BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9184, 13 October 1888, Page 6

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The regular meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday. Present: Mr. J. H. Upton (chairman), Messrs. Carr, Goldie, , Lennox, Luke, Monk, Udy, Moat, and * Cooper. Balances. —The following statement was «■ submitted:—Balance to date : Education fund, credit, £440 19s Sd ; building fund, credit, £667 lls Sd ; Girls' High School, credit, £84 13s 4d. Queen's Redoubt and Pokkjco Schools. —In accordance with notice, Mr. Goldie moved, " That an inspector be sent at once to the Pokeno district, or (if no inspector ia available) that the Chairman be requested to visit the district, in order to examine and report to the Board at its next meeting —(1) Whether it is possible to secure a site of tive acres at Pokeno iu such a position as to accommodate the children of the Pokeno Hill, Pokeno Valley, and Queen's Redoubt schools, without any serious inconvenience arising , from the site being an excessive distance from their homes. (2) The cost of such site, and the approximate cost of the removal and re-erection of one or other of the three school buildings, and the enlargement thereof." Ho said that now the Board had decided on closing the Queen's Redoubt school, and an expression of opinion in favour of one central school, it was desirable to have an independent report from one of their inspectors as to the most suitable site. He would suggest that Mr. Goodwin be appointed, but tailing' his being ablo to go, then he thought the chairman should go. Mr. Cooper and Mr. Udv, who, as well as himself, had visited tho district, had retracted their former opinion, and he thought there was need for the report of an independent officer. He thought that if the Pokeno Hill and Queen's Redoubt Schools were closed they should see that the school v as in a central site, which the children could attend, and relieve their minds of any doubt as to whether they could get a satisfactory site. Then as to the Board's liability. They had tirst to get the site, and then pull down thiee schools and erect one. As to the teaching power, with regard to which remarks had been made, the teaching power, as it exists, was good as shown by results. The Board, however,having determined to have acentral school in the district they should decide whether they could get it at a proper price, which would justify them in proceeding. Letters from the Pokeno Hill and Pokeno Valley School Committees were read. The former strongly protested against closing their school, and the latter recommended that the Valley school should remain where it was, and that the Queen's Redoubt school should remain open. Mr. Lennox moved, "That the two schools remain open." Four and a-half miles each way was too much for school children to walk. Mr. Udy spoke in support of having a central school, and supported the motion. The chairman said he would vote for the motion, keeping steadily in view that a central school was the correct idea, but he should like to use the Valley School as the central school at present. He pointed out that the inspectors were pre-e-igaged, and for his own part ne should prefer not going, but he suggested that Mr. Allright be sent to measure the distances and report. Mr. Goidie accepted this alternative, but he pointed out that the Valley School could not accommodate all the children, and it would be inadvisable to enlarge it until they found that it was a suitable site. It was then agreed that Mr. Allright be asked to measure the distances to the various schools and sites, and give such other information as he could acquire. Mr. Lennox said he would like it recorded that he opposed it, for the i grounds that the local committees knew better than the Board what was required in their district. Tho Chairman then moved, That, having consulted the committee, the Board resolve to close the Pokeno Hill School from and after the 31st of January." At the request of Mr. Lennox this motion was postponed till next meeting. Temperance ix Schools Committee.— The Rev. Peter Mason, for this committee, wrote to the Board relative to examinations being: held in the public schools on Dr. Richardson's book. A letter sent in reply was read. It was that the mode of examination was prescribed by Government. The Chairman said that the examination on this subject was an examination in ecience, and the Inspectors examined on it where the book was used. It was agreed to send a reply accordingly. Alexandra.—The committee applied for £2 for repairs to teacher's house. Granted. Aratapu.—The committee applied to have the school painted. They were willing to agree to the conditions of the Board circular, and pay half cost. The Board consented to pay half cost. Ellerslie.—The committee wrote again in regard to the teacher's residence and its extension. The request was declined. Grafton Road.—This committee, in regard to the painting of schools, offered that if repairs to spouting were included in the | contract with the painting, the committee was willing to agree to contribute £15. Ic was agreed to adhere to the former resolution, that half cost must be contributed. Rawexe (Hokia.vga.)—The committee wrote re the state of the teacher's residence, and stated that the teacher and hif. wife declined to live in such a miserable place. Trie application wa3 declined. Kaeo. —This was an application to lease the teacher's dwelling. Consent wa3 given, the money to be paid to the Board. Mata (Makgapai.)—An application for improvements was declined. Pry i.— The committee suggested that the teacher should keep the teacher's house in repair. Deferred. Takahue.—The chairman of the committee wrote that the school would require painting five times a year unless it was fenced to exclude cattle. It was agreed that the Board would find the material if the district erected the fence. Waip.oa South applied for a division of the school district. The application was declined. Whangamakixo.—ln reply to the Board's letter to account for the small attendance, the chairman of committee said that six children had left the district. They all regretted the small attendance, but the school was required. In reply to a question, tho chairman said the average attendance was nine. The matter was deferred. Whaxgarei.—A report was received from Mr. Fidler, relative to a change of syllabus in the Whangarei school, and it was re- * solved to forward it to the committee for their consideration. Girls' High School.—lt was resolved to pay a claim for rates due on the Girls' High School. Teachers' Examinations.— The chairman moved the following series of resolutions, which were agreed to : —l. "That all pupil teachers who completed their term of three years' service prior to January, 1888, and who have failed once or oftoner to pass the examination in Class E, be notified that unless they fully qualify at the next teachers' examination in January, 1889, they will forfeit their employment under the Board. 2. That all assistant teachers of less than 10 years' service who are not fully certificated, and who have failed once or oftener to pass the examination in clas.-' E, be notified that unless they fully qualify for a certificate at the next teachers' examination, January 1889, their engagements will be terminated by the Board. 3. That all male head teachers receiving £100 and upwards, and all female teachers receiving £80 and upwards, who are not fully certificated, and who have failed once or oftener to pass the examination in class E, be notified that unless they fully qualify for a certificate at the next teachers' examination, January 1889, their engagements will be terminated by the Board." Teachkrs' Salaries axd Retrenchment. The debate on the series of motions moved by Mr. Cooper at the last; meeting was resumed. Mr. Monk commenced by giving notice of motion, that the resolution of the Board of l'2th December providing certain arrangements for the teachingof temperance in the public schools, be altered by theomiseion of the words as to the direction of committees. Mr. Moat suggested that the discussion on Mr. Coopers resolutions be deferred till the new members were elected, and there would bo ample time then to meet the Board of Education. Mr. Cooper said he would not object to a postponement, but he had received a scurrilous letter from a school teacher, although it was in a disguised hand. Mr. Monk spoke in favour of postponement in order that they I might fully consider the whole matter. Mr. Goldie contended that they should go on with the resolutions, but he objected to the latter clauses, that no child should be allowed to attend the public schools after passing the sixth standard. The Parliament had provided, for a seventh standard.

