BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5584, 17 January 1879, Page 6

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The first meeting of the North Canterbury Board of Education, since the Christmas holidays, was held at 3 p.m. yesterday, at the Normal School; present Messrs Ingles (chairman), Bowen, Slovens, Tancrcd, and Saunders. BUSINESS DONE BY CHAIRMAN. The business transacted by the Chairman since the last meeting of the Board was reported and approved, KAIAPOI. A deputation from the Kaiapoi School Committee waited on the Board, and submitted a list of outstanding accounts amounting to £34, which the Committee were unable to pay. Of this amount £lB had been spent in repairing school buildings. Through being unable to pay these accounts, they experienced very great difficulty in obtaining a tradesman to do some necessary work. The Chairman said if the Committee showed that these expenses had been incurred before June ;30 the Board would allow the amount out of incidental fund. The Board had spent money up to June beyond what they had really been entitled to spend.

The deputation referred to the teaching staff at their school. They could not get a qualified second master to stop at the salary they could only offer. The head master was the only one who could teach singing, and he could not attend to the three schools. The Committee thought they could get a head master for £IOO a-year less than they at present paid, which money could be divided between a second master and mistress, who might teach singing. The Committee were desirous to know whether the Board would obiect to re-organising the staff. The Chairman said it would be better for

the Committee to submit their requests m writing, when they could enter into full details for the consideration of the Board. With reference to the application for payment of the accounts, the Board would consider that matter at its present meeting, the Committee when writing to render a list ot expenses incurred up to •Tune .30. The deputation then withdrew. It was decided that the question of the accounts submitted by the deputation should be left in the hands of the Chairman.

TOWERS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES. Some discussion took place ns to the advisabloness of allowing School Committees to have greater latitude than they at present possessed in the management of their schools, and especially with regard to the appointment of teachers. Messrs Bowen and Saunders were ot the opinion that School Committees should be allow more power in this matter than at present existed under the hard and fast rule laid down by the Board. Tho Board, however, should still retain supreme rale. Mr Stevens said that from bis own experience while Chairman of tho East Christchurch School Committee, ho knew that the Committee could have exercised greater economy with respect to appointments of teachers if the Board had allowed them the power. The Chairman said this question would come up in a more definite form on a future occasion. inspector's report. Reports from the Inspector or the various district schools were laid before the Board. SALTWATER CREEK. This Committee had resigned, and though requested by the Chairman had refused to continue to act. Their Chairman had written asking the Board to take charge of tho books and papers. The Chairman said tho cause of the Committee’s resignation was that the Board would not appoint the mistress whom tho Committee desired, though the Inspector had reported that the lady was not qualified for the qiosition. The master of the school also wrote, asking the advice of the Board as to when he should give the usual holidays. . It was resolved to appoint the Secretary to the Board a Commissioner over the Saltwater Creek school; the master to be authorized to give the usual holidays, at the expiration of which a new School Committee would bo elected. AKAROA. The schoolmaster wrote that notwithstanding the Board’s instructions he had been compelled to continue to supply tho scholars with the necessary school requisites. The Secretary was instructed to reply that the schoolmaster must not interfere with the province of the Committee in providing what is required for the school. KAIAPOI BOROUGH SCHOOL, The Board authorised that £OO should be given for the half acre of land required for tie above school. SCHOOL DRILL INSTRUCTOR. In compliance with an application from Mr Walker, drill instructor, the Board resolved to grant him an increase of £SO this year to his salary. The Board deferred the question of the re-establishment of the Saturday afternoon classes for teachers’ drill. GHEENPABK. Mr Garrett, schoolmaster at the above school, again wrote relative to a retiring allowance being granted him on account of failing health, saying that though he had not been engaged long at the work of teaching in the district, the cause of his ill-health was due to the vitiated air in the schoolroom in which he has been teaching for the last four years. He begged that the Board would represent these circumstances to the Government, who had declined his previous application.

After reading a letter on this subject from the School Committee, the Board decided that they could make no further representations to the Government.

Two other applications from teachers for retiring allowances were read. In one instance the Board decided that they could not recommend the application, and in the other it was resolved to strongly recommend the case to the favourable consideration of the Department of Education. ADDITIONS TO SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Seven tenders were opened for additions to Green Park school buildings, and that of Mr Gee, for £320, was accepted. For additions to school at Gebbie’s Valley, Mr W. H. Brown’s amended tender of £237 was accepted. HICCAETON. An estimate was submitted from Mr Kane, architect for repairs required to the Ricearton school, which amounted to £ißo I4s. The Board approved of the work being done, and authorised the calling for tenders. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Applications for improvement to schools or grounds were read from Lyttelton, Oarleton, Yaldhurst, and Prebbleton. It was stated that the Board had no funds at present to accede to these requests. In the case of Yaldhurst, it was decided to instruct Mr Cane to report. An application from the Committee of the Kaiapoi Island South School, asking to have the school building painted, was acceded to. After transacting some further ordinary business the Board adjourned.