BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6924, 2 December 1887, Page 6

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

An ordinary meeting of the North Canterbury Education Board was held yesterday. There were present—Messrs Chrystall (Chairman), A. H. Cunningham, E. G. Wright, T. H. Anson, A. Saunders, Geo. Booth, and H. W N Peryman. The business done by the Chairman was approved, and theßuilding and Appointments Committees' reports adopted. The Books Committee reported having considered letters from parents complaining of the variety of books in use in the schools and the frequent change of books. The Secretary had been instructed to write to some of the most experienced teachers, asking their opinion as to what books now available were most desirable for use in the Board's schools. Thc report was adopted. The Rangiora High School Board of Governors wrote, that as Mr Blackett had been appointed Mayor he forfeited his seat on the Board.

On the motion of Mr Cunningham, Mr H.. Boyd was elected to All the vacancy. The Chairman stated that a peculiar circumstance had occurred at Killinchy. In 1875 the Provincial Government permitted the erection of a library on the school grounds, such building to remain during the pleasure of the Government. He then read letters from the Chairman of the School Committee, complaining that dancing was carried on iv the library, to the annoyance of the School Committee and school, and requested that the Board should put a stop to the dancing, or have the building removed. He (Mr Chrystall) said that the Board was in the same position as the Government, and could remove the building at pleasure. It was decided, after a little discussion, that the School Committee should be written to and informed that should the Library Committee continue*to use the building for other purposes than a library, and fail to comply with the request of the School Committee, instructions would be issued for thc removal of the building. The Chaiuman reported that he had received two important communications from the Education Department, in respect to retrenchment. One affected the payment on averages to the extent of 3", per cent. The letter- ,_n under date of November 2i)th, and were to the following effect: —That after the current quarter the payments to Boards would be calculated upon the " strict average " attendance, and not upon the " working average," and that Government did not intend to renew the vote for " training o£ teachers, £3000," and that consequently there would be no special grants for training of teachers after the end of next month.

The Chairman pointed out that under the Act the Board had to give the principal six months' notice. The stopping ol the grant at the end of the month would seriously inconvenience the Board. Mr Peiiyj«an considered that the Government would have to take the Board's liability in respect to the ftiattcr. Mr Saunders moved—"That referring to the communications from the Education- Department, informing the Bo.ird that largo and important reductions are contemplated by thc Government, and that such reductions-are prupo.sed to take effect from the Ist of next month, the Minister of Education be reminded that the Act under which the Board makes its engagements with teachers entitles those teachers to three months' notice of any reduction or termination of payments, and that in the case of the Normal School, from which the Government proposes to withhold all further assistance at one month's notice, the. principal is entitled to six months' notice. Mr Phryman seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Sauuders' motion, which was discussed at a previous meeting, was then brought forward. It was altered slightly, and provided for the giving of three months' notice to all teachers of the Board's inability to continue the present rate of remuneration, owing to the reductions announced by the plinister of Education. » •* The motion was seconded and carried. It was then agreed that Messrs Chrystall, Wright, Weston and Saunders be appointed a Committee to consider and report upon the details of retrenchment necessary in the Educational district of North Canterbury. Mr Anson gave notice to move a motion for the division of districts by the Inspectors at examination periods, in order to facilitate examinations. Mr Wright said it had been represented to him that there were many children at Rhodes' Swamp unattending school, and he asked whether a school could be erected. The Chairman stated that the Board was without funds for such a purpose. At the last meeting of the Board a Committee "was appointed to supply certain information to the Education Committee sitting at Wellington. The Committee at the meeting of the Board on Thursday submitted the following replies, which the Board adopted :- (1) The interests of education would not suffer by raising the school age for entrance from live to six years. But the real saving would be little or nothing in country schools, and in the town schools would not be proportionate to the diminution in numbers. Ultimately the saving would be chiefly in the item school buildings. (2) The payment of fees would be no economy from a national point of view. It would only be introducing a far more expensive mode of collection, and one that has been found to work badly in all systems of national primary education. The payment of fees by the more advanced scholarsonly would be a most objectionable tax upon progress. (3.) The Board does not believe that" the educational system in this district could be conducted efficiently with smaller means than are now at its disposal. Any curtailment of national grants for education will have to be supplemented by school districts. This means a more expensive method of raising the necessary funds. The Board has at present a large number of applications for necessary school buildings which there are no funds to meet. (4) While the Board is not prepared to endorse all the items of the present syllabus and would prefer more time being given to the thorough teaching of fewer subjects, it does uot believe chat such an alteration would materially affect the cost of primary education. The Board then went into Committee, and on resuming adjourned.