QUALIFYING FOR BURSARY

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1916, Page 6

QUALIFYING FOR BURSARY

BLAIR TENNENT'S CLAIMS.

DEPUTATION TO EDUCATION

BOAKD

At last night's meeting of the Grey Education Board, Mr. D. Tennent; waited on members and asked for their approval and assistance to remove' a» injustice under which, he stated, las so-' Blair was laboring. He said that his son had won a Board's scholarship which was tenable at the Grey District High School. At' the conclusion of his four-year course, Blair had sat for the matriculation examination, and • had passed and gained marks entitling him to a bursary of £loo—a sum sufficient to cover the cost of his tuition as a dental student at the Otago University. It was necessary for his son to have gained 12 units in science but, according to cards, lie gained 1 ].t). In 191 3 Blair was credited with 2.7, whereas lie had gained 3 units. In 1911 he was not credited with an extra two hours' morning work, which, if credited, brought the total in science to 11,2—in other wurds, 2.2 more than required to qualify for the bursary. It was necessary to obtain 16 units in each of English, nmthematic, and language subjects, and 1 2in science. According to the cards the units gained were : English 2"2\r>, mathematics 29.5, language 18.8, and science 11.9. The mark cards, which were made up by Mr. Talbot, M.A., secondary teacher at the Hitrh School, showed that Blair Tennent had gained well over the units required i« English and mathematics but was one-tenth short in science. On looking through the conditions of the bursary, as given in the University Calendar," lie (Mr. Tennent) had found that Blair had not been given credit for extra time he had put in in studying light and heat, and if this was allowed for Blair would bo well over the units required in science and could gain the bursary. He had written to the Department and they had stated that the alterations in the ■card must be made by he Rector (Mr. Adams) and initialled by him. He had then written to Mr. Adams, who had replied that the units were made up by Mr. Talbot and guaranteed by him, and he (the Hector) would not alter- them. He (Mr. Tennent) then wrote to Mr. Talbot and the latter had replied admitting that he bad forgotten to give Blair credit for his attendance at the lessons on light and heat, which would amount to three hours a week. Mr. Talbot said he had written to Mr. Adams, explaining the position, and the mistake made.

In order to save time, he (Mr. Tennent) had sent a request to Mr. Adams to amend the cards in accordance with Mr. Talbot's admission, and Mr. Adams replied: "I will not alter the mark card, even if the Minister orders me to'do so."

There the matter stood, and he asked the Board to take the matter up and gee that justice was done to Blair. He pointed out that one student from the Grey School was already attending the Otago University as a scholarship holder and it would enhance the status of the school if a second one was also sent. From the discussion of members or the Board it was conceded that Mr. Tennent had fairly established hi? claim and that the Kector should verify the error. That, if Mr. Adams stdl refused to do this, the matter be brought under the notice of the Minister of Education. On the motion of Mr. Kettle, seconded by Mr. Ward, it was resoived that the Chairman and Inspector take steps to see that the error in the card was rectified. The Chairman explained that the inspector was at present absent in South Westland and that he (the Chairman) would undertake rirst to see Mr. Adams the next day. This met with the approval of members, who judged tho stand taken by the Rector to be unreasonable.