BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 248, 26 October 1897, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland Board of Education was held to-day, there being in attendance Mr S. Luke (chairman) and Messrs Muir, Hobbs, Bagnall, "Wright, Reed," Udy, Harris. Chairman's Report. —This report, which dealt with a number of minor departmental matters, was read and adopted. The resignation of Miss J. L. Empson, pupil teacher, Cambridge school, has been received.

Finance Committee.—The committee recommended payment of accounts as follows :—Board fund, £457 6s 6d ; building fund, £579 6s 9d. The report was adopted. School Statistics. — The public school statistics for the quarter ended .30th September, showed scholars on roll totalled 27,761, being a decrease of 143. The average attendance showed an increase of 14-9, and the working average an increase of 202.

Teachers' Selection Committee. — The Committee recommended that the following appointments should be authorised by the Board :—Miss E. Keary, to temporarycharge of Huia School till end of year; Miss K. Truscott, to temporary charge of Lucas Creek School ; Miss C. S. Paterson, relieving teacher to Point Chevalier School ; Miss M. L. Patterson, relieving teacher to | Beresford'Street School: Miss M. C. Kelly, i pupil teacher from Wellesley-street to Has- | tin^s; Miss Adina McCallum, pupil teacher ito Paeroa School ; Miss Katherine Dud- ! ding, pupil teacher to Dargaville School; ;Mr A. Pu Miller, pupil teacher to Newton j West School ; Miss R. Ash ton, sewing teacher to Dacre's and To Point Schools. The Committee recommended that in compliance with the request of the Committee and recommendation of the Chief Inspector an additional teacher be ap--1 pointed to the Wellesley-street school (Mr I Muir dissented). That committees be coni suited in regard to proposed appointments aa follows :—Paterangi, Miss F. S. Hutchinson ; Dargaville (2nd assistant), Miss M. Stewart; Grafton (sth assistant), Misses M. L. Patterson, E. H. Keane, M. A. de Montalk, M. B. Jackson, A. Y. Martyn, F. Maseiield, and A. E. Holloway; Wel-lesley-street (9th assistant), Misses M. L. Patterson, H. L. Gillman, A. E. Holloway, and J. C. French. The Committee recommended that the Committees of the Karanjzahake, Cambridge West and Waihou schools be informed that it is impossible to supply substitutes during short absence of head-teachers. The Committee recommended that the Waihi committee be informed, in answer to their protest, that the school is staffed in accordance with scale, and that the Chief Inspector would report at his next visit upon their request for an additional school.— The report was adopted with the exception of the clause recommending that an additional assistant be appointed to Wellesleystreet school.—Mr Muir strongly opposed the over-staffing of this school, and said that it was fully staffed according to latest returns. The Board, he said, should adhere to the principle they had'laid down in this matter.—The Chairman pointed out the number of older scholars attending this school and the many who attended from other schools when they had passed the sixth standard.—lt was eventually resolved to defer further consideration of the matter pending a report from the Inspector as to whether any other schools were in the same position as Wellesley-street.— Subsequently a memo was read from Mr Petrie in which he stated that the only schools besides Wellesley-street for which he would recommend an additional teacher are Newton East (dealt with at a recent meeting of the Board), Chapel-street and Napier-street. —Mr Muir said it was handicapping other teachers to appoint an assistant at Wellesley-street.— Messrs Harris and Udy also spoKe against over-staffing schools. —Mr Luke, on the other hand, spoke in favour of the request being granted. —Mr Hobbs pointed out there were exceptional circumstances in connection with Wellesley - street. He advocated the granting of another assistant.—Eventually, on division the recommendation of the Committee that an additional assistant be appointed to Wel-lesley-street, was struck out, and also the clause giving names to Committee of candidates for appointment. Messrs Hobbs, Bagna.ll, and the Chairman voted for granting an extra teacher, and Messrs Muir, Udy, Harris and Wright against. Christmas Holidays.—lt was agreed that the Christmas holidays should begin on December 24th, 1897. and end on February 4th, both dates inclusive.

Salaries. —The quarterly adjustment of head teachers' salaries and applications from assistant teachers re salaries, were considered and dealt with.

A Complaint.—Mr H. Cadness, Chairman of the Northcote School Committee, wrote as follows :—"lhave the honour to acknowledge receipt of yours dated the 14th inst. containing copy of complaint from Mr A. Graham against Mr Taylor, headmaster of the Northcote School. In connection with this matter I have the honour to inform you that Mr Graham sent in a complaint against the headmaster, and the case was inquired into by the Committee of September 7th, so that the statement which Mr Graham makes about the Committee declining to investigate the case is contrary to facts. After "hearing Mr Taylors explanation the Committee passed a resolution, -which was ordered to' be sent on to Mr Graham, ' That the Committee are satisfied that no undue punishment was given to Mr Graham's child and that the child was punished for Mr Graham again wrote to the Committee, and his letter was read at our monthly meeting on October sth, when a resolution was passed that the letter be received. The Committee are unanimously agreed that this is a frivolous complaint. Tfie_ facts briefly stated are these : A singing lesson was being given, and this child was not paying attention. She was warned twice before being called out. At the third act of disobedience she was called out; and sent; in to Miss Taylor, one of the assistants. The punishment consisted of two strokes, ope on each hand, and not even sufficient' to bring a tear. It-was administered by Miss Taylor at the close of the school, according to the Board's regulations, and three-quarters of an hour after the offence had been committed. The parent' himself acknowledges the punishment was slight, what he complains about is that it was unjust, The report of this matter tends to create a wrong impression in the district and such trivial complaints are apt to upset the discipline of the school. The school has done remarkably well during Mr Taylor's headmastership, the discipline was reported on as excellent at the recent examination, and the parents have, every confidence in the headmaster. -(Signed) H. Cadness, Chairman Northcote District School Committee."—On the motion of the Chairman it was resolved that no action be taken in the matter.