46

E.—l4

230. What is your estimate of the value of board and lodging given to the teachers of household schools ?—When living with a family 10s. or 12s. a week would be about the figure in the settled districts. In other parts it should* be more. £30 a year would be a fair average. _ 231. Do you approve of the principle of allowing young ladies to be paid for teaching their brothers and sisters?—l do not, on principle ; but there are cases where it has been carried out with satisfactory results. H. Phillips, Member of the Nelson Education Board. Mr. Phillips : I may say, with regard to these aided schools, that I think they are a necessity, and that in this respect we have fared very well in giving education to the children of the struggling settlers who have gone into the back country and developed homes for themselves. 232. Mr. Lethbridge.] I understood you were in debt?—No, we are not in debt. Owing to decrease in attendance the finances of the Board have suffered ; two hundred of a decrease will make a considerable difference, and we find we have that number of children less than we had two years ago. ~ 233. Mr. Hill.] Supposing the Government gave £50,000 for building purposes, would you expect the ordinary capitation, or in cases where a district is increasing rapidly would you give more to such districts?— Yes, I think so. We built the Boys' School, but had to borrow the money to do so. , . ~ , 234. Mr. Lethbridge.] .Borrowed it from another account ?—Borrowed it straight out from the vendor at 5 per cent.; the Government advanced a small sum. I may mention Mr. Walker gave us some assistance towards getting out of debt. ' . 235. Mr. Luke.] You received some money from the Maintenance Fund, and repaid it ! — Yes. ' ' 236. Mr. Hill.] With interest ?—No. , 237. Mr. Luke.] Do you consider these small schools a benefit generally ?—Yes ;it has been my aim in life to advocate those schools. There are lands about here that would never have been utilised if the settlers had not taken them up on the understanding that education would be provided for their children. 238. Mr. Gilfedder.] Do you not think that your Board has been rather liberal in the establishment of these aided schools?—No; this is a very scattered district, and we have had several applications for them, so that Ido not see that we could have one less than we already have. We have asked for no assistance in this connection, and we are still solvent. __ - 239. As a rule, is there any pressure brought to bear on Education Boards to establish these schools?— Yes, a good deal of pressure; they say they want assistance to educate their children, and, though we do not give them all the money for these schools to begin with, we gradually increase the grant as we see they are in earnest. 240. Do you think that the Inspectors of Schools should be controlled by the central department in Wellington, and not by the Education Boards ?—I think our Inspectors are quite satisfied as under the Board now, though I think they should be transferred every five or six years 241. Then, you would suggest that they should not remain longer in a district than the period of time you mention ?—Yes. . . . . 241 a. Your Board has experienced considerable difficulty in securing the services of male pupilteachers :is that not on account of the small salaries which you offer?—No, Ido not think so. We have lots of male teachers applying. I think we had fifty or sixty applicants only recently lor vacancies ; they use the Board as a stepping-stone. In the case of a lady teacher who sent in her resignation, and stated as her reason want of controlling-power, we inquired into the case and found she was about to be married. «,-,,'. i t v 242 The Chairman.] I notice that the girls' schools m Nelson are staffed by iemale teachers : what proportion of female teachers have you to males?— The Inspector would tell you we generally suit public convenience in that respect. ■ _ 243. Speaking from your experience, have you found any difference in the teaching capacities of males and females ?—When the female teachers remain in our service I think they are better than males. , , , , 244. Do you think female teachers exercise as much control over the boys m a boys school as would male teachers?— Yes, I think so. ,','., • ~ v i i.i. 245 Do you think that male teachers would be less successful in charge of a girls school than the teachers they have now—i.e., females?—l think they would be less successful, with this qualification : up to a certain point male pupil-teachers are not so bright as females, but when they arrive at maturity I think males are better. , ; 246. If a headmaster with male assistants was appointed to the charge of a girls school, you are of opinion that the school would not be a success ?—I am of that opinion. 247. Why would it not be a success : do you not think that the girls would pay more attention to a male teacher than to a mistress ?—No, I think not. 248 Do you not think that the discipline would be better?—lt might be; but l think the results would be worse. I should prefer to see the schools mixed, and under the charge of a headmaster, but with the classes separate. I think the amalgamation of various schools might take place with good results, especially so with the Nelson schools. 249. Would you approve of female teachers presiding over boys' schools ?—I believe that m all small mixed schools female teachers are better than male teachers. I should like to see a large mixed school in Nelson with a headmaster. ' 250. Mr. Luke.] You are a member of the Education Board?— Yes, for the past twenty odd years.