HAWKE'S BAY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7547, 22 September 1886, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY EDUCATION BOARD.

A Tuesday, Septembeu 21. ' : ' V 7 The Board met at 10 a.m.. Present— Messrs J. D. Ormond (chairman), R. Harding, A. A. Haggen, W. White, and F. Sutton, Dr Spencer, Rev. D. Sidey, and Captain Russell. CORBESrONDENCE. j The following correspondence, was read :— • • • . . From the Clive Committee, recommending Miss Whitaker^as assistant mistress iv ' pl'ace'of .Miss Hogg, resigned.—Appointment approved. From the same, applying for free passes to allow three pupil teachers to attend drawing and sinking classes in Napier.— Tho Inspector said lie had been spoken to in other districts on the same subject, and thought it desirable that facilities of this kind should be given.— The Chairman said that if the application wero acceded to it ' would be understood that other "similar applications would be granted.— Applica-" tion granted.; From the Frasertown Committee, recommending. Mr Roberts, of Eketahuna, for appointment as master. — The Inspector said Mr Roberts was apparently a new arrival. He had no certificate, . and his name was not .in the last Gazette list, though he claimed to be a trained teacher, . haying been head-master 18 yeara under the Victorian Education Department; aud had.. sent in: very good testimonials. — The Inspector recommended advertising vacancies in tho Schoolmaster, as it reached a wider field than the local papers. Besides, advertising in {\\e Schoolmaster was much' cheaper.— -Mr Suttoh suggested tliat it would be better for the Board in nil cases to advertise instead of the committee, and have the applications sent through the Board to the committee, leaving all the power in the committee's hands as at present. He believed committees would be glad to fall in with such an arrangement. —Mr White said the Inspector could often assist the local committees by supplying information which they could not otherwiso obtain.— The Chairman said t that schools of ton wan ted a teacher quickly, and might not the plan proposed net prejudicially to local people ? — Mr Sutton said by all means advertiso in the local papers as well, — Mr* Harding said there was a defect in the present system. ■ The Board had ho means of recognising good teachers by promotion, the appointments being in tho hands of local committees.— Mr Sutton said it was aUs/iys open for any teacher to apply, for abettor school. He then moved that a circularbe sent to the school committees to the effect that all future vacancies 1 be advertised by tho secretary at the request of committees, and applications forwarded direct to tho secretary.— Agreed to, and appointment of Mr Roberts approved, subject to the usual conditions as to classification. .' ': ' " !

Froni the Gisborne'.Committee, stating that Charles Adair had resigned his scholarship. ' . ' ' • From the Gisborne Committee; stating that increased accommodation was badly wanted. — To be considered later on.

Froni the Kaikora Committee, recommending Miss Arrow for a district license under section 15 of the Act. — Approved. , From the Kumerpa Committeo, asking : for, a grant to -improve teacher's resi-' den'ce. — MrHaggen said the district was in a peculiar position. The people had built t!io school themselves.— No fiuida' ■ for the purpose. ; ' From the MatawlieroCommittee.Btating that Mrs Harris, the mistress of the school, had obtained a license, and was therefore exempt from. attending the examination in December. — The Inspector explained' that the Act provided that a license during. 'its continuance (two years) placed the holder in the same position as a certificated teacher, , Several other teachers- were affected l>y this regulation.— Tho Chairman suggested that this communication be sent to Wellington, the Board having • no knowledge as to tho. conditions under . which licenses were granted or renewed. '• It was open to the Government, by issuing ■ licenses, entirely to neutralise the Board's regulations as to examination. — MrSuttori s - thought this system of license should not ,-. be encouraged. No license should be given at any rate for a longer period than a year.— Mr Harding said that' under the license system several teachers had ■ avoided,examination altogether. ; In one coso a teacher went specially to Welling- : ton and worried the Minister into grant- : ing a license.— lt was resolved to communicate with the Government, pointing out the conflict botween the Act and the regulations, and recommending that the license be given for- not more than twelve months, and only renewed subject to examination. No action was taken on the letter.

From the Napier Committee, applying for £16 expended in excess of grant for paiafcjng, «c. — Had already been twice refused. Refused' for tho third time.

From the Noraowood Committee, stating that accommodation* was badly wanted.— Ordered to Btarid over.

From Miss, Bedingfield, teacher at Norsowood, applying; for £12 house allowance—Could not be entertained.

