EDUCATION BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2248, 17 June 1881, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Education Board was held yesterday afternoon, at the Normal School, Present—The Chairman (Mr J. Inglis), the Rev, O. Fraser, Messrs Cunningham, Peryman, Geo. Booth, and Tanored. The business done by the chairman since the last meeting was approved. The reports of the inspector on a number of schools were laid on the table; also, the report of the drill instructor. Leave of absence was given to Messrs Bowen and Montgomery during the remainder of the session of Parliament. It was resolved that the seal of the Board should be affixed to a number of pupil teschers’ agreements. The Chairman read a telegram from the Secretary of Education, stating that the Government had promised to issue return railway tickets at single fares to all teachers attending the annual session of the Educational Institute of Otago, to be held at Easter. A letter was read from the head master of the Kaikoura school, asking the Board to sanction continuance of .the small payment for the teaching of vocal music in the school. The Board decided that it could not comply with the request until it had fuller information as to the qualification of the mnsie teacher. A letter was read from Mr Walker, drill instructor and teacher of calisthenics, stating that the attendance at the teachers’ drill class was not all satisfactory so far as female teachers were concerned. It was decided that deficiency in knowledge of drill should in future be considered a bar to promotion. Correspondence was read with reference to the suspension by the Hinds school committee of Mr Chichester, the master of the school at that place, for flogging one of the pupils. The charge against Mr Chichester had been dismissed with coats, and the parents of a number of children attending the school forwarded a petition, saying that after making enquiries they found that the teacher had never been guilty of any impropriety, and praying that he might bo reinstated and the school re-opened. The chairman of the school committee wrote to the Board, reiterating the charges of misconduct against the teacher. The Board decided to instruct the committee to reinstate Mr Chichester unless they were prepared to substantiate the charges of gross misconduct made by them. A letter was read from the Broadfield school committee, asking for a special grant of money to enable them to put into execution repairs and improvements to the school buildings and master’s house. _ _ Mr Booth supported the application, which only involved an expenditure of £lB. It was resolved that the school should be painted on the outside, end the necessary repairs made to the chimney-piece and fireplace. ! An application for repairs to the Killinchy j school building was read. It was resolved r thot the inside work should be done at once, t but that the outside work should be allowed f to stand over until the spring. ■ A letter was read from the Secretary of the Ashburton Teachers’ Association, asking the

Board whether it woe imperative for a master on behalf of the committee to keep a detailed account of book* eold to pupils, and alio whether it was necessary to obtain the consent of the committee before closing the school on Good Friday and other public holidays. It was resolved to recommend the association to consult the local committee.

A letter was read from a number of country teachers, saying that Mr Stansell of Christchurch had consented to open a class for the practice of singing on the tonic-sol-fa system, and asking the Board to grant the use of one of the classrooms at the Normal School on alternate Saturdays, If the request was granted a number of teachers would take advantage of the opportunity to qualify themselves for the standard syllabus. The Board declined to grant the request. _ The remainder of the business was considered in committee.