EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1904, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

BETTER EQUIPMENT OP SCHOOLS. INADEQUATE SCHOOL BUILDINGS. PAYMENT OF TEACHERS. Tho monthly meeting of tho Education Board held yoaterday afternoon. Present— Messrs. R. Leo, J. Robertson, E. Allan, T. W. M'Donidd, W. H. Field, E. Feist, W. 0. Buchanan, J. Kcbbpll, and A. W. Hogg. Tho htatement of finances, after providing for pay-sheo!,, etc, allowed a debit balance of J31551 6a. Next 1 salaries pnyment by Government i« subject to deduction of £8-13 16» Bd, nmoanl nlrendy paid to Clio Board's credit by Kchool Couimisjrionrtfl, so that tho debit balance in properly £8276 Os Bd. Contract liabilities aro £414 13a 4d. ,• After Iho eltction of Mr, R, Loo' m Chairman, Mr. Hogg «aid that he wo\Jd like, to huvo recorded on tho minutes a resolution appreciative of tho timo and devotion to the Board's affairs expended by tho lato Chairman, Mr. F. Briwloy. He ■accordingly moved: "Thnt the Board place* on rocord iU appreciation of the good service* rendered by Mr. F. Bradoy as Chairman of the Bonrd during a period when the inadequacy of tho provision for new buildings ana maintenance rendered his duties oxtremoly onerous and difficult, nnd that tho Board regrets that bo has felt it necessary to relinquish a position he has filled bo well." This was seconded by Mr. W. H. Field, who nleo spoke of Mr. Bradoy'n service on tho Board in laudatory terms, nnd was carried. Mr. Leo extended a welcome to Mr. M'Donald, the pew member of the Board. Mr. Leo proposed that, considering the small means at present available for the thoroughly efficient mnintenanco of hchools, tho Education Board calls upon school committees to further nssint tho cauae of education by raising fund« locally, nnd tho Board will, as far as liefl in tys power, supplement the amounts raised for the. moro complete educational equipment of the local school. Except in special oasos, tho moneys so raised and (subsidised to be expended on the' following objects : — (1) The purchase of scientific apparatus or oj/hoi aids to class teaching ; (2) tho useful and decorative furnishing of sohool walls with drawings, designs, pictures, maps, etc ; (3) improved formation, laying out, and pli;mting of playgrounds for oxeroiw and games, instruction in cottage gardening, etc ; (4) purchase of musical inutiuments, drill appliances, or class boons, to bo kept »n and remain the property of the school ; (5) bettor sanitory arrangements ; (6) enlargement of sohool library. In speaking to tho mutton, Mr Leo suid that schoolmasters were hampered in their instruction ot children by M'anl of opplinnces. Tho inspector informed him that there waa absolutely nothing at all on somo of the school walls, Ho suggested that the Board should assist committees in providing bet ten equipment. It 'would stir up local action by the coinmittoes, aonio of which looked en-, tirely to the Board, Ho know tho finances of tho Board were low, but lie thought an effort should be mudo to subsidise committees who endeavoured to help themselves Tin, btsttvi th> equipment the bettor tho educational standard reached. Mr. Buchanan had difficulty in seconding iyo motion, Ho was in accord with tlic spirit of tho motion, but did not think the financial position of the Board wai ranted it After considerable dificuss.'o'- the motion waa lost. A deputation from Nguhaurangn waited on tho Board with reforenoo to the proposal to closo tho school there, and that tho children now attunding that sohool should receive tuition at tho Kaiwarra School. It was stated that there were a number of children between the agw of 6 and 7 years at the Ngahfturouga School, and it would be dangerous to send them by train to Raiwarra- daily. The residents weto prepmoa to maka the school habitable, erect shelter sheds, and do anything within reason required by tho Board. The matter was referred to tho Inspectors for letUcmont. A committee reported on a- large number ot application* for special grants for rnpairi, eta., to schools, *.nd its recommendtttloni were adtiptod. The Chairman reportod that a large numbftr of aolioola iv the Board's district bad been damaged 1 by the reoont earthquaicc, and it was cslimafced that the cost of repairs would bo About £130 to £150.

