had passed a first-rate examination at the examination of pupil teachers, and when he recently examined her classes, found them in a high state of efficiency. She was well fitted for the duties of schoolmistress ; and so far as he could judge the parents of the pupils were generally satitfied. The Board had recommended the school committee to appoint her mistress, but they had declined to take »ny action ; and therefore he could not advise the Board to sanctionany change in the existing arrangements until Miss Freeman's present year had expired. The deputation stated that they were unable to act upon the Board's suggestion for the reason above stated. His Honor : " What objection have you then to Miss Freeman." Mr King : ' ' None personally. " Mr Hislop stated that he was not aware that the committee had given Miss Freeman any notice to leave at the end of her first year, though in accordance with the regulations he had sent them notice on March 28th that, if they desired to make any alteration in the disposition of the teachers, they were to give the -required three months' notice. When he examined the school, he found an attendance of 84 pupils, and the school in a most satisfactory condition. In accordance with his usual practice, he informed the school committee of the date of his visit, and desired that they should meet and consult with him on school matters ; but none put in an appearance. The question was put to him by Mr Allan, the schoolmaster — "You see the number of children; the committee decline to appoint a sohoolmistress ; what is to be done?" He (Mr Hislop) referred to the Board's regulation -which \ provided that a pupil teacher could remain a second year in that capacity under the fifth class ; that it was impossible Mr Allan could carry on by himself, and the best plan was to let Miss Freeman stay on. His Honor (to the deputation) : " I think you will admit what Mr Hislop did was best and proper under the circume*anees.r_(To tba^oardiX" There jean De no reflection upon Mr HHslop's conduct in the matter. I may mention, for the information' of members of the Board who are strangers, that I do not think there will be any peace or satisfaction in the district so long as Mr Allan remains teacher. I believe that is the root of the whole thing." Mr Bastings : " Then you had better say so." His Honor : "It has been said,' A member of the deputation said it was as his Honor stated ; and further, that in all probability Miss Freeman, who gave satisfaction, would receive the appointment of mistress, but the committee wanted the power to select. Mr Hislop called attention to a paragraph in one of the communications to the Board from the Committee, in which it was said of himself, "We consider deceit has been practised in this matter." and he asked that the Board should take cognisance of the imputation. He held that any officer who was guilty of deceit as alleged was unfit for his position. After discussion, the following resolution i was carried :—": — " That the Local School Committee have power to apply L 25 out of the school fees towards the salary of a school mistress ; and that the necessary notices be given to Mr Allan and Miss Freeman ; and further, that the charge of deceit against the Inspector, contained in the School Committee's letter, is in the opinion of the Board unwarrantable and uncalled-for."

A. deputation from Port Chalmers urged the pressing necessity of something being done to provide better and more suitable accommodation for the grammar school there. It was represented that at Home Bft lin of room was allowed for each child in schools, while at the Port the space in the several rooms was 3ft lOin ; 3ft 9in ; and 3ft sin. The buildings were the oldest school buildings in the Province, and it was deemed inadvisable to go on patching them. As it was, some of the scholars under the mistress had been taken to the Masonic Hall, where they were now taught, the School Committee having leased that building. The Committee asked the Board to vote a sum for new buildings. The Inspector of Schools stated the case was a pressing one. It was agreed to remit the matter' to the Government for its favorable consideration. A deputation from the Port Chalmers Mechanics 1 Institute urged that, in terms of a letter from. Mr 'Duncan, as Provincial " Secretary in 1867, the Institute was entitled to a subsidy on all permanent improvements and buildings, in addition to books, while the Board's minute of March last only allowed the latter. The Board resolved that it could only grant subsidies on books.

The Sector of the High School wrote suggesting, if it was the JJoard'a intention to* continue Provincial Scholarship examinations, that the Board pf Examiners shpuld be summoned to meet. The Inspector of Schools advised, as there was now a considerable number of Provincial scholars at the High School, the examination should not be .proceeded with for the present, and the Board agreed to act on that suggestion. Mr Abram's resignation as English Master at the High School was accepted. The Queenstown School Committee applied for a grant of L4OO for new buildings ; and the Town Council of that place recommended the esta.bHslu3aexi.fc of sl Oraxxuxiar School there- Soth matters were postponed until after next year's appropriations. ' The Committee of the Oamaru Grammar School asked for the sanction of the Board to a proposal to divide the surplus fees from the Grammar School among the teachers proportionately, which was agreed to. The Inspector said he inspected the Dunedin schools during the past week, and found them to be in a high state «f efficiency, owing very much to the efforts of some of the teachers, to retain whom in the public service he thought it advisable, and promised to do so, to recommend the Board to grant them increases of salary, as follow :— Miss Fisher, Middle District School, from 1.50 to L6O ; Mr Lindsay, third master there, from L7sto L 10 0; Miss Johnston, pupil teacher, North Dunedin, L6O to L 75;7 5; and Mr Milne, thi'd master at the same school, L 75 to LIOO. He thought, if it were not done, the tcaofters would, leave $16 echoo!?,

which would be considerably injured if they did. The increases were sanctioned. Mr Turnbull mentioned, en passant, that the Dunedin School Committee had under consideration the advisability of repealing the recent increase of school fees, which was found to cause great complaints. A. variety of other matters were dealt with, among which were the following : — The subsidy to Tomahawk school was continued for this year only. The proposal of the Woodlands Committee to obtain an advance of LIOO from Mr Moodie, of the meat works, to complete the school, the Board guaranteeing repayment, was sanctioned. LSO was voted for new schoolhouses at Welshman's Gully and Maerewhenua; and the consideration of applications from Halfmoon Bay, Waihemo, Clinton, and Table Hill, deferred. In reference to the application , for a school at Tairoa Head, the Inspector was instructed to inquire if the teaching power at the Maori school there could be made available. The salary of the schoolmaster at Walton was increased to L 75 j five acres at Smith's G-ully were ordered to be set apart as a reserve for the Bannockburn School ; and £20 was allowed to the master at Grove Bush, for extra teaching at Birch Bush.