DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Evening Star, Issue 5587, 3 February 1881, Page 1

DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The Dunedin School Committee held a meeting last night in the secretary's office. I'here were present—Messrs A. R. living* ston (chairman), Sooullsr, Low, B It, Robin, Ramsay, and Green. The following business was transacted : WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee reported, amongst other things, that Mr Livingston’s contract for asphalting at Albany, Union, and Arthur street Schools bad been satisfactorily com* pleted,—They recommended that watercasks should be provided at the Bath street School, bat Mr Low urged that the town water should be laid on, even at a litrla extra cost, for the sake of the health of the children. The Committee were asked to farther consider the matter. ARTHUR STREET SCHOOL. Miss C, Miller was recommended to the Education Board for appointment to tie post of third assistant in the Arthur street School. RESIGNATION. Miss Blakely forwa ded her resignation as third assistant in the George street School. ELECTION TO EDUCATION BOARD, The names of candidates for election to the Education Biard were sent down by thi Board. The voting resulted:—Robin, 7 ; Elder, 6 ; Begg, 4; Shand, 3; Stanford, 1. Messrs Robin, Elder, and Begg were declared elected. REUGOUS INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Mr M. W. Green moved:—" That with a view to afford every facility for the imparting of religions instruction consistent with the provisions of the Education Act, the use of the school buildings be granted free of charge, both on Sundays and week-days; but that a guarantee be required in each ease from two respectable oitizms that all reasonable oare shall be taken of the school property, and that all damage beyond wbat is reasonable from ordinary wear and tear be paid by the guarantors; and that, in the event of damage beiag done beyond reasonable ww and tear, the permission to use the school buildings may be withdrawn at the option of ike Committee,” The mover added the words “to suitable persona ” after the words “be granted.” He said his reason for this was that the Committee might have the power of rejecting aoy application if (hey did not consider the applicant, although that person might get a couple of respectable guarantors, a respectable or mi able person, or a maa if go d moral character. He anticipated no difficulty as to cleaning the schools, for not more than one denomination would ever be likely to apply for the same building, nor would thera be any applications for Saturday use. As to (ha objection that denominate ns should use their own buildings, he app ebended that it would be in only in the case of denominations not haring an available building in the neighborhood where they wished to held the school (bat any application would be made, or if made wonld be granted. As to throwing extra work on the janitors, he thought the Committee should rather pay janitors increased wages than appear to place any restriction on the prosecution of Sabbath school work, and end one janitor had told him he looked with more apprehension on the nse of the school cn week-days than on Sundays, Mr RiMSATseoondcd the motion pro forma , because, although he hgreed with the spirit' of the resolution, he wished to see some amendments in it. He had no objection to the schools being given free of charge on week days, bat extra cleaning wonld be wanted on Sunday, and he considered a charge should be made. He thought the present charge too high, however, and would support 2i per room instead of 4 1. As to the proposal about guarantors, he thought it unworkable, and that it would cause trouble, perhaps disagreement and even lawsuits. Mr Robin thought 2s a week, which amounts d to about LA a-year only, was too little. In wet weather there was a good deal of work thrown on the janitors, to whom L 5 was no equivalent for having their Sunday broken in upon. He thought Mr Green and Mr Ramsay should accept 3s per week as the charge. He considered that the clergy should make up their minds to nse the buildings on week-days for religious instruction. Mr Bolt was astonished at this resolution being brought forward—at the paltriness of the whole matter. Was it possible that brae and rich congregations, such as those of Dunedin, would grumble to pay 4j a week to janitors for extra work entailed on them ? He respected Dr Stuart probably as much as anyone in Dnnedin did, bat he thought that gentleman went oat bis way altogether to refer to this paltry question as an objection to the outgoing Committee, and the absurdity of bis reference to it was shown when be suggested that instead of 4q a fair charge would be 2i 6i. If Christian effort and Christian