EDUCATION BOARD COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8610, 4 July 1891, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the committee of the Board of Education was held yesterday afternoon. Present;: —Messrs. R. Udy (chairman), Muir, Grant, and Luke. ' , Appointments. — The following appointments were made: —Mr. Ramsay to Kuaotunu, Mr. Wooller temporarily to Mahurangi Heads and Mullet Point schools ; Miss Roberts, as assistant, to Te Aroha; Miss Lindsay to Pakuranga, Miss E. R. Wilson to Remnera, Miss Brooke to Helensville. Miss H. K. Gibbons to Mount ■ Eden, and Miss Catran to Kaueranga Boys' School. Deputation. deputation of country teachers waited upon the committee with respect to several matters which they wished to receive tho consideration of the Board. The gentlemen who composed the deputation were -.—Messrs. J. M. Murray (Hamilton West), A. Edwards) Tamahere), H. R. Hyatt (Cambridge West), T. H. Chapman, and W. R. Walker. Teacheks' Examination.—Mr. Edwards said that the first matter the deputation had to lay before the >. meeting was regarding tho examination for teachers' C. certificates. It had been the custom of the University of New Zealand to allow teachers who had not passed the matriculation to be examined for the first section of the B.A. degree, and the passing of this examination entitled them to receive a C certificate ; but now all teachers were required to first pass the matriculation. It was the wish of the deputation that the Board should request the Government to hold examinations for C certificates at the same time as those for the D and 15 certificates are held. The committee asked the deputation to put their views in writing. Canvassing fob Appointments.—The deputation considered that the practice that certain teachers adopted of canvassing the school committees/ vacant positions should be suppressed, as it placed the country teachers at a disadvantage. Mr. Muir said that ho disapproved of canvassing in these-e*ses. Mr. Grant said tho Board could not prevent a man from canvassing a committee by means of friends. The Chairman promised that the matter would be placed before the Board for their consideration. Quarter Money.—Mr. Edwards said that the country teachers were placed in a very unfavourable position, because people charged them with making a profit ent of tho quarter money. ■ In fact they were supposed to occupy the position of pedlcrs of slate pencils, and of book funds. It was a fact that the country teachers had frequently to put their hands into their pockets to make up deficiencies of payments for school requisites. In addition to the ordinary requisites they had more or less to supply the children with cricket materials, footballs, and prizes, and to defray the cost of the chemicals. Mr. Walker said he had not charged quarter money, because the children in the schools in which he had been teaching were too poor to pay it. The deputation were asked to put their views in writing. ,- ; .. : "'" Ukdugtiox or —The deputation stated that in aomo country schools the

average <, attendance often fell rather low in : winter, as the children found it difficult to. attend. In consequence the stafls of the . schools werereduced. In-suimner the average", attendance largely increased, , and 6 theu' '■'&] the teachers were found to be insufficient to do justice to the '-. scholars, without even making any attempt to make up the lost time. The committee promised ■■ to give the matter consideration, and asked Mr. Murray ; to put his views in writing. Notices op Motions. —Mr. Grant gave :ii : ~ notice to move, •at the ( next meeting , . oi Board *—" That a capitation allowance o\ ..,' (say 8d per head per annum) on the average school attendance be made to each school;o committee for the purchase of school re« , quisites from the Board's contractor.": Also, Z .•• That tenders he called for the supply >oi the following requisites, to be delivered at each Board school, or the nearest nost-office ; thereto, per sample, and in such quantities as may be ordered: (1) Ink (local manufacture and ether), (2) ink powder, (3) penholders, (4) pen nibs, (5) slate pencils, (6) foolscap, (7) lead pencils. (8) erasers, (9) - blotting, (10) teachers' chalk."