WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, 1 October 1878, Page 2

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

(Continued frcui our last.).

HIGH SCHOOLS

A letter was read from the central Department with reference to High Schools. In it the Secretary pointed out that the proposal of a High School Bill to be introduced, and the lequest for the Wanganui Grammar School to ba made a High School, were inconsistent, and asked the Board to put its proposals in an "intelligible form."

The Chairman said it appeared that the Board would have to choose which they would have. Mr Sanson said both were -wanted. He understood the original proposal was to have a High School at once, but a College in the future. Mr Duthie thought the Chairman should have made an explanation to the Department -what the wishes of the Board were. His proposal was to have the Wanganui School made the High School for the whole district, "as it was central. Taranaki had a High School Bill before the House .also one of the country districts in Otago, and thought that as the Wanganui district had 20,000 people in it they had a strong claim. He supposed at present they must accept a District High School, though he thought that was not enough.

Mr Sanson said Wanganui was ripe at present for a District High School. He suggested the endowment shoild be secured at onue, as laud was :-a> pidly increasing in value. Mr Duthie vigorously protested against the language employed by the (Secretary of Education, Mr H\slop. He was a public official, arid should be moro respectful when addressing the Board. He moved — " That the Education Board wish the establishment of a District High School, with the view of merging it into a High School at a future period; and that the Board deprecates the use of suck language as is unnecessarily employed in the Secretary's letter to the Board." Ha said the Board were being jumped on first by the Foxton committee, anl now by the Government. If this kind of thing wore allowed people would not care to have a seat on the Board.

Mr Ross : Tone the resolution down. Mr Duthie : No, I wont. The resolution was seconded by Mr Sauson ani curried. REMOVAL 01' TEACHERS. Complaints having been received of tho frequent removals of teachers, a long discussion took place, and eventually Mr Sanson moved — That in any vacancy occurring iv any school, the committee of such' school shall be supplied with a list of the teachers who are candidates for promotion or appointment, for them to choose one of those teachers and re* coinuioud his or her appointment to the Board, provided that; no removal shall be sanctioned by the Board unless the various School Committees interested receive the usual notice. Seconded by Mr Jones and carried. TEACHEKS' SALARIES. Several letters were read from teachers complaining that under the new regulation their salaries had been unfairly decreased. Tho matter was discussed at length, and Mr Sanson moved — That teachers employed under the Board be paid at tho old rate of salary for three j months after the issue of the Board's regulations, say to date from Ist Sept., 1878, and that tho Secretary call teacher's attention to the scale on which they will be paid after the expiration of that period, also the teaching stalf to be employed (see Clause 7.). Seconded by Mr Duthio and ca rriod MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Duthie moved, Mr liossseconded and it was resolved — That the Board, in compliance with the Government regulations, agrees to pay to the committee the whole grant foxschool iund, and invites the treasurer to prepare a scale as to its division by next meeting.

It was suggested that as some schools had more teachers than were allowed by the regulations, the In* spector should inform the committees interested that the teaching staff would bo reduced. The Inspector stated that in several cases, notably at H awera, Halconibe, Sandon,¥eildiug and Mar ton there was a surplus of teaching power, but pending the adjustment of average attendance he proposed that the matter of giving notice shor d bo held in abeyance, as there was plenty of time for all requisite purposes, l^o action was therefore taken in the matter.

It was reported that the Educa* tional District map was in satisfactory progress, and would shortly be available.

The question of drill instruction was held over until next meeting.

A part of the Inspector's report waa presented. He promised that

the whole sliuuld be ready for the next sitting of the Board. The report of the h'ccholarship Committee wa3 considered. In the courso of the discussion Mr Duthie said ho wished the sums for scholar-, ships made larger, and those for pupils under ten years, in fourth Standard, oavtlod, as they would only be of use to boys resident in Wanganui. He sought that these scholarships should be increased to ue of value to country districts, for by the proposal, they would only be of value to Wanganai town pupils. What value could it be to any tfoxton scholar of ten years, with two more i standards to pass at the local school, Ito receive ten pounds to attend for twelve months at a District High School in Wanganui. The report was amended and then adopted. Some' accounts were passed, and it was resolved to ask for a free railway pass for the Inspector. The Board then adjourned to the last Wednesday in Ootober.