BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4440, 8 August 1884, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Tun weekly meeting of tho above body is being held this afternoon. Present: Messrs S. Luko (in the chair), 1). Goldio, J. W. Carr, and J. M. Clark.

Value of Board Propkuty.—Tho following approximate estimate of value of schools, dwelling-houses, fittings, and othor property owned by the Board at .'list March, ISB4, was submitted: — School buildings, including outhouses, i'8H,247 2s (id ; school furniture and fittings, _:10,70'i; teachers' dwellings, including outhouses, £25,25.l 10s ; area and approximate value of school:sites and playground, £40,000 25,, area being 031 acros 1 rood and 17 perches ; area and approximate valuo of othor land held for purposes of teachers'dwellings, gardens, paddocks, Sec, ;iOS acres .'1 roods and 27 perches, £0,370 15s.

Girls' Hioh School.—A letter from the Edue.-tion Department stated that tho Board's application for a payment on account of tho Girls' High School must remain over until a voto for the purpose has been takon. Eli'mkxtaiiy Science.—Tho Minister of Education applied for full information as to the steps taken in tho Normal School to prepare students for tho work of instructing their future pupils in tho elementary scioncc and drawing prescribed in the Standard regulations, and what arrangements aro made to tako advantage of tho teaching of .cience in tho University College, and of the teaching of drawing in tho School of Art. .Mr McArthur forwarded to the Board by way of reply a iist of 22 students of Tiaining Collcgo who are attending tlio lectures of the University Collcgo.—lt was resolved to forward the information asked for.

Unauthorised Closiso ok School.— A letter was received from Mr A. Bongo, headmaster of DjvonjortSchool, in reply lo Board's demand to know by what right he had closed tho school earlio. than usual in on tor to permit somo of the pupils to play a football match. A memo. on tho subject from tho Inspector having also beon read, it was agreed to send t. Mr Bongo a copy of tho caution given to Mr Worthington. T'urir, Teachers' Examination. — Tho following report from the Chief Inspector on tho recent examination of pupil teachers was received and adopted:— I have tho honour to report that tho annual examination of pupil teachers and candidates for employment was held at Auckland, tlio Thnm.s, and Waikato, on the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, and lth Jul/. Those examined wero divided into four classes : —

Ist. Pupil teachers of tho first year

2nd. Pupil tear-here of tho second year. 3rd. Pupil teachers for the third year (voluntary). 4th. Candidates for employment. The following tablo shows the number examined in each class, tho number that passed, and the number that failed : — _-. , I'd § 3". o G rode. «g __ ~i. ___ Pupil Teacher, Ist year.. 72 31 23 18 Do. 2nd year.. II lti 2(i 2 Ho. .rd year.. 2 2 0 0 Candidates 7 1 0 _ Total . 125 5_ 19 23 It will bo seen that the plan of partial passes has been adopted from tho teachers' examination. This has been done to meet the caso of thoso whoso papers were on tho whole meritorious, but who failed in ono or two subjects. It is proposed to examine at a future time the first year pupil teachers who have partially passed on the subjects in which they avo defective. This will be done in such manner as may bo found most c.nvenient.

As regards tho pupil teachers of tho second year who have partially passed, it is proposed to allow them to pa-s on condi t:o.i of their coming up at the next annual examinations iv their weak subjects. Ir will te remembered that, according to the regulations, the coming up for examination at the end of tho third year is optional. It is considered that by adopting tho propose I course anything liko harshness will be avoided, and at tho same time efficiency will bo secured. It will be understood that no one is recommended for a partial pass whose papers arc not of con siderable morit.

It will be observed that a large number of partial passes is shown among the secondyear pupil teachers. Nearly all the passes of this section were good, and the partial passes have been given to secure greater efficiency. At tho samo time tho pupil teachers do not suffer.

The passes, taken as a whole, were very satisfactory, and showed a marked improvement on previous years. Arithmetic was the weakest point, but the paper was perhaps rather difficult. I expected higher marks in school management ; those obtained were respectable, thoy should have been excellent, 1 have no gross errors to call attention to. I had to noto bad spelling on ono paper only, and that was not written by an Auckland-trained pupil teacher.

As a rule very fair composition is ob. taincd here from pupils in the third standard. It is not likely therefore that the teach... should be very defective. 11. J. O'Sullivan, Inspector.

The Election 'Holiday.—Letters were received from tho Head-teachers of tho Poii_nby, Grafton Koad, Otahuhu, and Richmond Road schools with referonco to tho unauthorised closing of them on the afternoon of the 22nd ult. A memo, by tho Chief Inspector stated that tho excuses made by somo teachers in thi. matter were altogether inadequate That without any authority whatever teachers should take on themselves to add to the holidaysseemed to him mostobjectionable. If this sort of thing were connived at, tho consequoncos would bo most injurious. —It was decided to caution the teachers in question.—A letter from Mr Barlow drillmaster for Thames schools, was accepted as satisfactory. Essat Competition.—Tho Secretary of the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wrote, announcing its intention to offer four prizes fer the best essay " On the Usefulness of Domestic Animals to Man," to be competed for by the children attending the public schools, and requesting that a special afternoon should be set apart for tho writing of the essays under the masters' supervision, so that they may be sent in by the Ist September.—lt was agreed to co-operate in the matter, the date mentioned, however, being altered to the Ist of November. [Left sitting.]