He thought Unit the clerk of works should put repairs in haiul at once. Tho Hoard's architect reported that (ho stability of tho Board's building was not affected by the eartbnutlko, but on tho e^crior and interior of trie building work would require to be done at an estimated cost of £61 15s. Tho report was adopted, and it was decided that the finials on the pediment of the building should be removed. Mr. W. FT. Field moved that the hour ai meeting should bo altcicd to 7.30 or 8 o'clock in the oveniug. Alter discussion the motion was put, and lost on tho casting vote of tho Chairman. In reference lo tho pupil-teacher regulations, a committee consisting of the Chairman and Messrs. Allan and M'Donald was set up to confer with the inspectors. Thp Education Depnrtmnnt wrote »tating that tho Government was not propurcd to make further building grants until appropriations were made by Parliament. The Department did not think tho Board would suffer by waiting. A member: What about tho children suffocating in schools for lack of ventilation ? Mr. Hogg said that he intended bringing this matter before Parliament, and when he did ho would depict a otato of things that would astonish members. Mr. Field moved that a deputation wait upon the Minister of Education and again further urge the necessity of the grant for new schools, and additions to schools. The money was a dire necessity. Mr. Buchanan said that the population had been growing but not tho grants for school buildings. He seconded tho motion, which was carried. The Public Health Department wrote drawing attention to the fact that the air spa^e in tho Otaki School was below the minimum, and the latrine accommodation waa not adequate Mr. Kebbcli mid that he was astonished on visiting Otuki last week to find that tho school, which has been erected only about ten years, was rotten, and had not received a coat of paint since its erection. The Inspector snid that tho condition of this hchool nad been reported on before. (This is one of the schools that tho Bqard is asking tho Government for money to repair.) It was suggested that this school .should bo at one© re-painted, but Mr.' Allan objected, and fsnid that the Board should not depart from its policy in seeking from tho Government sufficient money to put into repair and re-paint all the schools requiring it. Mr. Field said the Otaki School was in the worst condition of any in the district. Ultimately it was decided that the clerk of works should visit the school ancj report on its condition. The City Council wrote stating that it would bo prepared to grant tho use of part of the Town Belt adjoining Mit* chelltown School on condition that the gorso bo cleared and the fence* be kept in 'repair. . The letter was referred to tfie Milchclltown School Committee. Tho Wanganui Education Board wrote asking the Board's co-operation in bringing under tho notice of tho Minister of Education the insufficiency of remuneration to male teachers, and if it cannot dovise a more equitable basis to adjust salaries than on tho Attendance baois. Members of the Board ngrced that male teachers were underpaid, and that if something was not done it would be found very difficult to obtain male teachers, ns thoy were seeking other walk* in life. Mr, Hogg championed the fomalo teachers, and thought that they wero as deserving of an increase in salary os tko malca. They received lew wages, had Jo go and live in the country, and their expenses for drcan were heavier. 110 could not sco why tho moles should bo selected for an increase and thp females neglected. The Chairman said this was ono of the burning questions of tho day in tho colony, for it wa« well k.nown that young men would not enter tho eorvico owing to the 1 inadequate salary. It was decided to co-operate with tho Wangnnui Board and to point out that tho cflso of tho fomnio teachers wua just as urgent ac tJtnt of tho malo. It was also decided to pre*s on the Government tho urgency of placing on tho statute book the superannuation measure. An offer by Mr. Walker to allow tho u»o of ft hall he wns erecting Plimmor ton for tho purpose of a school was accepted. It wa* alao decided to open » school at Akitio should the settlers agree to provide a house for the teacher. Leave of absence was granted to Miss A. Sage, awfistont, Levin, three months; Miaa E. Paul, Mnkomako, one month; Mi«s A, Duncan, Gladstone, threo months; Mrs. Baker-Gftbb, Nikau, a, few weeks; Mis» M. Tait, Newtown, throe months. The following resignations were recelvrf : r -M , iss A ,S, Sm J™. assistant, Mount Cook Boys' School; Mr. J. Macfadaean, Mnruiin.