energy were to be measured by Is Gi a week, then Christianity bid indeed fallen lower than ever its detractors had aocnaed it of doing. He also referred in uncomplimentary terms (o the fact of a member of the Committee having gone to a janitor and got an opinion oat of him, He characterised the motion as a gross insult to a large body of people in Dnnedin who would be quite willing to pay the present small charge, Mr Green said it was a pity Mr Bolt did not ask for information before he made one of bis statements, He might have asked whether he (the speaker) waited on the janitor, the janitor waited on him, or be wrs thrown in the way of the janitor. He explained that in theY.M.O.A room be was Introduced to the j witor at the latter’s request, and the janitor told him voluntarily that he looked with more apprehension on the possibility of the schools being used on week-days than cn their being need on Sundays. He urged that one member should give another credit for honorable action until the contrary was shown.—(Hear, heir.) Mr Robin said he understood the janitors were all women, whilst Mr Green had spoken of a man. Mr Green explained tbat it was the busband of one of the janitors who bad spoken to him. Mr Scoullah pointed ont that an objection to the schools being used on week-days for religious instruction was that those who acted as Sabbath school teachers were employed during the week-days and ccuU not then attend. He thought there was nothing in the dbj ction about the janitors having to work on Sundays, as all the cleaning could be done on Monday. After some remarks on the point as to whether the class-rooms were dirtied by Sunday school classes more than week-day ones, Mr Low said if Mr Green and others were so particular about the small difference in payment proposed, he for one would be willing to give bis cheque for the amount as regarded one school, so that the woman’s Sunday might be saved. Mr Ramsay moved the following amendment, which he thenght was a fair compromise “ That with a view to afford every facility for the imparting of religions instruction consistent with the provisions of the Education Aot, the use of the school buddings be granted daring the pleasure of the Committee to suitable applicants free of charge on we k-days, and on Sundays os payment of 2i 6d ior one room and Is for each additional room.” Mr Green withdrew his motion, and supported the amendment, which thus became the substantive motion. Mr Robin wonld prefer to see 3s charged.

•as being more fair. But he was astonished that this question of money was so important a oue in the eyes of people who were impressed with the belief that they were doing a gr?at Chri-lian work. Mr Green raid it came with an ill grace from those who contributed nothing in ■ money to the religious elevation of the people to talk about the paltriness tf Christian people in this matter, He referred to the urge expense some denominations went to in < connection with Sunday school work. Mr Robin ; Make it 3i and we’ll agree 'with you. Mr Bolt ; No, I’ll not agree to that, Hit Green : I’ll not agree to 3.3, I will accept Mr Ramsay’s compromise. Mr Low proposed as an amendment that the charge remain as formerly agreed on—namely, 4i for one room, and 2s 6d for each additional room. This was withdrawn, as it was shewn to be a direct negative, and the vote wai then taken as follows : —For Mr Ramsay’s motion —Messrs Ramsay, Green, and Sconliar; against It—Messrs Low, Bolt, and Robin. The Chairman gave his casting vote in favor of the motion, which was earned. Mr Robin here left the meeting. blvction of committee. Mr Green moved the following:—“ That, ae the present method of electing school committees is highly unsatisfactory, inasmuch as it does not provide facilities for the whole of the electors recording their votes, and affords no safeguard against unqualifiedpersons voting, this Committee communicate with the other school committees of Otago, and request their co-operation in petitioning Parliament for an amendment of that part of the Educati m Act relating to the manner of electing the committees, with a view to doing away with block voting, and the election of the committees in the same manner os that of town councils, the burgess rolls being utilised as the basis of qualification of electors.” He obtained leave to excise all the words after “ town councils,” stating that he did so because he was informed that many householders were not on the burgess roll. Mr Scoullak seconded the motion, these words being deleted. Block voting was an absurdity. One gentleman in a suburban meeting went in with stv* n voters at bis back, and obtained forty-nine votes in all, thus getting elected by his seven friends. Mr Bolt moved as an amendment that all the word* after “ the