CONFERENCE OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6051, 9 April 1881, Page 5

CONFERENCE OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

An* adjourned conference of the school committees of the Auckland Provincial District, | was held last evening,, in the WellesleyI street School-room,—Mr." "W. Gorrie (ChairJ man of City Schools Committee) presided. The following representatives were present : —Messrs. McMasters, Schmidt, and Thwaites (City School Committee), J. C. Wilkes (Newton T «Vest), Theophilus Cooper (Ponsonby), E.. Cranwell (Mount Eden), R. Scarborough and G. Colebroolv (Mount Hobson), C. C. Fleming (Onehunga), C. Blucher (Pukeatua). A number of country committees had sent letters to the Chairman sympathising with the object of the meeting, and authorising the Chairman to act for them—namely, Pakuranga, Pokeno, Woodside, Opotiki, and Aratapu. There were in all twenty-seven committees represented. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The CiIATHMAN said that, in terms of instruction, the committee appointed last meeting had held several meetings, and carefully gone into the matters remitted" to them for consideration. He would call upon Mr. T. Cooper to read the committee's report. The report is a very lengthy document, and our space will only admit of giving a bare absitract: —The committee having carefully considered that part of the Education Act, 1877, which relates to the powers and duties of school committees, report that school buildings being erected, and the public schools established, the committee are of opinion that the management of all educational matters'connected with the schools is, under the Act, vested in the committee, subject to the general supervision and control of the Board. That a school being constituted and teachers provided the committee submit that all matters connected with the working of the school should be under the committee's supervision, and all documents respecting the working of the school submitted to the Board and its officials should first be submitted to the school committee, inspected by them, and by them forwarded to the Board. A series of alterations are also suggested in the Board's regulations (Riven in an appendix), the effect of which, if adopted, would bo to place the school committees and the Board on the footing contemplated by the Act, and avoid the collisions which now frequently take place between these bodies. The committee consider that no appointment, removal, or dismissal of a teacher can be legally made without consultation with the school committee, and that in such consultation the duty of the Board should be to supply the committee with a full statement of facts in relation to the proposed appointment, removal, or dismissal. In eases arising where prompt dismissal of a teacher was necessary, that the Board should take the earliest opportunity of placing the school committee in possession of the facts and reasons under which the Board were actuated to such a course. The committee state that they have endeavoured to keep strictly within the Act in the efforts they have made to define the powers of school committees, and they think that if the various suggestions and alterations in the regulations made by them are laid before the Board of Education, and the reasons for such alterations put properly before the Board, that it will recognise the necessity for and desirability of adopting them. If this be done, the committee feel assured that the Board of Education aud school committees will hereafter work harmoniously together, and that the result will be the attainment of that for which both are workiug—the advancement of the interests of education throughout the district. The report is signed by W. Gorrie, Chairman, and Theo. Cooper, Secretary. Mr.. Cooper said the whole tendency of the alterations proposed in the regulations, was to make everything pertaining to the management of the schools pass through the hands of the committee.

The Chairman'said ho had great pleasure in moving the adoption of the report. The committee had gone carefully into the matters remitted to them. He hoped the Board would see their way clear to adopt a largo number of the suggestions thrown out in the report. As to school duties, appointment of sewing teachers, &c., some of the regulations of the Board were offensively framed, and practically imputed that the committees had no real power as regards teachers, either as to appointment or removal. It lay also with the committees to take initiatory steps for the establishment of a district Higli School. The school holidays also required revision by the abolition of Saint-day holidays, which were undesirable in a community of mixed nationalities. Then there was the question of the custody and protection of school buildings. Committees should permit of nothing taking place in school buildings which would invalidate the insurance policy. Mr. Scarborough (Mount Hobson) seconded the motion. Mr. Bi.ociier (Pukeatna) called attention to the G9th clause of the Act, and of the inconvenience caused in country districts by there one meeting for the election of the committee, and another for the appointment of a Chairman. It was very hard to drag men uselessly ten or fifteen miles when a little forethought could avert it. Several members of committees present informed Mr. Blucher that his local grievance could be easily arranged by communication with the Board, which endeavoured to consult the wishes of householders in the fixing of educational meetings. A general discussion ensued oil various details referred to in the z*eport, which was participated in by the Chairman, and Messrs. Cooper, Scarborough, Schmidt, Thwaites, McMaster, Blucher, Cranwell, and Fleming; after which, Mr. Cooper moved, "That the report, as adopted, be forwarded to the Board of Education, for its information, and that tho Board be asked to name a (lay, as soon after the Sth of May as may be convenient to the Board, upon which delegates to be appointed by the conference may wait upon tho Board, in support of the report. That Messrs. Gorrie, Stevenson, Fleming, Taylor, Cooper, Schmidt, Cranwell, and Wilkes be appointed the delegates from this conference, to wait upon the Board, in support of the report. That copies of the report and these resolutions be circulated among the School Committees, with a request that the committee may forward to Mr. W. Gorrie, Chairman of the City School Committe, their approval of the report, and any observations they may have to make upon it, on or before the Sth of May, 1881." Mr. McMaster seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Cooper further moved, "That the Conference adjourn sine die." Mr. Cranwell seconded the motion which was carried. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed tlie proceedings.