From tho Norsewood Committe, recommending R; Bedingh'eldfor appointment as first-year. popil teacher.; — Approved. From the Norsewood Gommitee, recommending Mr Woolstoneholme as assistant master.— Approved. ' . ,Frdm the. Ormond Committee, recommending .Mr Harper as master. — Approved. ■ ' „ ,'■ . ' ■ \ From 'the Ormondvillo Commilteo,'recommending Mr • M'Clintock, second master^at the Port school, as master.— Tho ''lnspector stated' that Mr M'Clintock's name toas not in the last Gdzcltc, and- he hold no certificate from tho department.—The Chairman asked how Mr M'Clintock obtained his presout position ? — Mr Sidoy said that it, was stated to tho Board at the time of Mi*. M'Clintock's appointment to the Port school that he was not a certificated teacher. — Referred back to the committee for further applications, tho Inspector to make temporary arrdagoments. From the Patangata Committee, applying to remove conveniences. — The Inspector said they had already been once removed, and wore now on n, hill side, the drainage running under the school. — Committee ' to be informed they must move tho conveniences themselves.

From Mr Hamilton, master of the ' Petano > school, complaining of the Petano .Committee destroying a much -valued macrocapa growing in his garden, in the face of his ■ protest on the subject.-— A ...lottor was read from Mr Villers, chairman ' ' of the committee, stating that the destruction of the tree was part of the improvements the committee were carrying out. " The chairman further complained that' the teacher took no care of the trees planted by the committee, but allowed the childrento run over them. — MrSutton moved that a reply bo sent to Mr Hamilton that, tho committee had full control over the school grounds.— Agreed to. „ From tho Taradale Committee, notifying resignation of assistant-mistress, and re- • commending Miss Corbin as assistaut- " mistress. — Approved. From Mr Sydney Johnston, Takapau, offering to lease a school reserve of 10 acres on Harding's-road which was not likely to bo used lor some years, otherwise the Board would be called upon to go to some expense in clearing. — Mr Johnston's . application to bo granted, the Board reserving the right to take two acres for a school at any time it might be found necessary, Mr Johnston to bo offered seven years occupation on condition that ho cleats and fences the land. From Miss Hameling, who had obtained a Government license, asking if she was required to present herself for examination „ in December.— The Inspector said this was a similar case to that of the Matawhero teacher. —Tho applicant to be ■ answered in tho negative. • From tho Land Office, Gisborne, forwarding boundaries of To Arai school district.

From the To Arai Committoe, recommending the temporary appointment of Miss May White as pupil- teacher. The committee also wished the payment of salary on last quarter's average, the attendance having fallen off on account of an epidemic— Granted. From the Wallingford Committee, applying for £11 to re-erect a chimney blown down. — Granted. From the Wallingford Committee, recommending Miss J3owerman us teacher of the aided school. — Assented to on condition of Miss Bowornian entering the infant school at Napier for a week or two, for the sake of obtaining certain knowledge of technical details of teaching.-

, i From Archdeacon Williams, Gisborne, offering two acres of trust land at Waerengahika at £± per annum as a school site The Inspector said it was a liberal offer, and no other land was available in the district.— Several members expressed tUemsdres^ainstleasmglandforajiChool site, ami tlie offer was declraed;-r-Mr (button said this offer cameat the Board's own request; -f-Mr Sidey said 'that the- Board had boon trying for the past three years to obtain this site. Ho thought the present decision a great mistake. — Captain Russell objected to building schools on other than" freehold property. — The. In-; spectorsaid that the school had been built by the people themselves and conveyed to the. Board. The lease expired in November, and the school must simply cease. From the Treasury, forwarding tho usual monthly vouchers from the Education Department. From the Inspector, reporting on apublic meeting held at Bush Mills to consider the subject of a central school- for the Bush Mills settlement. The majority (18 against 12) of those present decided upon the site already preferred by the School Inspector at tho Manga-atua. Tho Inspector added that the two other sites wero excellent school sites, but only one school could be erected in the settlement. Since the meeting lie had received two protests in writing, which he put in ; but neither of these protests were made at the meeting itself.— -Resolved, after much discussion, that the question stand over for the present. From tho Education Department, circular relating to restrictions under which grauts from the building fund should bo expended. From the same, circular, accompanying two copies of Mr Stont's speech on education. — The Inspector said he had distributed them among the teachers. From the Waipukuran Committee, recommending the acceptance of Miss Arrow's resignation. — Accepted. From the School Commissioners, enclosing £450 rent of education reserves. From tho Survey Department, stating that the title to section at Blackburn would not be complete till Ist November next. Circular relating to Wallace's Manual of Now Zealand History. — Received. SCHOOL EXTENSION.

