CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7975, 15 June 1887, Page 6

CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The ordinary meeting of the City Sohools Committee was held yesterday evening at the City East School. There were present: Messrs. W. Gorrie (in the chair), Crowther, Ussher, McMasters, Blades, Farrell, and Batty. The Proposed Removal of Misß GreatBAOh. — The Board of JSducation wrote respecting the proposed removal of Miss Florence Greatbaoh from Beresford street School, stating that no such instruction had been given, all that had been done being to consult her as to filling a vacancy in a country school. The letter further stated that whilst it was not possible to provide experienced pupil teachers for country schools except from the staff of town sohools, due care would be taken not to remove a teacher without providing a suitable successor. Mr. Crowther said that if the country schools could be supplied from town schools, the latter must be overcrowded. Mr. Blades asked from whom the secretary of the Board of Education received his authority to call Miss Greatbach away during school hours? He wanted to know why the lady was not consulted by letter, or through the headmaster. He would at next meeting move in the direction of having the sottled settled. The letter was reoeived. The Fencing at Welle^ey-st— It was resolved, " That the committee contribute £20 towards the erection of the fenoe at the playground at Wellesley-street School." Truant Officer.—-Mr. Blades stated that three children whose parents had been summoned under the compulsory clauses of the Act had been seut to the Marist Brothers' school, whilst the committee had nothing before tbem to show that fact. He thought that in every iustanaa of this kind a certificate of exemption should be applied for. The consideration of the question was deferred. Standard Examination, Syllabus, Etc. —The Board of Education forwarded tor the consideration of the committee the copy of a statement by Mr. Fidlor in reply to Mr. Harrison's report referring to standard examinations and syllabus. The reply had been forwarded to Mr. Harrison by the chairman prior to its being laid before the, meeting. Mr. Blades said he did not think it right that Mr. Harrison should receive a report which had been seut to the committee and had not been seen by the members, though he did not wish to imply anything j against the action of the chairman. The | Chairman stated that he had taken this course because Mr. Harrison had not seen Mr. Fidler's reply, and he had adopted the stop which he had invariably taken in such matters, in order to save time, and so as to get a reply to lay before the committee. Mr. McMaster thought that the letter should simply be received and lie on the table, no further notice being taken of it. He thought that the chairman should be allowed to exercise his discretion as to the forwarding of letters in the manner spoken of. Tho Chairman said he thought the tone of Mr. Fidler's reply was not creditable to him, there being a sneering strain contained in it. Mr. Ussher did not take this view. He looked upon tho report as a complete answer to Mr. Harrison. The Chairman submitted the following reply to Mr. Fidler's answer to Mr. Harrison In acknowledging with thanks the receipt of Mr. Fidler's reply to Mr. Harrison, the committee desire to remind the Board that they did not send Mr. Harrison's report with the objeot of provoking a controversy between the inspector and the headmaster in the matter of the recent examination of Beresford-street School, but, as this resolution expressed, to ask the attention of tho Bmrd to Mr. Harrison's statement, and the evidences adduced by him that the syllabus was much too extended for the requirements of primary schools. Although Mr. Fidler's reply may bo taken inferentially to deny the correctness of Mr. Harrison's contention, the committee consider that the Inspector has not treated the subject with the delibera tion and calmness which might have been expected, but has allowed himself to be carried into personal defence of the merits of his own modeof examination. The committee do not intend to go into the question, but they feel constrained to remark that Mr. Fidler has nullified the importance which might have been attached to his re ply by varying from the original, which he states he reported of this school. The words used in the report he furnished the committee are " discipline, order, and tone excellent," while he tells the Board that he reported that "the discipline was good." The marked difference between the qualified nature of the latter expression and the warm approbation of the former is surprising, and naturally leads to the conclusion that the statement later on in his reply, that he tries to do Mr. Harrison justioe, is written ironically. The committee do not propose to ask Mr. Harrison to reply to Mr. Fidier, as they are quite satisfied as to the causes of the comparative failure in the pass subjects of the school. These causes, with the co-operation of the Board, they hope to remove. They are convinced that a school of which it is reported that the "order, discipline, and tone are excellent" is doing good work, on the whole. The committee would therefore again ask that the question be considered ou the broad ground suggested by the resolution forwarded. The reply was adopted, and ordered to be sent to the Board of Education. Free Night School.—The Chairman stated that a conference of teachers had been held at the Board of Education offices yesterday, when Major Dane was present, and gave au interesting account of the working of the night schools in Boston and the Western States of America. The result of the conference was that the free night; school was to be opened at Newton Mast, and that Mr, Coatee and his assistant would superintend it temporarily ; but the teachers recommended that a permanent master be appointed who would not have to perform day duty. The teachers were of opinion that a mistake had been made in resolving that the night school be free. The further consideration of the matter was deferred. The Albkrt-stkert School.—The Board of Education wrote recommending that Mr. George Revell, a certificated teacher, be ap. pointed to the charge of Albert-street school. Mr. Farrell said he had visited this school, and bad been much impressed with the improvements effeoted sines Mr. Burlingson had been appointed. Mr. McMaster said the nomination of Mr. Revell seemed to him to be an attempt at a complete job. 1 The Chairman said that the present teacher had taken an interest in tho school, and had even gone about inquiring re ! children who were absent, taking more trouble than might be expected from a teacher. Mr. Revell had called upon him (Mr. Gorrie) and said that he would not ( think of anyone being turned out on his ac- 1 count. It was resolved, " That the commit- 1 tee, considering the peculiar nature of fhe 1 Albert-street School, do not think it neces- ! sary that a certificated teacher be appointed, and recommend that the present teacher be ( kept in the position for the remainder of the ] year." •

Use or Metropolitan Ground. — A communication was received from Wellington notifying that permission to use the Metropolitan ground for football, on days when the members of the Rugby Union were not playing there, had been granted to the pupils of Wellesley-atreet School, A 0 mplaint.—Mr. Nelly wrote complaining that on applying to the head teaoher of the school at which his children attended for a reason for his sonu arriving at home late after school hours, he had been met with insult. Mr. Worthington had kept hia boy behind after the dismissal of the school because he had failed to bring his quartermoney, a matter for which hia parents were

.'entirely responsible. It was decided to write to Mr. Worthington on the subject. # Miscellaneous. —Correspondence relating to appointments and removal of teachers, to repairs in sohools, and to routine business, was dealt with. / Jdbilek'Holidays. Some discussion took plaoe respecting the time allowed for the Jubilee holidays, and the Chairman moved, "That the schools be closed during the whole of Jubilee week." Mr. Ussher moved, " That the sohools be closed on Tuesday, 21st, and Wednesday, 22nd." The Chairman's motion was carried. Annual Examinations. —Mr. McMaaters submitted the following motion That this committee having the examinations brought so prominently before them, take the opportunity of recommending to the Board to take into their careful consideration the advisability of having all the oity and suburban schools examined simultaneously in the month of December of each year by the head-teachors of the various schools, which would produce better results and the saving of a considerable amount by the dispensing of inspectors, Several members thought the scheme a very useful one; but Mr. Ussher pointed out that it was most important that the annual examination should be conducted by men who would not be bound down to any party views. After some further discussion, it was agreed to defer the consideration of the subject" Thb Site fob thk Proposed New School. —Mr. Farrell reported that the proprietor of the allotment in Napier-street hail refused to agree to the terms proposed by the committee, and after considerable discussion, it was resolved, "That the Board be recommended to prepare plans for a school to be erected on the Howe-street Rite." '