BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8986, 25 February 1888, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The Board of Education held their ordinary meeting yesterday afternoon. Mr. S. Luke presided, and Messrs. Carr, Goldie, Upton, Lennox, Udy, and Cooper were present.

Balances.The balances to date were : —Education fund credit, £639 10s 8d; building fund debit, £1304 15s 7d, leaving a debitbalance of £665 4s lid; Girls' High School fund, £672 19s sd.

Chairman's Report. — The Chairman reported the transaction of a good deal of routine business, and that the Mangere Committee had been asked to contribute half cost of painting the school buildings; that the Queen's Redoubt school had been closed on account of the illness of the teacher ; and that the recommendation of the Whakahara committee, that sewing be taught two hours a week, had been approved of. The following applicants for employment had. been furnished with information necessary for enrolling their names as candidates at the pupil teachers' examination in June next: Misses Alice Finch, Lilian M. Greatbatch, Mabel James, Violet A. Johnston, and A. E. Smith. The report was received. Grant for Buildings.—The Education Department, Wellington, wrote stating that the building grant for the present financial year had Deen. allocated at the rate of Is per head of the population in the district, and the amount for the Auckland Educational District would amount to £6091 ss. A voucher for that amount had boon forwarded by the Treasury, The secretary submitted a memorandum showing that out of this sum £4415 13s Id would be required to meet liabilities, leaving only a balance of £1675 lis lid. The liabilities in December last were £2841 14s Id, and the additions were ,as follow—Takahue school, £264; New Lynn, £242 ; Te Kuiti, £66 ; Swanson, £242 ; Whangamarino, £220 ; Oxford, £220; Epsom, £308 ; Morrinsville, £12. The Chairman said the grant had not been made on a fair basis ; it had been anticipated that £8000 would be granted. On the motion of Mr. Goldie, it was decided, " That a deputation of the Board wait on the Minister of Education in reference to the subject 011 his arrival in Auckland."

The School Average.—A memorandum was also submitted by Mr. Rice in reference to the recent alteration of the method of computing the school average. He pointed out that although the "strict" average was not to come into force until March 31st next, the capitation had been allowed on that basis from January, a loss of £116 2s 6d thus resulting to the Board. It was decided that the attention of the Minister of Education be also drawn to this subject. Pupil Teachers' Examinations.—The Chairman said that they had not received notification of the results of the pupil teachers' examinations, though they had been published. From the Auckland district 37 went up for the D certificate, and of these 6 had passed, 10 had partially passed, and 21 had failed ; and for completion of the D certificate 23 had gone up, 9 of these passing, whilst 14 failed. For the E certificate 114 presented themselves, and 31 passed, 47 partially passed, and 46 failed. Of the 58 who went up for completion of the E certificate 30 passed and 28 failed. He thought these returns very satisfactory. Shorthand Classes : Free Night School. —A letter was received from Mr. W. H. Dratlin, shorthand teacher at the Free Night School, who pointed out that the shorthand classes would be held that evening, and . requesting to be informed whether the Board wished that the studies should be continued. The Chairman said there were 100 candidates for shorthand lessons ; and in reply to a question he said that Mr. Draffin had decided that the Board themselves should fix the amount of his remuneration, and it had been proposed to offer him £25 a-year for one night a-week. Mr. Goldi© pointed out that Mr. Draffin already occupied a position at, Wcllesley-street, for which he received a good salary ; and the post of shorthand teacher' at the Free Night School should, in his opinion, bo offered to a shorthand writer, who was more in need of the position. They had in Auckland probably a number of these, to whom the situation would be a great benefit. The Chairman said that Mr. Draffin had done a good deal in initiating the Night School. Mr. Goldie moved, "That applications be invited for the post of shorthand teacher at the Free Night School, at a salary of £25 per annum, applications to be returnable on Friday next, Mr. Draffin to be asked to hold the position in the meantime." Mr. Lennox said that when the Board ventured to redace the number of holidays a howl was made about the teachers being overworked, but the moment there was a chance of additional salary being made, teachers were found ready and willing to take it up at once. The Chairman said that Mr. Draffin did not want a holiday. Mr. Goldie's motion was carried.

Pupil Teacher System.—A report on t.he pupil teacher system, submitted by the New Zealand Educational Institute, was referred to the inspectors. Truant Officer.— reply to a request from the Board that the Truant Officer be appointed to act in the' suburban school districts as well as in the city, under the control of the Board, the City Schools Committee stated that it was understood that the Board could not legally deal with the matter. It would be desirable that the Board should not step in therefore, as cases brought into Court might be quashed were any such question of illegality to arise. The committee, however, pointed out that the services of the Truant Officer would be placed at the disposal of the suburban committees on application, and it was rosolved, "That all committees within a three-mile radius be informed that the services of the Truant Officer can be obtained at any time on application to the City Committee." School at Swanson.—The following tenders were received for the erection of a school building at Swanson :— Robb, £20'); 11. C. Small, £214; J. Thompson, £224 ; J. Aickin, £233 ; E. Wrigley, £237 ; Nutt and Cottier, £237; A. Bentham, £239; E. Mills, £239 10s; W.B.Smith, £259; Prober and Woods, £298 10s. Mr. Robb's tender was accepted. Asphalting. — It was decided that Grafton Road school ground bo asphalted, at a cost of £10.

Full-time School.— application for a full-time school at Hoteo North was' referred to the Inspector. School at Hukerenui.—An offer of a school building at Hukerenui, one of the village settlements, had beon accepted at a previous meeting, but it now transpired that the building had not yet been erected, and that it had beon offered on condition that the daughter of the gentleman tendering it should be allowed to teach at the school. Miss McLeod, who had been appointed teacher, had ridden some seventy miles to the settlement, and had been compelled to return without even being able to obtain feed for her horse. The matter was referred to the Inspector. Mahurangi Ferry.—A memorial was received from the residents of Lower Matakana praying that the ferry service at the Mahurangi Kiver be retained by the Board, so as to permit of the children of the district attending school. The Board resolved, " That the request be not acceded to." Applications.—A number of minor applications from country committees were dealt with.

Appointments op Teachers.The appointments of teachers were dealt with as follows —Nowton East School, second assistant teacher: Mr. Grierson to be consulted. Waitangi School : Miss Mary Hesketh was appointed. Waiwera school: Miss Judd was appointed. Free-night school, assistant teacher: Mr. Grierson to be consulted. Waiorongomai school: Miss Linda Young was appointed. The following appointments were also made:—Kefikeri school, Miss McLeod, Panmure, Miss Murray ; Remuera, Miss Courtayne, in the place of Miss Watkins, absent on leave; Parnell, Mr. Jamieson; Wellesley-street, Mr. Proudfoot. -The Changing op Teachers.—A letter was received from the Mayor (Mr. Devore) who is chairman of the Ponsonby School Committee. He pointed out that continual changes were taking place in the staff of teachers at the Ponsonby School, and these changes were of the utmost disadvantage to the scholars, and the cause of well-founded indignation amongst the parents. Mr. Cooper said that the many changes complained of had the effect of demoralising the school. There was no permanency of instruction, and the teachers could not get into accord with the scholars. Mr. Cooper also referred to another defect in the public

school system —an immense number of children were gathered into the schools, notwithstanding the fact that no school should contain more than 360 children. It was decided to reply that an effort would be made to remedy the grievances complained of, and it was also resolved to appoint Miss McLeod permanently to trie Ponsonby school. * Nailer-street School.—lt was agreed to consult the City Schools Committee as to the appointment of a head teacher and assistant at the new Napier-street school.