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Evening Star, Issue 4652, 28 January 1878, Page 2

The election of the Dunedin School Committee takes place this evening, and it may, therefore, not bo out of place to set forth vfery briefly wh it will be the principal functions fft 1 e new committees under tho Act, wh;ch differ in some degree from those vested in the oshtiug body constituted under a local Ordinance. Subject to the general supervision of the Board the commitee v ill have the sole management of educational matters, including the putting in force what are known as the ** compulsory” clauses, granting exemptions, &c,, They may establish public schools, and, with the sanction of the board, provide by building or otherwise, school-houses, improve, enlarge, and fit up RUy existing buildings, and supply school apparatus and everything necessary for efficiency. They are to have the power of recommendation to the Board in the case of the appointment, suspension, or removal r,f teachers ; and it is obligatory on the Board to consult the committee interested in every such matter. In cases of gross misbehaviour they may suspend teachers forthwith. With the appi oval of the Board they may appoint teachers of sewing. Very much at the discretion of the Board they will have control of the expenditure of moneys granted out of the Board’s fund for the purp jse of building, repairing, and fitting up schoolhouses, and also of any donations or subscriptions which may be given to them, they are to appoint amongst themselves a Treasurer, whose accounts must be duly audited at the expiration of their year of office, and all moneys in hand paid over to their successors—a copy of the accounts being forwarded to the Boaid. Committees may, with the approval of the Board, establish Savings Banks for the use of the children attending the schools. It will be noted that the powers of committees are very much curtailed from what they now enjoy, and that in all important matters they simply act under the Board. With regard to the appointment and dismissal of teachers the Board must consult ili3ni, but is in no way bound to follow their advice, and probably will not as regards the larger school". In matter will come into play the injustice of the arrangement by which all committees are placed on au equal footing with regard to the Board election, the Dunedin committee having only the same voice as that of the smallest hamlet. Its direct influence upon the Board will therefore be in the same proportion, and that body may very possibly choose to keep the patronage of the City schools in its own hands and ignore the committee in all the more important appointments.