EDUCATION BOARD.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8043, 11 December 1891, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

ORDINARY MEETLNG.

An ordinary meeting of the North Canterbury Education Board was held veeterday morning. Present—Messrs T. S. Westoa (Chairman), K. Meredith, J. Joyce, A. Saunders, W. Montgomery, T. H. Anson, and H. W. Peryman. Aii apology'was received for the absence of. Mr P- Westenra.

The Buildings Committee reported :— " A letter was received from the Mason's Flat Scuool Committee, stating that they had made arrangements for renewing the boundary fence. On the application of the newly elected Hurunmi Gorge Committee, £5 was allowed for a fuel shed. The Brookside School Committee applied for a grant towards the renewal of fences. A sum of £3 w»3 allowed. A letter was received from Mr Rule, calling attention to his filters. He was asked to state tbe prices of the various sizes. The Tinwald School Committee complained of the state of the lavatory. The Clerk of Works was directed to have a trough put under, the basins. The Darfield School Committee applied for another perch. The Clerk of Works was directed to report when in the neighbourhood. It was resolved to divide Reserve 777, in Ashburtonj, into sections, as recommended by Mr Wright. " The Kowai Pass School Committee reported that the ventilation of the schoolroom was faulty. The Clerk of Works was directed to visit the schoolroom when in the neighbourhood. The Clerk of Works was directei to report as to repairs applied for at the master's house, Southbrook. The question of drainage at the side school at St. Albans was considered, and a deep well, as recommended by the Clerk of Works, was authorised. On the application of the Belfast Committee, painting the school buildings and a dividing curtain were authorised. On the application of the Fendalton School Committee, it was agreed to allow them to arrange for carrying off % waete water according to a plan proposed, the Board to contribute £5 towards the cost. Painting "the Metnven school buildings was authorised. A new range was allowed for Summerhill. The Ealing Committee asked to have the floor of the school-room level instead of graded. It was resolved to adhere to the grading. The Waikari School Committee applied.-for a grant for deepening the welL It was resolved to allow £5, the estimated cost, if a permanent supply could be procured. The Sydenham School Committee applied to have a fence shifted, and the approach to the closets asphalted. Mr Peryman undertook to visit the school with the Clerk of Works, and to decide as to these and other matters wanted. It was resolved to have the lavatory in the boys' department at the Normal School put in order. A portable boiler for the use of the caretaker was allowed. On the report of the Clerk of Works; repairs to the caretaker's cottage, Lyttelton, and to the schoolroom' at Waikuku, were authorised.. On the report of the Clerk of Works it.was resolved to have the floors of the closets concreted, and to supply closet pans at Spreydon. Alternative tenders were received for the schools at Eiffel ton and Riverside, brick and wood. The tender of Messrs Muir and Reid was accepted for a brick building at Eiffel ton, for £453; it. was resolved to recommend the Board to accept a tender from the same builders for the same amount for the school at Riverside."