At this stage Mr. Lennox moved the adjournment of the debate for a fortnight, and this was agreed to. Tuakau School and Seventh Standard Education.—Mr. Ewing, chairman of the Tuakau School Committee, sent the foliow- ! ing letter :— Sir,—ln the newspaper report of Mr. Cooper's speech re retrenchment, at your last meeting, that gentleman seems to have gone out of his way to make a statement re the Tuakau school. He first of all convoys the idea that Tuakau is the only place where this so-called flagrant abuse has crept in. Mr. Cooper ought to have known, and probably did Know, that no abuse of the Act has taken place. It expressly provides for a seventh standard, and so long as that is the case can Mr. Cooper show any reason why the Tuakau children should uot havo advantage of it? We can fully appreciate any genuine attempt at retrenchment, and if the Act should be altered are prepared to loyally abide by it. Other places besides Tuakau have the advantage of a seventh standard, and probably many more would have, if the teachers were qualified and had the inclination to conduct it. Why did Mr. Cooper not refer to all these piaicee ? Why singles out Tuakau and its teacher for this attack ? Surely so philanthropic a mind as his might forcot, if he cannot forgive, old grievances. In the second place, Mr. Cooper states " that this class had boon reported on a-s unsatisfactory by the Inspector, and it was clear that the headmaster had to devote a great deal of time to it to the detriment of others." As I write I have the Inspector's report before me. It is as follows :—" five children were presented in Standard VII.; they have been receiving instruction in euclid, algebra, and Latin. The papers in euclid and algebra were ou the whole iairly well done.' , (Mr. Airey, who set and examined the Latin papers, reports as follows: — "Translations from Virgil and Livy are good, and show careful preparation ; the parsing is weak, and translation from English into Latin bad. More attention should be paid to tho grammar and construction of tho language.'') Other subjects were taught, and only one boy had been longer than one year uiider instruction in these subjects. Can any mind capable of judging call this an unsatisfactory report for twolve months ? As to the seventh standard being " a detriment to the others, -, the following facts speak for themselves, and completely refute, the statement :—ISSo, passed 81 per cent., average attendance 61; lSSii, passed 80 per cent., average attendance 61 "2: ISS7, passed 87 per cent., average attendance 77'6; ISSS, passed 83 per cent., average attendance about 71. The two last years being under the present head teacher. I think tiaese require from Mr. Cooper some explanation of his misstatements, and an apology for them. We in Tuakau are only having what the law allows us ;we ask nothing more. We would welcome genuine retrenenmont, but we do not think that inaccuracies and misstatements are likely to be conducive to that end. I trust, sir, that you will be good enough to read this letter to your Board, and also to hand it on to the Press, my reason for it being that neither the district nor the committee can by silence seem to acquiesce in Mr. Cooper's imputations. — I am, &c, G. P. Ewixg, chairman Tuakau School Committee. Mr. Cooper said, in commenting on the state of the Tuakau school, this letter attacked him for inaccuracy, and misrepresented him and what he said. It said that he went out of his way to make a statement regarding the Tuakau school. He did not go out of his way. The Inspector's report was submitted to the meeting, and he referred to that, and he denied that he went out of his way to attack the teacher or the school. He did not say that Tuakau was an exception, and he had previously mentioned other schools, and his remarks, published in the Herald, did not convey trie impression that Tuakau was the only school in which the seventh standard was taught. He took the action he did because ne was convinced that the Act did not contemplate a seventh standard, and it seemed to him that advantage was being taken of a defect in the Act. He contended that the seventh standard should not be allowed, and the last paragraph in \ the letter contained a gratuitous insult as to a dispute with Mr. O'Donoghue, and no chairman of any school committee should write what was so unjust and untrue. As to the unsatisfactory nature of the class, he challenged Mr. O'Donoghue to refute it. Hβ quoted from the Inspector's report to show that it was unsatisfactory, and 6aid that it must necessarily take up a large portion of the head master's time, to the detriment of the rest of the school, and he further submitted that standard examinations were no real test of the efficiency of a school. In conclusion, he stated that he was sure in making the remarks he did that he was not influenced by any old grievance. It was quite a casual remark, and contained no misstateraent or reflection, and all he said was borne out by the Inspector's report. The Chairman said they all regretted that auch a letter should have been sent. Mr. Cooper, in referring to the Tuakau School, had only referred to what was most ready to his hand, namely, the report of the Inspector on the Tuakau bchool. The subject then dropped. Ix Committee.—The Board then went into committee, to consider certain matters relative to teachers, etc.