SCHOOL MATTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8094, 8 November 1887, Page 6

SCHOOL MATTERS.

COMMITTEE CONFERENCE.

The adjourned meeting of the conference of chairmen of the various city and suburban schools committees was held last night in the Mayor's room, when there were present: His Worship the Mayor in the chair, W. Gorrie, Auckland; J. Bollard, Avondalo; D. Nolan, Ellerslie; J. Jenkin, Newton ; J. Greenwood, Mount Roskill; F. Walker, deputy chairman for Epsom ; Captain Clark, Tamaki West; G. Cozens, Parnell; J. M. Shera, Remuera ; W. Cole, Mount Eden ; A. F. Porter, Northcote ; and Mr. S. Brooking, hon. sec. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs. Laßoohe and W. J. Suiter. THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. The discussion on Mr. La Koche's motion to curtail the Christmas holidays was resumed. The Mayor stated that so far as the Ponsonby Committee were concerned they were unanimous in desiring the shortening of the Christmas holidays. Mr. Bollard said "the Avondale Committee were unanimous in thinking the holidays were not too long. In hot weather he did not think six weeks was. He believed the cry was raised solely by parents who were tired of having their children at home for snob a long period. As for the question of forgetting, he did not think any intelligent onild would forget what it learned in six weeks, and after long holidays both pupils and teachers went to work with renewed vigour. Mr. Gorbik then read a letter from Mr. 11. Sinclair, chairman of the Kaukapakapa committee, in which it was stated that that committee were against the holidays being reduced, and thought that holidays should be fixed by each committee to suit the circumstances of their schools. School work was not satisfactory in hot weather, and the children were better employed in the harvest field.

t Captain Clark said the West Tamaki Committee were against the reduction of holidays in hot weather. Mr. Cozens stated that the Parnell Committee were also against shortening the summer holidays. Mr. Greenwood said the Mount Roskill Committee had already shortened the Christmas holidays to four weeks, Mr. Shera bad submitted the matter to the Remuera committee, and the opinion of the majority was that the holidays should be shortened.

Mr. Cole's committee was in favour of shortening holidays. It was all very well in the country districts, where harvests were to be gathered during the Christmas holidays, but in the city the only harvest to be gathered was a harvest of orime in the streets. January, he was informed, was not so bad for teaching in as February, Mr. J. Jen k is'a committee favoured reduction of Christmas holidays, with the exception of one member, who preferred reduction of winter holidays. The parents were "all sick and tired" of having their children running about the houses for six or seven weeks at a time.

Mr. P- Walker said the Epsom committee ware almost unanimous in advocating the redaction of CbrUlai.\a holidays.

Mr. GoHRiK said he was quite sure that quite one-tbird of the children would not attend during the first week of the new term. There would bs at least 5000 children absent in the province, and this would cost the Board something like £SQO. If this was so, the Board would curtail votes to the committee. Five ant ol seven of his committee favoured reduction. The state of the weather in town was a very strong argument for extended holidays. He believed that if they entirely did away with the winter holidays, and had holidays throughout January and February, the school work would be better done and the children would be healthier.

Mr. &HRRA did not think much of the argument about the hot weather. The Greeks and Romans were clever men, and lived in a hot country. Ee thought people could study on a hot day just as well as on a cold one.

Mr. Clark thought that studying in hot weather would be like hothouse forcing; the plants would be weakly, and devoid of stamina. Mr. Colk moved an amendmeut "That the sohools shall break up on Wednesday, 21st December, and the holdaya end four weeks from that date.

This was seconded, and after some dis* oussion was put to the meeting and lost. The original motion, advocating tho reduction of the holidays to four weeks and the resumption of school duties on the 23rd January, ISSS, was then put, and the chairmen of the following committees voted for it:Remuera, Mount Eden, Newton, City, Mount Roskill, Epsom, Ponsonby, and Birkenhead, while the following voted against; —Parnell, Avondale, and Tamaki West. Ellerslie remained neutural. The motion was consequently declared carried. CHANGE OF READING BOOKS. The next business was the question of the change of sohool books. The Mayor read the Board'a oircular, and said it was so very optional that it amounted to nothing, unless the committees came to some decision.

