EDUCATION BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9724, 13 May 1892, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

ORDINARY MEETING. The Education Board of the North Canterbury District met yesterday morning ; present—Mr T. IT. Anson (Chairman), and Messrs Montgomery, Weatanra, Joyce, Perymau, Wright and Meredith. Tne business done by the Chairman was read and approved. MB T. S. WESTON. The Chairman stated that since last meeting he had received Mr T. S. Weston's formal resignation. He had, therefore, drafted the following motion, which he knew the Board would carry unanimously, but with considerable regret;—“That this Board regrets the loss it has sustained by the resignation of Mr T. S. Weston, but desires to place on record its high appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him to the cause of education, both in his capacity as member and more recently as Chairman of the Board of Education for the District of North Canterbury.” Mr Peryman seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. BUILDINGS COMMITTEE. The Buildings Committee reported that it had been decided to ask the opinion of the newly-elected Committee with regard to the proposal to move the schoolroom at Governor’s Bay. There were no funds available for painting at Hampstead. Macrocarpa to the number of one hundred and fifty had been allowed to Akaroa and Fiaxlon, and five hundred to Fernaido. The Waltham Committee had been empowered to rent the old Wesleyan Church for the purpose of an infant school, pending the erection of the new room. Several aoplications of an unimportant nature had been dealt with. The report was adoptee. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE, Tho Appointments Committee reported as follows : Appointment, Saltwater Creek.—-Mr A. Thomas, master. Wesdon.—-Oa tho recommendation of the School Committee, it was resolved to allow the engagement of Mary Bruce, pupil teacher, to terminate at tho end of April. Tho Committee were asked whether* they had any one to recommend for appointment in her place. Ladbrooke’s. —The resignation of Mrs Prebble, on the ground of continued illhealth, was received and accepted with much regret. It was resolved to advertise for a master or mistress. Pendarves.—On the application of the master, supported by the Committee, leave of absence for two months was granted, one mouth on full pay. Gobble's Valley.—A letter was received from the School Committee, stating that the master did not live ia the teacher’s house, and asking who was responsible for the-care of the building; They ware informed that the Committee were responsible, and that the master mast be required to make auo.h arrangements as would enable him to occupy the house. Poet Office.—A letter was ■received from tho Chief Postmaster, asking that persons seeking employment in the Postal Department might have their educational fitness tested by examination before one of the Board’s Inspectors. It was resolved that the Board could not incur any responsibility for persons not taught in its schools; that the Inspectors’ time was fully engaged, and that they could not undertake tho extra, examinations requested. Appointment of Teachers.—Tho letter from tho Southland Board, referred to this Committee, was considered. It was resolved to recommend that tho Southland Board be informed that tho Board is satisfied with the method of appointing teachers adopted in the North Canterbury district, which appears to answer very well. Applications. —Applications for appointment EC assistant mistress Waltham wore lecoivcd and considered, appointments. The following appointments were made -Waltham. —Miss C. Bower, assistant mistress. Irwell.—Mrs Smith, sewing mistress. Belfast.— was resolved to advertise for a mistress for the gide school. Tho Committee recommended