The Chairman said the Inspector had made out, a fist of. requirements iv the matter of school spaco. He had gone through' the list, and also made' out a proposed apportionment of the money at their disposal for extension purposes. The following list showod the number of scholars in excess of accommodation and proposed vote:— Gisbome, 69 pupils in excess, proposed apportionment, £300 ; Hastings, 29, £250 j Napier, 308, £700; Norse wood, 40, £365; Port Ahuriri, . 65, £300 ; Puketapu, 4, 150; Takapau, 66, £200) Onga Onga, 25, £200; Waoreugahlka, 08, £340; and three new schools, viz., Blackburn, 50 pupils, £200; Bush Mills, 50, £200; Tologa Bay, 50, £250. lhe others at present had sufficient accommodation.-. Captain Russell said that the figures for Hastings only very imperfectly represented the deficiency in accommodation, as for some time past scholars had been refused admission on account of deficient space. One hundred and twenty-nine would more nearly represent the nnmbor for whom provision would require to be made.

The Inspector said the same would hold good in all tho other cases. . Mr Sutton said that as regarded the Waerengahika school, the recent vote amounted to its absolute closure. Ho moved that the apportionment of the money be agreed to, the committees to be notified that the ;Board had done the utmost their funds would allow, and if the amounts were considered insufficient the committees would have to supplement them from their own funds. — Carried. Tltfi SALVATION ARMY. On the question of the vouchers for' salaries, Mr Sutton said that he thought the Board should take notice of the fact that a master in the Napier school had been more than once absent from his duties without leave, and in fact, but for the intervention of a friend, would have been absent two days. This gentleman was connected with the Salvation Army. The fact in itself did not concern the Board, but when it interfered with his duties as a teacher the committee should

have their attention drawn to the fact. The teacher in question bad no right to take any position interfering with his duties as a teacher. The subject had been before the committee, but no notice bad been taken. It was their duty to take notice, and he would therefore move that the attention of the committee be called to the reported absence from duty of one of its officers.

The Inspector said that according to the regulations the absence of a master should be entered in the log-book and reported by the head-master. Unless this were done it would not come regularly before the Board.

Mr Harding said Mr Sutton bad referred to the matter as one of public report, but. it had certainly not come before the Board. . ,' Captain Russell said the Board would ba acting very unwisely to take notice of outside reports. It had been their . rule, and a good one, to interfere as little as possible with school committees. Unless they heard' from the committee on the snbject they should take no notice. They had nothing to do with a teacher's religious ideas. If the gentleman chose to say : his prayers in the street he was at' liberty to do so, unless it interfered with

his school duties. The Chairman said if, there was any question for tho Board' it should come first from the school committee.

Mrflnffgen said the matter liad been already before the school committee, and they did not think it necessary to take any notice.

Mr Sidey agreed with Captain Russell. It would be injudicious to interfere at present. It was for tho committee to decide whether the master was neglecting his duty or not. Tho Board really know nothing about it. MrSutton's motion, finding no seconder, lapsed. THE WAIPUKURAU SCHOOL. ' Mr Harding said the Waipukurau Committee had formerly made application for a grant-in-aid to enlarge the school, which application the Board could not entertain. They now proposed to take the whole cost on their own shoulders, and asked for the assistance of the Board's architect. They wished to take advantage of the existing Act, which lapsed in December, under which they could obtain funds from the Road JJoard. Mr Sutton thought the request a very reasonable one. Mr Haggen thought the committee ought to be encouraged in every way. Tho motion was agreed to. WAERENGAHIKA SCHOOL. Mr Sutton gave notice that at next mooting ho would move' that the Board reconsider its decision regarding the Waorengahika school. ACCOUNTS. Vouchers were passed as follows : — For salaries, £1027 lls 2d ; school committees' quarterly paymentSj £328 6s ; scholarship pupils, £55 ; buildings and school appliances, £105. Tho Board then adjourned.