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BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Tuesday. Mat 7.

An adjourned meeting of the Board of Education took place yesterday at 2 p.m. Present—Messrs W. Montgomery (chairman) G. Gould, Kennaway, liiglis, C. C- liuwen, and Knight. NEW BRIGHTON SCHOOL. A letter was read from the chairman of the New Brighton School Committee, stating that Mr Cox had been appointed as schoolmaster to the New Brighton school; also, stating that the buildings were ready for the inspection of the Board. It was resolved that Mr Lean be requested to report on the buildings at New Brighton before final payment was made. With regard* to the appoint meat of the schoolmaster,

Mr Could moved—"That the Board having hnd before it the deputation from New Brighton School referring to the election of the school committee aud master, the Hoard, after euquiry. see no reason to interfere with the action of the present committee and master; and that with regard to the fencing, that the Board authorise the committee to accept the tender of Geo. Clark." The motion was agreed to. GEBBIE'S VALLEY SCHOOL. A letter was read from the Chairman of the Gebbie's Valley School Committee in reply to the request of the Board, for a return of the number of houses and children in the district, in order that the Board might see whether they could sanction the appointment of a master, stating that there were thirteen houses in the district, twentythree children between the ages prescribed by the Ordinauce, eight between five aud six, and four out of the district. The Board resolved to appoint a master to the district, aud also resolved that Mr Blatchford be appointed as the master. NORTH ROAD SCHOOL. A letter was read from Mr Tisch, chairman of the local committee, asking that several repairs should be done to the master's house, &c, amounting to about £15. The letter also stated that a mistake occurred in the boundaries of the district, by which a portion to the north-east had been cut off, thus rendering the collection of the rates a matter of difficulty. The chairman also forwarded a resolution that the committee, seeing that sewing was a necessary branch of education in a district school, recommended the Board to vote £20 to Mrs "Woodford, who had given her services without any remuneration. The Board decided that as the master's house was not on laud vested in the Superintendent, the money asked for repairs could not be granted. j With regard to the resolution of the committee th.it the sum of £20 should be paid to Mrs Woodford, the Board decided they could not accede to the request, as the number of scholars was not sufficient under the Ordinauce to enable them to grant the sum; the Ordinance stating that such should not be granted unless the average daily attendance was over thirty; but the salary granted by the Board might be sufficient to enable the committee to make arrangements with the master's wife to act as sewing mistress to the school as required. With respect to the boundaries spoken of in Mr Tisch's letter the Board decided that the matter should be deferred until the next meeting. PIGEON BAY SCHOOL. A letter was read from the Chairman of the Pigeon Bay school committee, stating that the pupils had assembled so shortly before the Ist March, that the scholars had been let off paying the school fees. It was resolved that the matter be left with the Chairman to arrange ; be to deduct an average amount for school fees from the same, payable to the school : such amount of school fees to be calculated on the amount , likely to have been received during the time. The matter to be adjusted by the Chairman, after the conference with the Inspector, s.luke's school. A letter was received from the Incumbent of S. Luke's, stating that the repairs and alterations recommended by the Inspector had been attended to. TAI TAPU DISTRICT. A letter was read from the Chairman of the local committee, relative to the alteration of the boundaries of the district. The Secretary was instructed to reply that the questiou of boundaries of districts was before the Provincial Council, and therefore no action could be taken by the Board in the matter. The question of the site for the school at Tai Tapu was deferred in order that the Board might have Mr Knight's report before them. OXFORD DISTRICT. A letter was read from the Rev. F. Opie, chairman of the local committee, asking for an alteration of boundaries between Oxford East and Oxford West. It was decided that the Board Teply that the elections of committee must take place on the present boundaries, but that before the rate was levied the Board would re-con-sider the question. SCHOLARSHIPS. The Chairman brought under the notice of the Board the case of three boys competing for the junior acholarships, from the Rangiora Boys' School, whose applications had come late on account of the master having sent in their applications himself, and not in their own hand-writing. The Board had then sent back the answer that the applications must be in their own hand-writings ; but it did not reach •Rangiora in time for them, to enter their names at the required date. The Board decided to admit the boys to competition. A letter was received from the Rev. E. Bailey, forwarding the names of four boys as candidates for the junior scholarships, under fifteen years of age, and stating that the late period at which the applications were sent in was owing to the mistake of the master as to the date. The applications of the boys from St. JTohn's school was also received by the Board. Some discussion took place upon this application, several of the members expressing their opinion that though wishing to admit the boys and seeing that it was not their fault that they were too late, yet a number of boys might, when seeing the decision of the Board, want to come forward, aud thus they would establish a precedent. Mr Bowen pointed out that the excuse was somewhat a lame one ; as regarded the first one it was a proper application, as the spirit of the notice had been complied with, but if this were granted they would not know where to draw the line. .Mr Knight was of opinion that it would be far safer tor the Board to exclude these applications altogether. The Board, after some discussion, resolved that they couJd not admit the boys as proposed. LEITHPIELD SCHOOL. A letter was read from the Chairman of the Leithfield School Committee, stating that he had in hand about £80 of rates over and above the liabilities of the school, and asking whether they could use any portion of the money for the purchase of a site, and the repairs to the teacher's house, as the acquisition of the site was very necessary, and also the teacher's house very much needed the repairs. Mr Bowen thought that the purchase of a site and the repairs to the teacher's house did not come within the scope of working expenses, but would have to be paid out of a special rate to be levied for that purpose. The Board resolved that it would recommend to th« Government to place the sum of £50 on the estimates for the purposes of the repairs to the schoolroom, on the condition that the district find the amount necessary for the purchase of the land, and oue-sixth of the amount necess.-iry for the repairs to the schoolroom, as stated by the chairman in the letter to the Board. THE SCHOLARSHIPS. The following letter was read from Mr L. E. Nathan :— " C'hristchurcb, 26th April, 1572. "To the Chairman of the Beard of " Education. "Sir, —Referring to the proceedings of the Board, which took place at the meeting held on Friday last, when upon the motion of Mr Bowen, it was agreed "that it be an instruction to the scholarship examiners, that the examination of