The report was adopted. The Appointments Committee, reported, under date November 25th:—V The following appointments were made:—Prebbleton, Mr W. N. Seay, master ; Medbury, Mr J. Stewart, master. A letter was received, from Mr Wilkinson, of Leithfield, thanking the Board for the statement respecting his application for Prebbleton which had been made at the last' meeting. Reports were received from Dr. Anderson on Southbrook, Flaxton main and side, Mandeville Plains, Malvern, Carleton, Wobdside, View Hill; from Mr Poster and Air Scott, on Prebbleton, Templeton, Leeston, Doyleston; from Mr Foster on Brookside, Sedgemere, Doric; from Mr Scott on Irwell, Lakeside, Chertsey. • The reports on Southbrook, Sedgemere, and Irwell j were particularly satisfactory, and those on j Templeton, BrooJmda* ; .WcK»&»d«f and+ift?*" I Hill were good, but faulty reading is much too common. It was resolved to recommend the Board to send out a circular calling the | special attention of teachers to the poorness of the reading so frequently complained of by the Inspectors.-- This was a defect pointed out by Mr Wood when he first began the work of inspection in the district, and though a great improvement afterwards took place, the same fault is again becoming very noticeable. Both the Inspectors have remarked upon it, and now their reports are strongly confirmed by those of the two acting Inspectors, who have repeatedly found occasion, even in reports otherwise satisfactory, to comment upon the indifferent reading. December : 2nd—Appointments^— Kimberley, Mrs Hay man, eewing mistress. Reports were received.from Mr Foster and Mr Scott jointly on Feadalton, Spreydon, Rakaia; From Mr Foster, bn Elgin and Newland. From Mr Scott, on Lauriston, Barr Hill, Dromore and Seafield. December 9th, Miss Kate McHaffie and Miss Nellie Grand wore appointed assistant mistress in the girls' and infants' department respectively at the Normal School It was resolved to advertise for the. second master and assistant master. The resignation of the master at Lakeside was received; and accepted. On the representation <of the Ashburton Committee that the loss of' three fourth-year pupil teachers, at once would be injurious to the school, it was reeolved to allow Frank Curd to remain for another year. A letter was received from Mr Wilkinson, Leithfield, stating'iihat in addition to his E 4 certificate, he was recorded as having partly passed the examination for Class D. Reports were received from Dr. Anderson on" Mt. Grey Downs, Annat, Darfield, Kirwee, Greendale, Horo-; rata, Russell's Flat, Kowai Pass, Kowai Bush, and the aided school at Porter's Pass; from Mr Foster and Mr Scott jointly on Tinwald; from Mr Foster on. .Flemington, Ashton, Longbeach, Kyle, PendaryeSfj and from Mr Scott on Willowby. The reporcs; on Tinwald, Annat, Russell's Flat, Mt.; Grey Downs, Greendale, Kowai Pass, Flemington, Ashton, Longbeach, Kyle, and Porter's Pass were very good ; those on the three first-named schools particularly so."

The report was adopted. The Chaikman drew the attention of the members of the Board to two letters which had appeared in the " Times" in regard to the pupil teachers' examination. The, writers thought that th 6 Board might have fixed a more convenient time, in order that the pupil teachers might have the full advantage of the five or six weeks holidays. The Board, he imagined, fully realised the wisdom of allowing papil teachera all the time they could get, and did not reflect npon the Committee for fixing the time. The inconvenience arose on account of the days on which Christmas Day and Anniversary Day fell this y«ar. Last year the time pointed out was not inconvenient, and for the next three or four or five years it would not be felt to be inconvenient. The trouble; had arisen from the fact that the time had fallen a little awkwardly this year. The report of MjrVeel on the syllabus came up for consideration, and after it had been amended, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Jotce, seconded by Mr Pzkyman—" That a copy of Mr, Veel s letter be sent to thellinister of Education, with the request that the new syllabus be revised before being sent to the schools of- the colony." , , _ Upon an explanat l . o,l by the Chairman of the Brookside Committee, the Board agreed to the removal of tbe local library building to a corner of the ground as suggested. A petition from Governors Bay for the removal of the school buildings to a more convenient site was referred to the local Committee. ... ~ ~ _, In reply to a letter from the Rev. C. Dallaston, the Board agreed to allow his son, who had taken a B scholarship, tenable for two years, to take his second year at the Wellington College. ' "' Mr G. I* Greenwood wrote, asking if his son might he allowed to compete for an A scholarship- '"."■", ■■~,'.,, The Chaibman pointed out that the boy entered the East Christchurch School «m 6th October, so that under., the scholarship regulations # he was ndt'eligible to compete. But there was the other side of the question, that Mr Greenwood iad been sent here by the Government, he being a public servant, and the boy had not the same opportunity as pupils resident here. The question of establishing a precedent evoked much discussion, after which a

motion to grant the request and an amend meat to adhere to Regulation 3 we.* 'moved. Thp amendment was eventually carried. On the motion of Mr Joxc* seconded by Mr Ansost, th« report on cookery presented at the last meeting of the Board was adopted. The report was unfavorable to granting aid to Mrs Garsi* in the establishment of a school for cookery. The Board went into Committee, on the motion of Mr Meskdith, to consider the position of the assistant teachers in the Boys' department of the Normal School. Upon resuming die Board adjourned.