SOUTH CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7253, 8 March 1889, Page 6

SOUTH CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

• . ■■■■ At the South Canterbury Board of Education yesterday thelnspector's reports on the following schools were as follows: —Gape 9' Valley—Percentage of passes, 56 ; failures, 10. Bellield — Percentage of passes, 25; failures, 51. Pleasant Valley —Percentage of passes, 47; failures, 16. The Inspector said that in 'every school the teacher had the privilege of presenting children in t]je first standard or not, as he thought tit, but in this respect the teacher at Belfleld had shown want of judgment, which accounts for the large percentage of failures. The school »*as entitled to the services of a pupil teacher, as there was an attendance of thirty-nine pupils. The Inspector's report on the proposed school in the Seadown district was read. The settlers offered to contribute £47 towards the cost, and several residents had offered to cart the material for the school building free of cost. The Inspector reported favorably upon the application for a school in the district. It was decided that the usual steps be taken to proclaim Seadown a school, and that, the Levels Road Board ba asked to grant three acres of land as a site for the school ground. The Rev. Jasper Smythe, as one of the Scholarship Committee, said that one of the scholars who had won a scholarship, had gone into a solicitor's office, and this fact had placed the Board in possession of £8. The Scholarships Committee had decided, subject to the Board's approval, to vote this sum to Misa Balfour, in addition to the sum already voted. Mr Howell thought the Board were scarcely justified in such a course. It was this loose way of conducting business which had assisted much towards the extravagance of the colony in the past. Mr Jackson also felt inclined to doubt the wisdom of the proceeding. It was decided to endorse the recommendation of the Scholarship Committee, and vote the money to Miss Balfour, who would attend the Tirnaru High School. A discussion took place on 'the fees charged by the Examiners, Mr Jackson stating he was surprised that the examiners were paid £2 2* for every subject which pupils were examined in. The Rev. Jasper Smythe explained that no member of the Board was permitted to make this or any charge, but when any outsider acted the fees named were always charged. In regard to the account before the Board, the Examiner had been expressly told not to examine in one subject (geography) and the item was not entitled to be paid. It was resolved that the account of Mr White, one of the Examiners, be approved for payment, with the exception of the charge for geography. Mr T. Tesehemaker was elected as the Education Board's representative upon the Wai mate High School Board vice Major Stewart. The Secretary declared the result of the polling for three Board members to be —Rev. G. Barclay, 24; S. W. Goldsmith. 24; J. Jackson, 23; G. Oliver. 20. The Chairman declared the Rev. G. Barclay and Messrs Jackson and Goldsmith duly elected.