SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9816, 27 August 1897, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of the delegates to the the School Committees' Association was held at the Normal School last evening, when there was an attendance of about twentj'-five. The chair was taken by the President, Mr M. Sandstein.

The President thanked the Association

for electing him in his absence. He thought that, considering the recent formation of the Association, the number of schools which had joined was very satisfactory. The question of technical education, which was under discussion at the last meeting, was resumed.

Mr Ell brought forward a number of facts and figures, showing the great value attached to technical education in Great Britain, and the wide runge of the subjects taught. He pointed out that the grant for technical education in New Zealand was the lowest of any in the chief Australian colonies. He moved—" That this Association desires to draw the attention of Parliament to the necessity that exists for imparting more technical instruction to the youth of both sexes in New Zealand, and would therefore urge Parliament to place a larger sum at the disposal of the Education Boards for that purpose " ; also " that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Canterbury members, and also to the Ministry." The resolution was seconded by Mr Douglass.

A number of delegates spoke in favour of the motion, which was carried unanimously. The next question brought under consideration was the present system of election of School Committees.

Alter considerable discussion it was proposed by Mr Crkssweli, and seconded by Mr Douglass—" That this meeting suggests that the first clause of section 9 of the .Education Act of 1891 should apply only in cases where the required number of nominations are not made under section 6." Carried.

Mr Eμ. introduced the question of the

uniformity of books in the different schools. He pointed out the hardship to a poor man who, on moving from one district to another, had to b\iy an almost entirely new set of

books for his children. He proposed— "That thie Association would urge upon the Board of Education the desirability of having one uniform set of books for the use of scholars attending the Board's schools in the North Canterbury Educational District."

The motion was seconded by Mr Hall and carried unanimously.

Mr A'Court pointed out the inconvenience caused by the clause of the regulations relating to the Governors of Canterbury College,-which compels the School Committees to meet on the day of the election to give their votes. He moved—'• That the Minister of Education be respectfully requested to amend the regulation governing the election of the Board of Governors of Canterbury. College so that nominations shall close not later than fourteen days prior to the day of election" and " That School Committees he allowed to give their vote at an ordinary or special meeting of the Committee held at any time between the day of nomination and the day of election."

The motion wag seconded by Mr Sim

Several delegates spoke of what was styled " the absolute absurdity of this regulation."

The motion was carried unanimously,

Mr A'Court read from the Local Boards Constitution Reform Act those clauses relating to the election of the Education Board.

It was decided to ask the Government to send copies of the Act to evei'y School Committee and to the delegates to the Association. The meeting then adjourned for four weeks.