EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 10881, 15 March 1899, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was commenced this afternoon, when th> r- were pr.saLt: Dr Brown (chairman), the Rev. P. B. Fraser, Messrs H. Harraway, J. J. R.imsay, J. Mitchell, W. Snow, J. Sim, J. M. Gallaway, and tie Hon. J. MacGregor. The Chairman formally declared that MessrsGalhway, Ramsay, ml Borrie had been returned in that order aa members of the E location Board.

The following letter from the inspectors with reference to Mr G. M. Thomson's scheme for encouraging the study of natural history in achccls was read : —" We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt to-day of Mr Hamilton's letter re natural history prizas, its accompanying newspaper report of Mr Thomson's communication to the OUgo Institute, Mr Hamilton's letter of February 26, withdrawing the scheme, and the letter from the secretary of the O.ago Educational Institute, dated March 11, 1899, approving of the scheme. We aie in entire accord and sympathy with the aims and proposals of the Otago Institute. We feel bound to say, however, that so far aa the aims and spirit of science teaching in many of our Bchools are concerned, much of the assumption upon which Mr Tnomson bases his scheme is radicilly wrong. Neither the teachers nor the inspectors are so benighted aa Mr Thomson's introduction aaanm a them to be." —A Member ssked if - any reason had been given by the institute for withdrawing the 6cheme, and the Secretary taid that no reasons Vara given.—The Hon. J. MacGregcr aai'4 he supposed it was withdrawn because the Institute had been eo scurvily treated.—The S-crelary s;iH th*t no delay bad occurred so far as the Boirdwi-re concerned. No time hid been lost in submitting the Otago Insti:utt'a Echeme to the Educational Institute, but the teachers were baring their holidays at the time, and doubtless that was where the delay occurred.—The Chairman siid he was very lorry that the Otago Institute had with? drawn their scheme owiDg to delay on the part of the Educational Institute.—The {lev. Mr Fraaer ; There hai been no harm done; they are doing it in another way iwthey are sending the matter on to. the Icachera direct.