EDUCATION MEETING AT RANGIORA.

Press, Volume XVII, Issue 2316, 26 September 1870, Page 3

EDUCATION MEETING AT RANGIORA.

A public meeting in connection with this subject was held in the boys' schoolroom, Rangiora, on Friday evening last. About fifty persons attended, and most of the echoolmaeters and chairmen of school committees in the neighbourhood were represented. Others were prevented owing to distance. Mr W. H. Percival was voted to the chair, in the absence of Mr Blackett. He intimated the purport of the meeting, and stated that the Schoolmasters' Association was at present endeavoring to get an expression of opinion on the present system of education. A meeting had lately taken place in the southern districts, and this was suppose I to represent the opinions of those interested in education in the north. He would introduce the deputation from- the association. Mr Elwin said he had to apologieo for the unavoidable absence of the Very Rev the Dean and Mr Hawkes, who had promised to form part of the deputation from the association to this meeting. It was a recognised fact that masters and schools in the province were not what they should be. Some years ago an association had been formed among the masters, but it fell through, and its objects were more in the direction of their own mental improvement; but the object of the present movement is to start an association to get education out of the quagmire into which it had fallen. The scheme by | which they intended to do this bad been taken up indeed was identical with a scheme i the board of education also had in view. ] The objects, of the association are to hold meetings and discuss all questions bearing on education, with a view to practical improvement, and promote competitions in schools for prizes to be awarded at an annual examination, proposed to take place about Christmas. The Board of Education failed to excite interest in their affairs, and make provision for teachers for all the schools in the province. This want the association would endeavor to supply by a system of pupil teachers. [Cheers.] It had been said by a portion of the public that the association to succeed must oppose the Board, and by another section that it must be under the Board. Their object was however to assist the Board. He thought the Board ought to be able to get more grants from the Government for education than they did. The Board had built many good schools, but they had omitted to make provision for those being filled with scholars. The question of so many different fees in different districts in the province was another important matter for consideration. As to masters' salaries, in Canterbury they only paid £150, while in Otago and Nelson the masters received £170. The association was not composed exclusively of masters, but others had signified their intention of giving the movement a warm support. He pointed out that the Inspector of Schools ought to give masters, where deserving of it, credit for their work, and tell them of their faults instead of leaving them till the publication of his report some months after. In regard to the report of the Board of Education, it appeared to be a series of reports on clocks stopping, Bmoky chimneys, &c, at the various schools. The reports of the Otago and Nelson inspectors were vastly superior. [Cheers.] Aa to whether schoolmasters are engaged in a profession or a trade, he should say it was the former, and in the report of one of the courts in the " Press," he had seen it stated that a schoolmaster had sued a School Committee for his " wages." Any master who worked for " wages " was, in his opinion, unworthy the name of a schoolmaster. It was disgraceful he thought for the chairman of the Board of Education to rub his hands, and say the Canterbury system of education was takingthe lead. It was really far from it. [Cheers.] Mr R. Mekdith hoped that the question of education was now coraitg to be thoroughly discussed. It was important in a democratic country like this that children ought to be educated and be fitted for any position they might attain to in after life. One of the fundamental objects of the association would bo to bring forward a system of pupil teachers and a means of training them. Their objects generally, were worthy the support of all. The time had arrived, he thought, when the Education Ordinance wanted amending ; and in the next session of the Provincial Council some important measures would be introduced. He was strongly in favor of compulsory education in a modified form. In hia district (Fernside) only half of the children between the ages of five and fifteen had been to school at all. If children were not educated they would soon educate themselves in vicious habits. He was in fa'or of a " permissivecompulsory " committee being appointed in districts, to report to the police sergeants cases where parents did not send their children to school, on whom the sergeant would serve a notice for them to appear before the Resident Magistrate to explain the why and wherefore. He would at a later stagebring forward his resolution.

Mr McINTYRE moved " That this meeting agrees with the objects of the" Canterbury Education Association ss explained by the deputation, and pledges itself to give the society a cordial support." Mr F. Thoene seconded this, which was carried. The Rev Canon Dudley said comparison had been drawn between Otago and Nelson versus Canterbury. In Nelson, however, no ; school fees were collected. He thought that the schools here should have more than £75

a-year granted to them. It was the fault of the framers of the Ordinance that this was I not the case, as he believed whatever the ] Board of Education asked for WDuld be gladly granted. But by the Board's reports th<>y appeared to be trying to educate children cheaply at the expense of the masters. In this respect they might be going too far and j doing so too cheaply. [Cheers]. The* schoolmaster, in his opinion, ought to be well j paid. Next, to a clergyman a master had a great amount of responsibility placed upon him, nnd he ought to be so provided for as to bo able to maintain a comfortable and independent position to ensure his giving heart and soul to iiis onerous duties. As Mr Meredith had said of Fernside, he would say of the Rangiora parish, that compulsory education was necessary, for thero were many who would never be educated at all unless it was so, and their gaols and police would have to he increased. lie moved—"That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable clause 24 of the Education Ordinance, 1864, be repealed, and a newclause empowering the Board to make grants towarda the maintenance of all schools receiving aid from the Provincial Government, according to the following scale." [The scale has been already published in our columns.] He was in favor of a scale of grants for girls' schools conducted by female teachers, for it was important and very desirable that parents should have the option of sending their daughters to girls' schools, as follows :—

He would propose thia additiou to the motion. Mr F. Wilson seconded the resolution. He pointed out a case at the Woodend Bchool where the master's health had given way, causing him to resign, and the difficulty they might have in getting another teacher. It was full time the schoolmaster in theprovince was made certain of his salary, and not be compelled to go hunting about the country for his school fees. He wished the Association success, and expressed himself in favor of a modified compulsory education system, and thought a property tax should be made to assist. The resolution was put and unanimously carried. Mr Meebdith now moved—" That the Education Ordinance, 1864 has not succeeded to the extent that could be wished, and the time has arrived when a modified compulsory system is not only desirable but necessary." Mr C. Meeton seconded this, which was declared carried, there being two dissentients. After some slight discussion, the Chaibman said it must be satisfactory to the movers of the meeting that the question had been so well ventilated. He was in favor however, of the American system —that of the Government, setting aside reserves of land for educational purposes. The Rev Canon Dudley moved, Mr May seconded, " That the thanks of the meeting are due to the deputation, viz., Messrs Elwin, Meredith, and Merton, members of the Canterbury Association, and to the Chairman, carried nem. con. The meeting then adjourned.

Average Attendance. m CD o >» at ' -2 ** : '5- % i fS § i Total. i i o 20 inclusive 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 60 61 to 70 71 to 85 86 to 100 £20 £30 _£40 £50 -£50 £50 £50 £50 I i ~ l £20 ! £30 £40 | £56 £20 £30 £40 £50 £70 £80 £90 £106