EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 502, 15 August 1902, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

SCARCITY'OF TEACHERS IN THE SOUTH.

(Per Press Association,)' (By Telephone from Napier.) Timaru, last night. Mr W. B. Howell was again re-elected Chairman of the Education Board. Resuming the chair he referred inter alia to the shortage of teachers of late, and suggested that some had removed to the North Island where population was increasing, and others had gone into business in place of men who had gone to South Africa. Matters to be brought before the conference of Board representatives at Wellington were discussed, and the Rev. G. Barclay, the Board’s delegate, was informed of the Board’s views on each item. Increased grants for administration were approved, and the Rev. Barclay suggested that a transfer of 2s 6d from the scale to the Boards, and an increase of incidentals by one shilling to meet the requirements of this Board. Regarding secondary education, the offer of the Timaru High School Board was endorsed with some dissent. The wish of the Department to give the High School the same subsidy as the District High School Board will make all seats free, and allow them to reclaim endowment to those passing the standard test as in the District High Schools. The Board objects to the anomaly that while tho children of smaller towns, Waimate, Temuka, and Geraldine, get secondary education free, those of Timaru cannot, except through scholarships. The proposal to place the Inspectors under the control of the central department was objected to, but it was suggested they might examine a few schools of other districts to test whether the results were uniform.