THE CLOSING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9130, 11 August 1888, Page 3

THE CLOSING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MOTION BY MR. COOPER.

ACCUSATIONS OF DISHONESTY.

A matter of considerable public importance was brought before the Board of Education by Mr. Theo. Cooper at the regular meeting of that body yesterday. Mr. Cooper asked whether the Board, as a Board, or the Chairman, had any knowledge of the fact that sundry of the city and suburban schools were closed when their attendances were below the "strict working average," in order to enable the teachers to avoid taking count. He was informed that on one occasion the Newton East School was closed when there were some '200 or 300 children assembled, that these children were sent home, and count was not taken, so that therefore the teachers obtained a holiday, and the Government were defrauded of a certain portion of revenue, and it seemed to him, if the statement was true, that the proceeding was a most dishonest one. Mr. Copper moved, That a return be prepared and laid before the Board at its next meeting showing—l, which of the city and suburban schools have, since the beginning of this year, been closed on school days ; 2, the particular days on which each such school has been closed ; '.i, the reason why, and by whose authority, such schools were so closed ; 4, what, on each of such days, was the actual attendance at each of such schools." It seemed to him that they were working dishonestly in this matter; if the strict avera. 'e was to be taken into account, the sehoo i must be kept open. It was a mere farce to say that they were paying on the strict average if the schools were closed when the result of keeping them open would be to reduce the teachers' salaries.

Mr. Upton (chairman) said that so far ay the Board was concerned, no information had been received of any school having been closeil under such circumstances. He thought that.soma of the teachers, on very wet days, kept the children in until a certain hour, and curtailed the luncheon time, and the report might have arisen from this fact. Mr. Cooi'Eß would like a full explanation of the matter, because it seemed to him that whether the school was closed or the attendances not counted, it was nothing more nor less than a wrong to the Government. Mr. Upton : Undoubtedly. Mr. Cooi'Eß pointed out that it was a wrong done by a public body. He had been told that either the Newton East School attendance was not counted or the school closed on one or two days, by direction of the committee. This was a matter which he wished to probe to the bottom. Mr. Lennox said lie had heard a rumour of this matter, and lie had intended to mention it.

The motion was unanimously adopted.