HAWKE'S BAY EDUCATION BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 192, 21 August 1901, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY EDUCATION BOARD.

POVERTY BAY MATTERS,

(Special to Timks.) Napier, last night. At the meet ing of the Education Hoard Dr Sidey was unanimously re-elected chairman.

Gisborne's claim under the District High Schools regulations was dealt with, ft was decided that it he returned for full particulars, and then forwarded to the Department. Murere's application for a fence and shelter shed was hold over, no f unds at present being available. Makauri.— The Inspector to report at the Close of next visit to the school as to how the school is meeting the educational requirements of the district. To Karaka's application for a special grant of XTO for works was refused ; the chimney to receive attention.

Waercnga-a-hika.—Master and mistress to be informed that communications from them to the Hoard must be forwarded through the Committee. Wairoa.—The assistant master to be retained, the average attendance having increased. TKACIlKits’ C.IUKVANCKS.

The Chairman said some teachers and committees were getting into the habit of writing direct to the Department about real or fancied grievances, fie deprecated this course, and said that it frequently led to insinuations being made which some of the members did not like. He thought committees and teachers should communicate with the Hoard when they had any representation to make. Instead of doing so they applied to their members, who brought their influence to bear upon tho Ministers. Tho Hoard had carefully considered every matter brought before them.

Members generally expressed disapproval of tho practice mentioned by the Chairman, and the matter was allowed to drop. POLITICAL INKLL'KNCK. The Department requested the Hoard’s approval of an increase in the salary of a teacher. .Several members protested that it was a very arbitrary act on the part of tho Government to raise the salaries without consulting the Hoard, and was causing a great deal of heartburning among those who got no increases. They also strongly protested against teachers going behind the Hoard’s back, and using political inlluenco to gain their ends. The principle was not consistent with their dignity or independence. It, was decided to reply to the Government that the Hoard saw no reason why the teacher in question should get further increase than that already arranged.

The Wairoa Committee forwarded a letter received by them from tho Department, intimating that they would refund any amount expended in supplying books to Native children whose parents cannot afford to pay for them, and complaining of the manner in which the teacher was acting in connection with the mattei. The Chairman said this was one of the cases to which he had referred earlier in the meeting. The Chairman had entered into communication with the Department without consulting the Board.

Mr Wcstall gave notice that at the next meeting he would move “ That the Education Board protests against the recent innovation of bringing outside pressure to bear on the Board when dealing with questions arising from matters and persons under the Board’s jurisdiction ; further, that the Board will not receive communications on any such questions except through tho usual channels of tho school committees.'’