BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6829, 6 October 1883, Page 5

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

9- : The weekly meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday afternoon at two o'clock. Present: Messrs. R. Laishley (in the chair), R. Hobbs, W. F. Buckland,-and Goldie. The minutes were read and confirmed.

' French and German Teachers.—Dr. Hensen and A. Villeval had sent in t*rms for visiting teachers of French and German. Dr. Hensen's terms for German were 80 guineas per annum for an hour each day.— On the motion of Mr. Hobbs, the terms were accepted.—M. Villeval'a. terms were 15 guineas per quarter, or 63 guineas per year, for one hour in each of three days a-week. —On the motion of Mr. Goldie the terms were accepted. School at Buckland.—Mr. Buckland moved, "That the Board decide to establish a school at Buckland on condition that the residents give five acres of land, and that tbe site be selected by the Inspector of Schools." —The Chairman opposed the motion. The state of the funds would not permit them to Epend money on a school there at present. Only fifteen children were not provided with education there. He would therefore vote against the'motion. —Mr. Hobbs said if tbe Chairman examined the papers before the Board more carefully be would find that some forty children would be benefitted by the school. He thought it would be a cruel shame not to provide this district with a school. He knew the district well, and was sure if the Chairman was as well acquainted with it as he was, he would be sure to vote for it.—The Chairman expressed himself in favour of postponing the question until a fuller meeting of the Board.—Mr. Goldie showed that the establishment of a school at Buckland would rob other schools seriously, which would affect the teachers' salaries in an unfavourable manner.—Mr. Buckland moved the adjournmeut of the mot'on to next meeting.—The Chairman seconded the adjournment.—lt was agreed to. Removing Teachkr->.—The notice of motion given by Mr. Buckland, "That it is the true construction of section 45 of the Education Act, 1877, that school committees are to be consulted respec'ing the removal as well as the appointment and dismis?al of teachers," was postponed to a future meeting. Waii-ipi School.—Tenders were received, and the lowest accepted. Lease of Wesley College.—A letter was read from tho committees of this institution, offering to lease it to the Board for a term of £300 a year. The terms were accepted.

Audit of School Committees' Account. —The Chairman read the order-in-council relating to the auditing of the accounts of school committees. He also read the follow, ing report on the same subject s—'The regulations place the appointment of one or more auditors in the hands of the Board. Hitherto each committee has appointed its own auditor. It seems to be intended that the credit of all fchool committees' accounts shall be competed between a day not later than the loth January, and the date fixed by l-»w (the fourth Monday in January) for the annual meetings of householders, which may be, at the earliest, 220 d January. This is of course impossible in a district like Auckland, containing 170 school committees scattered over a wide area. In the case of Road Boards the accounts are audited once a year by the Provincial District Auditor. It may be thought desirable that the accounts shonld be audited by that officer. The cost to the Board would not be lirge, and the possible objections to the employment of a local auditor in each district would be avoided.— The report was adopted.

Maps, &c.—The committee appointed to consider the supply of mapa, &c., reported that the present system was satisfactory. By importing them direct from the publishers at home would require much room for storage, and the" Board would be liable to have a quantity of dead stock.—On the motion of Mr. Goldie the matter was deferred until nest meeting.

Opening of Tenders.—Mr. Goldie drew attention to the method o£ opening tenders. He' said that if there was no resolution of the Board on the subject, one Bhould be made which wonld provide that all tenders be opened by the Board. On beiDg informed that no resolution existed on the subject, he moved " That in future all tenders be opened by the Board."—The motion was seconded and carried.

Tenders for Clocks. —The Chairman stated that only one tender had been received, from Mr. Bartlett.—ln reply to Mr. Hobbs the price was stated to be £2.—Mr. Goldie thought thero should be some regulation or standard clock.—After .some debate it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Sobba, that the Inspector be authorised to seleet a clock after an interview with Mr, Bartlett, and to have the clock thoroughly tested by the Board.

Advertising. — The Secretary reported that no tender had been received for advertising. Messrs. Pulford and L»ngbridge offered to act as agents for advertising outside the colony.—On the motion of Mr. Goldie, the Secretary was authorized to wait upon the proprietors, and in the meantime the question was deferred. Tenders for Stationery.—Tho question was deferred until next week.

AGRICULTrRAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP Holders.—The question of sending scholarship holders to the Canterbury College of Agriculture was brought up.—The Chairman pointed out several legal difficulties in the way of sending scholarship holders from Auckland to Canterbury. He moved, "That the Department of Education be communicated with to see whether they would have any objection to tho holders of Auckland District Scholarships attending the Canterbury Agricultural College if they desire so to do."—The motion was agreed to.

Water-pipes.—At several of the city schools the water-pipes had been damaged. The pipes used were galvanised iron.—Mr. Goldib moved that Mr. Allwright be authorised to replace the damaged pipes.

Covkring the Louvres.—Mr. Allright was ordered to get the louvres in Wellesleystreet School covered with wire netting, and in all future schools the louvres to be covered when tho school is built.

Painting Wellkslby - strket School.— The application to have the Wellesleystreet School painted the same colour as the Training School was declined. Mr. Worthington's Case.—Tho election of Mr. Worthington, the head-teacher of the Wellesley-street School, as a member of the Parnell Borough Council was again brought up.—ln reply to a letter from the Board, Mr. Worthington stated that the number of children belonging to Parnell attending the Wellesley - street school was 27 — boys, 1G ; and girls, 11.— Generally the opiuion of the Board was hostile to teachers mixing themselves up with local politics.—Mr. Goldie moved, "That in view of the circumstances of the information supplied, and of tho fact that tho largcnesß of Mr. Worthington's school, and the great responsibility of his post, require his undistracted attention and thought, the Board do not feel disposed to make an exception to the regulation in Mr, Worthington's case." It was very undesirable for teachers to mix themselves up in political matters, especially when men were of an irritable temperament.—The Chairman quite agreed with the tenor of the motion. He seconded it, and supported it on two grounds. He held that no teacher should mix up with local politics, and that the whole of the energy of tho teacher should be devoted to his school. — Mr. Hobbs would vote for the resolution. Mr. Worthington was a man of strong feelings, and he was sure he would not engage in any wnrk without throwing his whole energy into it. If ho intended to enter into political life, he thought he should wait until he had' done with school work, and go for a higher class of politics than he at present aspired to.—Mr. Buckland thought if Mr. Worthington were wise, ho would have nothing to do with local politics, but attend to his school.—The motion was passed unanimously. The Removal op School Teachers.— The school committee wrote asking why Miss Barton was being removed from the Nelson-street school.—The Inspector's report was to the effect that she was wanted to another school, and that she would be less inconvenienced by removal than others. He also pointed out that removals were not unnecesarily numerous, or more inconvenient than could be avoided. Awitu. — Tho application for half-time school was granted. Report from Grammar School.—The head-master of the Grammar School sent his periodical report, detailing the progress being made by she several holders of distriot scholarships. Cambridge West.—Application for stove or range in teacher's residence.—The request was not granted. Accounts were passed, and various applications for employment aa teachers, &c., were . considered.