candidates in Facred History be confiued strictly to the historical portion of the Sncnd narrative." I wish to point out, for the consideration of the Board, the very great disadvantage Jewish lads would be under if such instructions are allowed to include an examination in the Now Testament, the actual history of which is not only untaught but denied by Jewish religious teaching. "As the resolution at present stands, I fear that it may contemplate an examination in such subjects as Jewish lads would be \mHkely to have any knowledge of. and w0 , ..1d in point of fact "be debarred from making themselves proficient in, thus tending very materially to their disadvantage in any general examination. '• Under these circumstances I deem it my duty as a Jew, to bring the matter clearly before the Hoard,feeling persuaded that thuy will give fair consideration to the question raised, and trust they will determine to adopt such general regulations as may avert the disadvantages referred to. '• I have the honor to remain, Sir, " Your obedient servant, " L. K. Nathan." The Chairman said that was a question which had cropped up for the first time when two lads had sent their applications from Rangiora, but it might go further, and apply to a section of Christians who would not allow the Bible being read without comment.

Mr Bowen said, he thought that this section of Christians referred to would not be affected, but he did thiuk the Jewish lads would ;as it had been very plainly and truthfully put that this portion of the sacred narrative was never taught. He would suggest that those boys whose parents would sigu a declaration that the teaching of the New Testament narrative was repugnant to theirreligiousbelief, should have an average amount of marks allowed to them iv proportiou to their proficiency in the Old Testament; this, he thought, would obviate the difficulty.

Mr Gould asked whether the Roman Catholics would not object to the New Testament.

