The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1890.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6007, 25 November 1890, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1890.

In an article last week wo advocated the separation of the otlices of secrotary to the Education Board and Inspector of Schools, and we understand that that will bo ono of the proposals at tho next meeting of the Board. In suggesting this change we are not animated by any feeling against tho present holder of those offices, but it is purely in the interests of publio education that wo think it should be broutrht about at as early n dato as possible. Tho present amalgamated office system has tho disadvantage of not being favorable to a proper consideration of the correspondence, which is often hurried over at tbe Board's meeting in a way that would not bo pleasing to tho writers if they kuew how their letters were treated. It has sometimes happened, also, that tho Inspector has been absent on his duties in the country till tbo while that tho correspondence has been accumulating, and aftor a long journey he has to attend to it to prepare for tho Board's meeting tho following day. What wo would suggest is that the Education Board should conduct its business in much tho samo way as tho Municipal Council manages its affairs. Tho Municipal Council, as every one knows, gets through tho real business of the borough at a committee meeting held two days before tho sitting of tho Council. All reports, tenders, petitions, mid correspondence aro considered by tho oommittee and recommendations made to tho Council. Now the chief business of the Education Board consists iv the consideration of correspondence from teachers and School Committees, of little or no public interest, but which is of t groat importance to thoso who write tho letters. Hence we think much more timo should be devoted to them than can now bo spared, for tho reason that most of the members- of tho Education Board aro also members of tho Harbor Board, which sits ou the samo day. Tho object ot the members is to kill two birds with ono stone, get through tho work of tho two Boards and be offto their homes before night. Xhis being so, w.. are--trougly of opinion that the Education Board should appoint a committee of its members residing in tow i whose bush _h it should bo to carefully consider tho ,om .-puncl.-uoo and recommend tho repu.-s to it. The committee should sit a day or two before tho meeting of the Board, whose work would thus be greatly simphfiod and shortened. But to carry out this suggestion it would be necessary that the se "rotary should be always at the service ot

the committee, and this would be impossible if that officer were also tho inspector. The Hawke's Bay educational district is a very large ono, and demands the whole time of the Inspector if he is to do his work to his own satisfaction. If he were to be relieved of his duties as secretaiy the time now exponded in town could be spent in a closer inspection of the country schools, which can now bo rarely visited more than twico a year.