Kate Bussell as pupil teacher, whom it was agreed to accept on receipt of the certificates required by the regulations. Irwell.—The School Committee applied for the appointment of a pupil teacher. The average attendance being only just thirtyfive, it was resolved to wait tor another quarter. Euruaui.—The resignation of Miss Dalaielwas received and accepted. It was resolved to advertise for a master or mistress. Ladbrooke’e.—The Chairman of the School Committee attended to represent the Committee’s wishes with regard to the appointment of a teacher. It was resolved to advertise for a master. Oxford West.—The resignation of Miss Marsh, pupil teacher, on account of illhealth, was received and accepted. It was pointed out that the average attendance did not at present entitle the school to a second pupil teacher. Richmond. The School Committee reported that the headmaster was ill, and would bo unable to resume his duties for at least a month. They recommended that Mias Lucy Howard should be engaged to fake hia class meanwhile, and that Mr Gainey should supervise the boys’ department and Miss Spenco the girls’. The Chairman of the' Committee attended to give further explanations. Tho arrangements proposed by the Committee were agreed to. A month’s leave of absence was given to Mr Howard, and it was agreed to allow Mr Guiney an increase of salary during the head-master’s absence in consideration of the additional responsibility devolving upon him. Belfast.—Satisfactory certificates having been received on behalf of Miss K, Bussell, she was duly appointed pupil teacher. Waltham.“■•The School Committee reported that Miss Dalzicl had withdrawn her application for appointment as pupil teacher. They recommended Miss Fanny Starkiss, and forwarded the necessary certificates. It was resolved to appoint Mies Starkiss. St Albans.-—The School Committee recommended the promotion of Mr C. Hall to the position of first assistant; also that the position he would thus vacate should be offered to one of the other applicants. The promotion of Air Hall was agreed to; but it was pointed out that the average attendance for the last two quarters did not warrant a staff of more than five certificated teachers, which number were in the school already, so that there was no occasion at present to make any other appointment, Addington.—Tho School Committee applied for payment of rent allowance to the head-master. It was resolved to make an allowance of £45. Reports.—Reports were received from Mr Wood on Akaroa, German Bay main and side, Robinson’s Bay, Duvauchelle’a Bay, Barry’s Bay, French Farm, Wainni, Okain’s Bay, and the aided school at Gough’s Bay. The supplementary report was considered in Committee. Both reports were adopted without discussion. THE NORMAL SCHOOL. The Normal School Committee reported as follows:—-Aletter had been received from MrC. M. Gray, asking, on behalf of parents of children attending the school, for the use of a room for the purpose of holding a meeting to discuss the advisableaess of forming a Committee for the more efficient management of the Normal School. Attention was called to the regulations made by the Governor-in-Council under the powers given by “The Education Act, 1877,” which provide that the Education Board of any district in which any normal school is situated shall have the entire control and management of such school, and may maintain in connection with it a public school to be used as a practising school, and that such practising school shall not be subject to the control of tho Committee of the school district in which it is situate. In the face of these regulations, it did not appear that the proposal to place the Normal School under a Committee of householders was one which tho Board could entertain. It was arranged that the Chairman and Mr Meredith should go over the school that afternoon, and Mr Peryman and Mr Joyce on the following morning. Tenders for the supply of fuel were received, and the tender of Messrs W. White and Co. was accepted, viz., screened N ewcaatle coal 21c per ton, cut firewood 30s par cord. The aub-Committce reported having visited all the rooms in each department. They made tnefollowing recommendations: —A number of the blackboards are old and defaced, so that the teachers have a difficulty in doing the work required. We recommend that the blackboards be properly renewed. The ventilation in rooms No.' 18, girls’ department, S. I. lower, and No. 11, boys’ department, S. 111, upper, is bad, and wo recommend that ia each case the upper panel of the door be taken out and made to act as a ventilator. Many of the maps now in use are vary old and dilapidated. A liberal supply of new maps is required for the proper working of the schools. The teachers, students and older scholars should be encouraged to execute man?, diagiams and mottoes, and exhibit them on the walls of the rooms, so as to give them a cheerful and bright appearance. At present they are exceedingly bare. Mr Wilson, Miss Kitchingman and Mrs Bullock should be instructed to furnish reports on their several departments, giving the number on the roll, the average attendance, the names of defaulter’s, and any other matter likely to increase the efficiency of tbs school, such reports to reach the Normal School Committee not later than the morning of Wednesday before the Thursday on which the Board meets. Arrangements have been entered into with the Government for the atteadence of a Sergeant ot the Permanent Artillery to give instruction in drill. Mr Meredith reported having visited most of the rooms that morning, and found them clean, ventilated, aud with a sufficient degree of warmth. Moat of the rooms were heated by means of open fires, ana the others by hot-water pipes, which appear to act very well. He had no complaints to make. The reports were adopted. OBJECTIONS TO ELECTIONS.

The Chairman said he had received some objections to the proceedings at tho annual meetings of householders. Most of these were in regard to small irregularities, hut one objector at Waltham complained of the proceedings with regard to the nomination of candidates.

The Board, after heaving the evidence, declared the Waltham election invalid. The elections at Weedoas and Pendarves were also declared invalid. In the case of Woodside, one of the persona elected was not a householder. The Board decided that six of the members had been duly elected, and that the vacancy should bo filled up in the ordinary way. In a number of districts where there had been no fall Committee elected, the Board decided to obtain recommendations of candidates suitable to supply the vacancies, and to proceed to call fresh elections where elections had non been hold. MISCELLANEOUS. The Chairman of a public meeting at Kokeby wrote asking the Board to alter the name of the school district from Eokeby to Wellburn. Tho Chairman read the new regulations for scholarships as drawn up by tho Committee, which were approved. A letipr from the Inspectors relative to a regular system of holidays for themselves was rend and referred to the Appointments Committee, The Education Department wrote, stating that, by arrangement with tho officer commanding in Canterbury, instructions had been given for an officer of tho Permanent Artillery to attend regularly at the Hormal School on Saturdays to give such instruction to classes of country teachers as would qualify them to teach military drill iu their schools. The Secretary was desired to acknowledge the memo, with thanks. TEUANT OFFICER. Sir Peryman moved, pursuant to notice —“That, after the word ‘proceeding/ in the twelfth line of the report of the Select Committee, respecting the letter from the Minister for Education, the following words be added : ‘ by the appointment of a truant officer where necessary/ ” In support of the motion for the appointment of such rii officer, Mr Peryuian pointed to tho several districts which had advocated the proposal. Mr E. G. Wright seconded the motion. Mr Meredith opposed the appointment, on the ground that where necessary in the

town districts the assistance of the police was sufficient. He moved, as an amendment—“ That this Board, having considered a circular received from the Minister for Education, in reference to the enforcement of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act, and containing a copy of the circular issued by the Wellington Board to the teachers of the Wellington district, by which the police attend to the duties of truant officers, thereby effecting a saving in expenditure, and a more effectual method of dealing with the question, this Board approves of the regulation of tho Wellington Beard, aud recommends its adoption to the Minister for Education.”

Mr Montgomery seconded the amendment, which was lost, only tho mover and seconder voting for it. The original motion was carried. This concluded the business.