Mr. Shkiu thought it most desirable to have uniformity in the use of school books. His opinion was that Longman's series were immeasurably superior to others, and were charming little book*. He would move " That it is desirable for the committees to introduce the books recommended by the Board as soon as possible." Mr. Bollard seconded tho motion. No hardship would be entailed ou the parents if the change was made when the children were passing from one standard to another. The motion was put and carried. SCHOOL REQUISITES.

The Mayor read the regulation of the Board authorising the teachers to supply books at retail prices. Mr. Cozens proposed " That the Board supply books, and school requisites, to the headmasters of each school at cost price, and teachers be allowed to add 10 per cent, to cost to cover expenses, etc." This would make the prices uniform, and would reduce the cost of books to the children. This was seconded, and various amendments were proposed, but lapsed for want of a seconder. One amendment proposed was that the Board should supply all school material, as was doue in England and other countries. Truant officers were powerless unless the education was literally tree. It was pointed out that the Board had no funds to do as suggested. Mr. Bollard thought the present system best. hen parents could not pay quarter money it was paid for them, bat further than that they should not go. Teachers did not make anything out of the supplying of school material, except in one or iwo instances, and ten per cent, was not enough to cover expenses, The Mayor also opposed the motion, on the ground that ten per cent, waa not sufficient, and on patting it to the meeting the motion was lost, the matter being thus left in statu quo ante. TRUANT CHILDREN. Mr. Gorrie moved, " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the School Committees should bring into operation the compulsory clauses of the Act, and appoint the City Sohools' officer for the purpose of enforcing the compulsory clauses of the Act." Mr. Shkra seconded the motion. Mr. Cole said he was sorry the Mount Eden committee could not support the resolution owing to excessive overcrowding in their school. Mr. Walker said that at Epsom they also lacked school accommodation. The motion was put and carried. MEETINGS OP CONFERENCE. The Mayor moved, "That quarterly meetings of the chairmen cf the various city and suburban school committees be held, and that the mover be the convener." BAIST3* HOLIDAYS. Mr. Cozkns seconded the motion, and it was put and carried. Various proposals were made to neaare uniformity in the special holidays, such as St. Patrick's Day. Finally, Mr. Shkra moved, "Taat there be a holiday on St. Patrick's Day, St. George's Day, and St. Andrew's Day, and that the various committee's bo recommended to co-operate in keeping them." After considerable discussion, this motion was put to the meeting and lost. Mr. Gokrie pointed out that this motion being lost meant that these days were not to be observed as holidays. REMOVAL OF TEACHERS. Mr. Cozkns wanted to know whether when a committee objected to the removal of a teacher whether the Board considered the objections or not. What did the other committees do ?

Mayor: Wo protest and submit. Mr. Gorkie said there was no remedy. The word "removal" had been accidentally omitted from the Act. It was a mere form the Board went through in asking if the committees bad objections to the removal of a teacher, and seldom took any notice when objections were made. Mr. Cuzkxs said he had spoken to several members of the Board, and they knew nothing about the appointment and removal of teachers. That was all done behind the scenes—by tho power behind the throne. He would therefore move, " That the Board of Education be requested to apply the same rule as to consultation in the case of removal as in tho appointment of or dismissal of teachers, and that the Board be asked to have the Act altered to meet this request." Air. Gorkie seconded the motion, and said these incessant removals had a very serious effect on the work of the schools, as was shown at the examinations. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. The Mayor stated that if the Board took no action upon this resolution, he would write as chairman of that meeting to the Minister of Justice, and request that the Act be amended. SPECIAL HOLIDAYS, The question of special holidays came tip again, and Mr. Cole moved, "That the chairmen of the City, Grafton, Ponsonby, and Newton committees be a sub-committee to arrange for any publio special holidays for the city and suburban schools." Mr. Shkka seconded the resolution, and it was carried.

A vote of thanks to the Mayor closed the meeting.