BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 103, 3 May 1898, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The ordinary meeting of the Board of Education was held 'to-day, there being in attendance Messrs It. Hobbs (chairman), S. Luke, Wright, Udy, Muir, Reed, Farrell, and RagnaH. School Statistics,—The public school statistics for the quarter ended 31st March were announced as follows : —Number of schools, including 42 half-time schools, 361, increase of 2. Teachers: Male 314, female 473, total 787. Sewing teachers 68. Scholars on role : Boys 14,679, increase of 351 ; girls 13,596, increase of 241 ; total 28,275, total increase r>o2. Average attendance (strict): Boys, 12,061, increase of 240, girls 10,989,"increase of 197; total 23,050, increase of 437. Working average, total 23,385, increase of 382.

Chairman's Report. —- This report was read and adopted. Inter alia it stated :— Ellerslie : Application has been made to school committee for payment of £12 as their contribution towards cost of labour in tarring and sanding school ground. Ruakaka : Mr H. Stokes has been informed that it is not proposed to constitute a separate school for Ruakaka. The Committee of the under-named schools have been notilied that, in view of the reduced attendance, it may become necessary to withdraw the pupil teachers now employed therein : Henderson, Hunua, Maylield, Waipu Central, Wayby. The Committee of the under-named schools have failed to present their accounts for audit as required by law :—Avondale, Herekino, Mangonui, Mareretu, Opiiriao, Tawhare, To Kirikirt, Te Puke. The resignation of Miss E. Byrne, head teacher of Taupiri school, had been received.

Teachers' Selection Committee. — The Committee recommended that the following appointments be authorised by the Board :"—Mr G. W. Rapson, to be head teacher of Opua School ; Miss K. K. Clarke, to be assistant Rotorua School ; Miss S. M. Dunne, relieving teacher, to Bcrcsford-stiect School ; Miss B. E. Broadfoot, pupil teacher, from Waharoa to Parnell School ; Mis* A. Kay, pupil teacher, from Cambridge West to Waharoa School ; Miss M. Eastwood, pupil teacher, from Newton West to Helensvilic ; Miss L. Hamilton, pupil itcachcr, to Cambridge West School ; Misfi „Vl. I_. ('. Smythe, pupil teacher, to Hiikaitui School ; Miss S. M. Porte::', pupil teacher, to Newton West School ; Miss M. E. Davidson, pupil teacher lo Wclleslcy-slrcet school ;Mr K. 11. Bayley, ptipil to Kuaotunu school; Mrs Connor lobe sewing teacher at tJ.ob__onvi.le school. Tho Committee recommended that committees be consulted in regard to proposed appoint-ments-as follows :-Taupiri, Mr A../. McCracken and Mr .). T. G. Cox ; Kariaotahi, Miss (_.. A. Gledhill ; Wellesley - street (assistant), Miss H. Simpson. The Committee recommended that the request ot" tho Paruell School Committee for an extra pupil teacher (in excess of scale) be declined, and that a candidate should be attached to the school fur practice in teaching.—The committee recommended that Mr V. li, Blakoy be taken into employment and attached to the practising school at Tamaki West.—• The report was adopted.

Karaka.—A deputation from Karaka School district waited on the Board and asked the Board to annul the proceedings at the recent meeting of householders, on the ground that the meeting was opened before 7.:>0 p.m. ; that a proposition Mr Alex. Urquhart take the chair was not properly put; because the Board's circular was not read nor were the minutes of the previous meeting and the Committee's annual report, read. It was also alleged tlie room was packed with mm - residents in the district, and with bogus householders, and the committee was not elected by a majority of bona tide householders. -Mr Rogers acted as spokesman.—Mr Robert Glasson, Chairman ol" Committee elected, wrote to the Board that Mr Rogers, the chairman of the outgoing committee, had refused to give the new committee the books and papers. A general "row," Mr Glasson said., took place, and blows were struck. -The Board deferred consideration of the matter until later in the day. Subsequently lite Board referred the complaint and correspondence to the newly-elected committee to report. .Scholarships.-The recommendations of Committee of Hoard upon classification and award of scholarships and examinations fur scholarships Mas read as follows

1. Regulations to be altered as follows:— :.. Junior scholarships shall be divided into four classes, named A, P., C, and I), respectively, and shall be distributed, as nearly as possible, in the following pioportious : Class A.— Two-twelfths of the number in each year «,hall be awarded to candidates from any public primary school within the Auckland education 'district, bavins' an average attendance from 100 to .100 (inclusive) for the quarter next preceding the date of examination. Class 8.~-Two-twelfths of the number in each year shall be awarded to candidates from j any public, primary school within the Auckland education district having an average j attendance below 100 for the quarter next .preceding the date of examination, and taught by two or more teachers. Class C —Two-twelfths of the number in each year shall be awarded to candidates from any public primary school within the Auckland education district which, for the quarter next preceding the date of examination, was taught by one teacher only, or by one teacher and a sewing teacher, ('lass D—Tho remaining six-twelfths of the number in each year shall be awarded to the candidates who gain the highest marks at tho examination, exclusive of candidates who gain scholarships in Class iA, 11, or C, provided that any scholarship not awarded in Class A, B, or C may be added to the number available for award in Class I). (()). For "thirty(3o) percent." read " twenty - live (25) per cent " (10). For "thirty (30) per cent" read twenty-hve (25) percent." 11, Arrangements for scholarships examinations. (1) 1 hat the examinations to be held at Auckland, the Thames, Hamilton, and Whangarei. (2) That the I inspectors be relieved ot the duty of supervising the cxamina-' lions.-Iherecomniendatioßswcreadopted. i — It was slated the recommendations would ' require to be approved by the Minister. ! Hunt.-A protest against the election of i the committee from Mrs M. Turner late1 chairwoman of the Huia school committee I was referred to the new committee ' ' Copy Books.-An application from Messrs Co hns Bros, for introduction of ISew Graphic Civil Service Copy Books into public schools was referred to the chief inspector to report. Election of School Committees.—The Board decided to uphold the School Comnuttee elections at Mayficld, Ohinewai, J-iuanui and Tauhoa. Those et Onewhero Huia and Puriri were referred to the Committees to report, and it was decided a fresh election should be held at Tauranga. An application from Kirikiri for a second meeting was deferred .for a fortnight, boundaries to be amended in the meantime.— I .acre's Point and Hamilton East Committees wero instructed to Till vacancies in their respective Committees.