CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 297, 14 December 1892, Page 2

CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The City Schools Committee held- their ordinary fortnightly meeting yesterday evening, w-hen-there. were,present: TJho Chairman (Mr Blades), and Messrs Farroll, Burns, Fairs, and Adams. City Schools Repairs.—The Chairman reported that the. sub-Committee appointed to consider the necessary repairs^ had consulted with the arcliibecbs, and ib was resolved that the necessary repairs be carried Nat'ike-street.— A letter was received from vhe Board approving- of the appointment of Mr D. G. Jones, bo- bhe assistant- , raasbership of the-above school. Mr Jones also sent a letter thanking the Committee for the appointment. Teachers' Examination.—ln reply to a communication from the Educational Department, asking for the uso of the Wolles-ley-s^reeb School for bhe purpose of holding the teachers' examination thoro, ib was agreed to grant the request. Model and JTbebhand. Drawing.—lt was stated that the annual examination of pupils in freehand and model drawing, for the prizes, and- certificates awarded by tbe Auckland Society of Arts, would take place on Friday, 16th. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Farrell, to ask the headmaster of the Nelson-street School why none of his. pupils had been entered for tho examination. Mr Farrell moved, '" Thab ib be left, in the hands of bho Chairman bo appOinb assisbanb beachers bo conduct tho examination.. ••*,.- Beresfokd-steeet School. — A lebter waa received from the Board, stating thab ib did nob see fib bo take any further action in regard to the report on tho state, of certain classes in the. schoql. The Chairman said that considering the whole matter he would move "That as the Board in bhe absence of any specific charge or complainb does nob see. necessity for further action, tho Board's letter be received and acknowledged."—The motion was carried. Holidays.—ln reoly to request it was moved by Mr Fairs, "That the Nelsonstreet, Napier-street, and Chapel street schools, close,on the 23rd inab." Appointment of Assistant Teachers.— Mr Wilding's notice of motion ab the lasb meeting of the Board of Education le the ineligibility of teachers to take up bhe posb of first assistants in town schools unless they had previously served two years in the country was commented on by bhe chair-! man. He thought that the Commitbee had a righb bo inberfere in such mabters, for ib was more in bouch wibh tho touchers in its schools, and knew tho requirements of the schools. He believed that such a motion was calculated to be detrimental to '*he schools. Even head teachers in country Schools had only a limited experience, 'hey seldom had more than fifty scholars under their charge, and as a rule only taught-up.to.tb,o Fourth Standard. Were suoh men—capable men, no doubt, but inexperienced'—fib to bo taken and mado assistants in schools where they would havo,7o;or SO-pupils to look after and teach standards that they had never taught before? He moved, "Thab this Commibfcee is of opinion, that tho adoption of such a . resolution, as Mr Wilding's would bo detrimental to the best interests of schools in this CommHbeo'a district."—Mr Burns eec.Qod.ed. tJi«.motion, / which, was. ultimately 9awM^~-W: .Farrell, i n sympathy v&Kl :"%...»?Pton, thought, it advisable that country, teachers should bave ©very opporbuniby of taking up

positions in town schools. He would nob like to see service in country schools a compulsory qualification for serving in town. He thought the Board and Committees could deal with such matters ab their own discretion. The Chairman further stabed that he did nob make his motion wibh the object; of excluding counbrv teachers from town schools, but he objected to town teachers having in every case bo serve in the country before they could occupy a position of first assistant Complaints Against Inspectors. - Mr Farrell drew attention to another motion which proposed bhab any teacher bringing a pomplaint againsb an inspecbor, and being unable to sustain his charge, should be dismissed. He thoughb that teachers should not have their freedom of action affected a3 it would be if Mr VVildinpc's motion was carried. He moved, "That this Committee disapprove of the nptico of motion given by Mr Wilding respecting teachers reporting inspectors the consequences." Mr Fairs seconded the motion, which was carried.

School Attendance.—The Chairman reported thab the average attendance at the City schools during the past quarter was 2,967. This, he pointed out, was a considerable falling off, bub Mr Small explained thab ib was duo bo sickness and a desire on the parb of parents to give their children a rest after examinations.

Chapel-street School.—The new head teacher of Chapel-street School submitted his report of the state ot the school on his taking over the charge of ib. The report was most satisfactory, and several of the members spoke in most complimentary terms pf the condition of the school.