BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4124, 21 September 1883, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the above Board took place this afternoon, there being present:—Messrs 11. Laishley (Chairman) R. Hobbs, W. P. Buckland, S. Luke, Theo! Cooper, D. 11. McKenzie, D. (Joldie, and F. J. Moss.

Chairman's Report.—This report stated that the following arrangements had been made :—Mr K. W. Kowson sent to Kaeo School on trial; Mr Neil H. Kennedy, temporarily attached to Newton East School ; Mr J. J. Poland, from Training College, to take temporary charge of Harrisville School; Miss C. H. Frost, from Training College, temporarily to Girls' High School. The City School Committee had been requested to make provision to prevent damage to water supply at out-buildings, Wellesleybtreat School.

The Holiday Question. —Ag it had been provided Hint Mr Luishley's motion re alteration of holidays should come up for I consideration after the return of the mem- | hers from Parliament, Mr Laishley now i explained that it would be advisable to further postpone the matter. The follow ing letter had been received from the Education Department with respect to the Board's previous resolution re the holidays, (Memo.) :—" August 23rd, ISS3.—I am directed by the Minister of Education to acknowledge the receipt of your memo of tho j lath inwt., enclosing copy of a resolution of your Board with regard to the time of holding the teachers' examinations for certificates, and to say that the Board's representations will receive careful consideration. I am unable, however, to hold out any hopes of any change being made as regards the state of the next examination.—Jons HISLOP." Ho had therefore drafted the following motion for submission to the Board: —• "That inasmuch us tho proposed re-arrange-ment of holidays was dependent on the timo of the Teachers' Examination being altered by Government, and inasmuch as the letter dated 23rd August received from the Department is not sulliciontly explicit to warrant an immediate resolution on tho subject, the consideration of the motion relative to the re-arrangement of holidays be postponed until the Government has acceded to the request of tho Board in respect of altering tho time of examination." — Mr Bucklaud was resolved to test the mind of the Board on the general question, and lie therefore proposed, "That tho opinion of this Board in that the holidays should remain as at present." —Messrs Hobbs, Moss, and Cooper expressed themselTes in favour of the holidays not being disturbed.—Mr G oldie regarded all this outcry from the teach - ci's about overwork, etc., as a mere farce. Tho real question, as had beon shewn by the letter of a Thames teacher, was one of a pecuniary character, for tho three days over which all this controversy had occurred meant a difference of£2oin£2oo. Thefactwasthittoverworkwas not the real cause of the trouble, for they found that somo head teachers carried on night-schools and gave instruction in history. Ho had taught in Sunday-schools for very many years past, and knew exactly what value to place on all talk about the exhaustive character of the schoolteacher's work. If tho three days' increase of work meant a proportionate increase of pay, there would be no opposition.—The Chairman pointed out that the real tenor of his proposition was not fo much the reduction as the better arrangement of the holidays. It seemed to him on the other point, however, that the teachers wero more highly favoured than any other class in the community. Thoy were only called upon to work 5 houra per diem, except some mechanical work at night, and they had their Saturdays, which no other class had, while at Christmas they had the long stretch of six weeks' holidays, which no other class could afford. They were exceptionally well treated, and ho was surprised that such an outcry should aiise over a question of throo days more or less. —Mr Buckland's amendment was then put and carried ; Messrs Buckland, Hobba, Moss, Luke, and Cooper voting for it, and the Chairman and Messrs Goldio and McKenzio against it. Teachers Roll.—Mr Luke moved '' That 1 tho resolution of the Board dated June 22 last relative to roll of teachers be rescinded, and that in lieu thereof it be resolved : That a rojl bo prepared and kept of the teachers and probationers in tho employ of the Board, setting forth thoir age, whether married or single, the date at which they entered the service of the Board, and their qualifications and record to date." Ho said that liin ,i,o]eobject was to eliminate from Mr llobbs'B resolution the words, "Tho religious sectß to which thoy (the teachers) belong," and Jie moved in the matter for the following reasons: —(1) That our education system knows no creed, and if our teachers did their duty faithfully and well, j their ceeed, whatever, it might be, must remain a matter between themselves and their Creator. The strength of our Education Act was its absolute justice. It sought to giv.e equal privileges to all. It looked neither upon tho creed of tho | teacher, nor tho creed .of the parent or child, but treats them all on tho common ground of civil and religious liberty. It was not a question of expedi ency at all, but one of justice. Besides, this seeking to know the creed of a teacher was a gross meddling with their personal liberties, and a piece of impertinenco on the Board's part, besides which, according to the dictum of tho Hon. Mr Dick, the Board could not compel them to comply with this ordor. Therefor*, the wfeolo thing became a farce. Ho wus convinced that if Mr Hobbs's resolution w;is carried out it would virtually be tho I introduction of denominationalisni. —Mr Hobbs complained of Mr Luke's argument being unfair. He was quits as ardent an opponent of donQinin.atioiialism as any other member of tho Board|; and, in fact, his desire for a roll was simply to prevent what lie conceived to bo the introduction of thp tbin edge of tho wedge of denomi natioflalism. Tho report had gained currency that tho teachers of a certain religion we-ic favoured over tho teachers of other religions, and _ that | indeed it was necessary to avoid a certain creod .in qrdev to mako, sure of obtaining employment, and the keening of a roll such as he itiui proposed was tho most comploto and effective way of answering such a .report. He had beon actuated throughout Jry a.desire to guard the present systain of education being tampered with. Tho roll was "to fee a strictly private ono, so that the teachers could not bo enjoined by it.— Mr Moss was sure that the Board either shou'd seek to know the ages of teachers. Ho believed that the ladies would resent that as a great impertinenco than tho desire to ascertain their religions.-^ Mr Goldie spoke strongly in favour of tho motion which Mr Luke wished to have Rescinded. He considered that it was .expedient and judicious to keop _ a M>U of ' the teachers' religious beliefs. — Mr Bucklaiiu nlso thought tho roll should ise kept, ft'was sorely designed to obtain for the Board which tho committees and the I officials already had. "It would havo tho 1 effect of at once .disclosing ..any. ono : j sided action on tho part of officials. ■: iMr Cooper wished the clause with respect la ace struck out.—Mr Buckland felt sure thaUbp ladies would be only too glad to stat£ their age. It would be found that they were ail 25.—The (Chairman assured the BoarJ that he had never seen tho slighteet indication of favouritism on the part of the officials, and he' Mb convinced that the Board was not swajej by religious foeling There coiid jjoi either be any doubt as to. Mi' ilobhs' bona fides in this matter, motion wu& carried by fivo to three.

.(Ls/fc sitting.)