manner of electing the committee*” be excised. They had no evidence that the cumulative system of voting was detrimental; indeed, in Dunedin’s experience it was the reverse, for jraoh committee elected under this Act had been fairly representative of the community. To do away with it would be to strike a blow at the interests of the minorities in a community, Besides, ho objected to the Committee stepping ouside their functions and tnming themselves into a debating club. This was a matter entirely for the election platform. Introducing cumulative voting was mae of the only wise thing) the Upper House ever did. Mr Low held that the seven men referred to by Mr Scoullar had as great a right to be represented as the moat numerous body of mea in the country. Mr Ramsay looked upon blcck voting as an abomination. Mr Greek considered block voting entirely out of harmony with the liberalism of the age. He owed more than any other member of Committee his election to it, but he w*s altogether out of sympathy with it; and he took the opportunity of saying that lie had not asked for a single vote in connection with the election. On a division, Messrs Bolt andLw voted for the amendment; Messrs Green, Ramsay, and Sooullar against it. It was therefore lost, and the resolution carded, RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. The following letter was read OenUtmea,—The Dunedin Freethought Association an aoxkms to make arrangements (or the star Wag of a children’* lyeeum (or the moral and religious inStrtwUra of ysuths. Would you be good enough to state the terms on which they can obtain the use of one or mors rooms in Mr Barrett’s school on Sunday afternoons.—l hare, etc., J. SsiißY, Hon. Secretary. Mr Low moved, and Mr Bolt seconded, that the application be granted on the termi agreed upon. Mr Greek moved as an amendment—- ** That. as,.religion Involves faith iu and worship of some superior being, and rahgfesa instruction will be Instruction as to the being and attributes of the said Supreme Being, and as to the way in which he may be worshipped, before consent be given to the Freethought Association to use a room In the Arthur street School they be requested to state In what Superior Being they believe, and In what book the manner in which this Being is worshipped is taught.” The Committee would only ba doing their duty in acquiring the information. Freethinkers were aeither Jews, Christians, Mahometans, nor Hindoos, whose beliefs and teachings could be known. Mr Bolt : In order to complete the absurdity of this evening’s proceedings, all that is wanted is that that amendment should pass. Mr Low, as a member of the Freethought Association, could assure Mr Green that no one in Dunedin worshipped their Heavenly Father more fervently than he did. Mr Green made an explanation which brought on some rather heated remarks, the chairman having to call members to order. Mr Low had a mind to second Mr Green’s SmSUdmenll for the sake of carrying out the farce. Mr Ramsay could uot second the amendment, but he agreed to the resolution unwillingly, as he did not approve of the teaching which the Freethought Association would give ; but he did not anticipate much harm would be done, as there were not many belonging to it who were competent or would take the trouble to teach. Mr Scoullae would not support the amendment, because they were not on that Committee to come to a judgment on matters of theology. Mr Green thought the Committee would be doing an injury to the people of Dunedin If they granted the application till they knew on what basis the teaching would proceed. The amendment, not being seconded, lapsed; and the motion was carried, Mr Green only dissenting. The Chairman said his vote went In favor of the motion. The applications contained in the following letters were granted : St. Andrew’s Manse, Dunedin. Sir, —I have the honor to ask permission of your Committee to use one of the rooms in the William Street School for one hour in the week, after school hours, for the purpose of imparting religious instruction to those children who may choose to attend.—l am, etc., IIOTHBRFORD WADDBLn. Sir, —I desire to give notice that it is my intention, at the next meeting of the School Committee, to ask for the u»o of a room in the George street School, on Friday afternoons, for the purpose of giving Bible lessons.—l am, etc , M. W. Grbb.v. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Bolt gave the following notice of motion for next meeting:—“ That iu addition to the ordinary charge for weekly cleaning, a sum of 2s 61 per Sunday ba .charged for the purpose of painting and whitewashing at the end of each y<ar the classroom used for Sifnday school purposes, ” Messrs Ramsay and Scoullar said the motion was absurd, and the mover could not