Education Board.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 150, 16 May 1901, Page 3

Education Board.

[from our timaeu cobrespondknt ]

' A special mre ing of the above Board was heltf yesterday, when several important matters were discussed and decided upon. DISTRICTS HIGH SCHOOL FOR ' TIMARTJ. [ The Timaru Main School ComI mittee having asked the Board I to intercede with the Minister of , Education with a view to raising the school to the status of a District High School, the matter gave rise to a good deal of discussion before a decision was arrived at. The Rev. G. Barclay introduced the subject by moving—" That the resolution passed at a conference held on April" 22nd be . forwarded, with the Boards approval,' to the Department." This resolution, instead of setting up a secoud and rival institution for higher education, asked that the Department should endeavour to make an arrangement with the High School Board to take in all ■ entrants qualified to receive capitation at a. District High School, and to pay such capitation to the, Board, on' condition that the Board would provide suitable education for the qualified applicants. Mr Talbot seconded the motion. Mr Jackson proposed and Mr fCeddie seconded, as an amendment —" Tbat the Board should forward the request of the committpe to the Department and recommend its adoption." Alemburs of the Board spoke at. some length on every phase of the question, the Rev. Mi- Barclay remarking that tin ring the last twenty years of office no vote he had ever given had caused him more concern, but apparent!}', from what was suggested, there was no way of harmonising the interests of all. The motion was carried. Another important motion, pro-, posed by Mr Talbot and seconded by the Rev. Mr Barclay, >vas lost. It was to the effect that, in case the Minister of Education did not • see his way to adopt the sugges- | tions in the previous resolution, but resolved to raise the status of the Timaru school, the Board would cordially c incur in the movement and give effect to all regulations connected therewith. ATTACK OX WAIMATE. At the instance of Afr Talbot the Board called for a report on what was being done in the way of religious instruction in connection with the Waimate school.

The Inspector stated that each day, for a few before school hours, a few short passives of Scripture were read under the voluntary supervision of the teachers and with the knowledge and concurrence of the committee. : Notwithstanding that this was a matter outside the sphere of the Board and having to do wholly wiih the committee and the people, Mr Tilbot, at the close of a long attack on the proceeding, moved—'• That the Board discountenance the practice." The motion was seconded by Mr Farnie.

Mr Barclay very promptly delivered a very hot reply, challenging tho Board's power to; interfere. He regretted that the absence of any religious and moral training was one of tbe great defects' of 'tho s} T stem, and hoped that some day a remedy would be applied. On expressing the gratification it would give him to see these gentlemen joining in imparting religious instruction—say an hour a week each —one member rose to protest that he would do no such thing. Mr Barclay replied, " Well/wany a better man does!" (Great sensation, but everything in good humour.) - The result was that the resolution was not put, and the matter end'-'d in a'fiasco, .Messrs Moore and Howell strongly supporting. Mr Barclay.

TROUBLE AT T3MUKA. Complaints having been imde concerning one of the staff at femnka, the Rev. Mr Barclay audi Mr Jackson were appointed to hold a formal inquiry into the matter. THE ROYAL COMMISSION.. The "Rev. 'Mr Barclay and Messrs Famie and Howell were appointed '.to meet the Commission on a colonial scale of staff and salaries and discuss matters. • SOUTHBURS. : ■' The question of the reorganisation of this district was postponed for the present. A number* df reports on various schools were submitted by the Inspector. In a few cases' they w*»re not deemed satisfactory and it was decided that certain committees and teachers should be warned.