Jlr Bowen thought not. He took it that it would only affect the children of Jewish parents, who, as Mr Nathan forcibly put it, did not only know nothing about it, but also were not allowed to learn it nor to believe in it at all. He felt that the fairest j way, though he saw many difficulties in the way of carrying it out, would be what hehad proposed. His own impression was that where it was simply confined to history, a Christian would not object to his son being taught the Life of Mahomet from the Koran. The Chairman pointed out that this would be all very well as a matter of history alone, but not where, like the New Testament, it was made a matter which stamped the instruction as divinity. If taught as a history, there would be no objectiou, but not if taught as Christians regarded it. He thought however that the plan proposed by Mr .bowen was one which would evade the difficulty which had arisen. Mr Gould suggested that it should be an instruction to the examiners that the boys of Jewish extraction should not suffer. Mr Knight could not see why it should not be left as it was, as the Jewish boys though not able to answer in the New Testament, would get such a number of marks in Old Testament history, in which they were exceedingly proficient, that it would be fairly balanced. Mr Bowen would desire to point out that the answer to this from the Jewish stand point would be that the examiners were Christiaus, and would therefore be likely to ask questions on the points upon which Christian boys would be supposed to be well up in. The Chairman said that as he took it, it amounted to, this, that the Jewish boys should be examined in double the amount of questions in the Old Testament so as to equalise it with the amount of questions asked the other boys, both in the New and Old Testament. Mr Bowen said that while certain that the Roman Catholics would not object 7 to the uarratjve, yet the thought now crossed his mind that they might request to be examined in the Douay version, and if they extended the privilege to the Jews, they would have to consider the Catholics. It was resolved —" That it be an instruction to the examiners that if the parents or guardians of children of Jewish persuasion make objection in writing to the examination of their children in the New Testament, the examination of such children in Sacred History shall be confined to the Old Testament narrative. HAKEWOOD KOAD SCHOOL. A letter was read from the chairman of the above school asking for the grant of £5 cowards the expenses of sinking an artesian well. Mr Gould moved, after some discussion— " That the Board will pay. five-sixths of the cost of the erection of the Harewood road school as per account furnished by Mr Pavitt including cost of artesian well. The" motion was agreed to. TIMAKU SCHOOL; ; A letter was read from the Chairman of the Timaru school committee, stating that four pupil teachers awaited examination by ! the Inspector of Schools, so as two teachers might be appointed, and .asking the Board to instruct the Inspector to attend. The Inspector's memorandum stated that he would be in Timaru on or about the 21st inst. to examine the pupil teachers there. j PRELIMIKABY EXAMINATIONS. The question of preliminary examinations for the scholarships came up for discussion. Mr Bowen said he should like to see this year the examination for the scholarships conducted without a preliminary examination, which appeared to him to be a waste of public money. Mr Knight concurred with this view. Mr Gould pointed out that only a few of thoeeboys who lived near town would come in for examination, but the Inspector might examine those living at a distance by making the examinations fit in with his ordinary inspection of the schools. After some discussion, it was resolved "That as an experiment, if the examiners will consent to examine all the boys sent up for examination, the preliminary examination be dispensed with for this year. Should the examiners consent to this conrse the chairman to make all arrangements for the final examination." THE TAI TAPU SCHOOL SITE. Mr Knight having taken his seat at the Board handed in a report on the Tai Tapu site, giving it as his opinion that the Board should get a site more central than the present one The site offered by Mr Davis was the best shaped site, but that of Mr Shakespeare's was the driest. He thought the best way would be to have a fresh selection, and then let the matter be decided. The Board decided to postpone the question until after the matter had been decided by the Council. HALSWELL SCHOOL. The following letter was read from Mr Milne, the chairman of the Local School Committee :— " Halswell, Lincoln road, " April 26fch, 1872. " Sir,—l beg- to enclose a letter from Mr Elwin, complaining that he has not received the full amount of salary due to him and Mrs Elwin, as teachers of Halswell School. According t3 Clause 5(5, Education Ordinance, he would be entitled to receive the sum of £17 6s, to make up the salary due to him. •' I have the honor to request an explanation, as I have already alluded to it in a former letter, but no notice has as yet been taken of it. " I have the honor to bo, sir, "Your obedient servant, "John Milxk, "Chairman, Halswell School Committee. " The Chairman, Board of Education." " Halswell, April 22,1872. "MrJ.TUiln. " Dear Sir, —I received the amount of £28 15s as grant from the Board on Saturday. There appears to be some mistake about the matter, as under the Ordinance Mrs Elwiu

and 1 are entitled at least to the fount, « £11)0.. I anticipated receiving ™f * Is, thebaliiiico due as hy the acommt » S with. Will yon be the same to the Board, in order thY ? HabiUty may he recognised, the amount bolng "I remain, dear sir, ■• Yours, truly, "James J. Euviv "Halswell (School. ' "To stipend for six months for master am? mistress, under Clause r>o Kdueatiou Onl nauee 1871— half of £1110—£U5. '" ■• By December £28 15s ■ f cea £]7 12s fid; January fees, £i» l[ s fiJ . *•■ jrnint. £28 15s ; balance due, £17 r>s ; total. The Chairman then read the following statement, as resided the punts made to the school :—December quarter.— \veritw daily attendance, 34-f.il ; fees paid £17 "io (id; grant, £l'B la 8; total, £« 7s , ; J March quarter.—Average daily attrmlancp 34-fiO : fees paid, £2 Us fid; grant, £ 28 isjz £31 Gs 6d ; or a grand total of £77 14 S , The Board resolved that the Secretary be instructed to reply that the payment already made to the master ie in excess of the scaln adopted by the Board, and is not justified by the number of scholars in arcrage daily attendance as laid down in the regulutiona of the Board.

After some routine busiuess, the Board ad. journed.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18720508.2.10

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2813, 8 May 1872, Page 2

Word Count
2,857

BOARD OF EDUCATION. Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2813, 8 May 1872, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION. Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2813, 8 May 1872, Page 2