EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 11892, 21 May 1903, Page 1

EDUCATION BOARD.

The following concludes our report of yesterday's sitting of tie Education Board:— THE KAIKORAI SCHOOL. The clerk to the Kaikorai Committee wrote ivjjjnowledging the Secretary's memo, of March 19, declining an application for additional accommodation at the Kaikorai School, and stating that if the Board's de-cision-was final the Committee proposed to publish the whole of the correspondence in connection with the Committee s numerous applications, and the Board's consistent refusal of the same. .The Rev. Mr Fraser suggested that, the Committee might be informed that the Board had no objection to their publishing the correspondence. The greater part of it had been published already, as the matter had come before the Board' from time to time. • The Chairman: They ask if our decision is* final. ' Mr Fraser said that he did not think any decision come to on the matter by the Board could be regarded as final, as new circumstances might arise at any time, and the Board were always open to new light He thought it was the mind oi. the Board that the Kaikorai School (one of the largest they had) was large enough, and the Board did not see their way to increase the size of the school. " Mr Mitchell: Has anything been, done hi regard to a school at Maori Hill? The Chairman thought that after a time, when the new teacher had become settled down in the Wakari School, it would be better attended, and relive the Kaikorai School. Mr Sim: That is on one side only. I moved before to get a school at Maori Hill, but it was not carried. The Chairman: I don't tbink we have any ground there. Mr Fraser thought a school at Maori Hill would affect George street more than Kaikorai. Even if they put a small school at Maori Hill, the majority of the parents would continue to send their children to the more highly-equipped school. Practically the Board would be compelled to increase indefinitely the size of the Kaikorai School. He admitted that it was overcrowded, but parents on the outskirts of the district might solve the question by sending their children to adjoining schools. Mr Mitchell said if the Board were going to enlarge the Kaikorai School they wculd be practically making it a double school. One new class room would not be sufficient, but they would have to have two class rooms and two teachers for each standard. Mr Fraser said that it had been laid down by the Chief Justice that where a [School was full the Board could refuse I children from another district. He also thought the Kaikorai School should have been relieved this year by the High Schoola On the motion of Mr Fraser :t was resolved—" That it be referred to the chief inspector to report on the numbers at present attending the various classes in the Kaikorai School; how far the numbers in each class are in excess of the space provided, and how many of the pupils attending the classes where the numbers are excessive belong to other school districts, or could attend neighboring schools; and whether he can suggest anv remedy to relieve the* congested state "of the Kaikorai School." THB HIGH SCHOOLS: The secretary to the High Schools Board of Grovernors wrote, under date of May. 8, stating that in order to, as far as possible, obviate the dislocation of work in the High Schools which was likely to be caused by the admission of pupils from the primary schools after the commencement of the High Schools' terms he had been asked to communicate with the Board recommending that arrangements be made to examine as many of the town and suburban schools as far, as possible before the beginning of next term, commencing 2nd prox. At present there was a danger of having the work of the schools interfered with and hampered if there was a large influx of Sixth Standard' pupils after the inspectors' examination in the City and suburban .schools at midwinter, and it was somewhat difficult to make arrangements that would be satisfactory to such pupils. He had l*en also directed to invite the Board to arrange a conference between their inspectors and the rector and the lady principal of the High Schoola with a view to making satisfactory permanent arrangements- for the Hign Schools receiving the primary schools pupils. The chief inspector (to whom the above letter was referred) attached the following memorandum:—"Feeling that the Dunedin and suburban teachers are greatly concerned in the recommendation of the High Schools Board, we called them together to consider it. After discussion of tiic question it was resolved—'That it is inadvisable to make any change in the dates of this year's examinations.' With this finding the inspectors are in entire agreement. Wo would point out that, according lo paragraph 5. of the department's circular, the term of free education of the pupils who- enteH the High Sdioois between the present time and the 31st of December, 1903, will terminate at the end of 1904 unless they satisfy the test imposed by paragraph 6 of the circular. It would seem, therefore, that pupils who enter at any time during the remainder of this year wiil suffer curtailment .of their term of free education at the High Schools. We shall be glad to meet) the rector am! the lady principal." Mr Fraser moved—"That tie High Schools Board be informed that in the opinion of the inspectors it is impraciic able to hold ihe examiauion in the City schools as suggested; that a conference be held between the inspectors and the principals of the High .Schools, w.th a view to suggesting a permanent arrangement for transference of primary pupils to the High Schools." In speaking to the question, he said it might prove advisable to hold half-yearly examinations to test the qualifications of pupils desiring free education at the High Schools. The Chairman remarked that it wotdd be a good thing if the Secretary for Education were to attend the conference; he might pick up a wrinkle or two that wotdd lead to the regulations being amended. Mr Peattie expressed the hope that the age limit would be swept away. Mr Mitchell thought that at any rate the age limit ought to be coincident with the age limit of free education pupils at fifteen years. Mr Borrie: The weeding-out process is provided for at the wrong time. Mr Fraser commented adversely on the fact that the results of the conference between the inspectors and the teachers had appeared in the Press before being submitted to the Board. Mr NicoLson seconded the motion, which was carried. CLOSING A SCHOOL. The following is the correspondence in connection with the temporary closing of the Tapanui High School by the School Committee :• — Mr D. Murray, acting-secretary of the Tapanui District High School Committee, wrote under date May 2 that it was unanimously agreed to write to the Board requesting them to call for fresh applications for the position of extra assistant in' the school, and also to point out that the householders of the district (with, but one dissentient) endorsed the action of the Committee in not recommending Miss Howat for the position.

wed on the 17th May: Committee met Saturday night, and decided to close the school on Monday and every day that Miss Howat comes to the school. Kindly wire my instructions. On the following day he farther ■ wired that • the chairman of '. the Committee closed school for the day; same proceedings likely to-morrow. The Chairman of the Board, on being communicated with, had a wire sent to the head-teacher directing him to open the school, and stating that the solicitors advised that the Board had ample power to do this. Mr Eudey wired on the 19th that the chairman and a member of the Committee were present to close the school, but on production of the Board's wire they retired. The Secretary of the Tapanui School Committe wrote under date May 18 that at. a meeting of the Committee held on Saturday night a motion was carried to write Miss Howat that, pending the decision of the Education Board at the next meeting, she could not be permitted to -enter the school, and that the Committee would close the school rather than allow her to take up the appointment. - A farther motion was carried that the chairman and Mr Potts be the Holiday Committee for the ensuing year, and that they be empowered to close the school day by day until & reply to the correspondence was received from the Board. It was further agreed to forward a copy of the minutes to the chairman of the Education Board, and'to point out that Miss Howat withdrew her application, and that' the Committee desired that fresh applications be called. Mr Eudey, under, date May 19, wrote that on the assembling of the pupils that morning the. chairman of the. Committee (Mr M'Donald) and Mr Potts (a member of the Committee) were present, intending, they informed him, to close the school. On the production of his (the writer's) authority to open the school they raised no objections to his doing so, and retired. GENERAL. A further communication was received from the.Minister and the Arthur Committee in regard to the marking .;;" school rolls.—-On the motion of Mr Fra> er it was resolved—"That the Minister be informed that the Board have no information other than that supplied to him by the Arthur street Committee, the Commit-.- - not having given the Board any specilie information in the matter." On the motion of Mr Fraser it was resolved—" That the Board heartily approve of the Government's circular recommending the observance of Empire Day by the schools of the colony, and express the hope that teachers and committees will loyally support the objects mentioned in the circular."