BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10034, 22 January 1896, Page 6

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The first meeting for this year of the above Board was held,yesterday. Present!: Mr. Udy (chairman), Rev. J. Bates, and Messrs. Wright, Lambe, . Woodward, , Muir, Luke, and Cooper. The minutes of• the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman's repsirt, which dealt with a number of minor details concerning repairs, etc., were read and adopted. . Resignations and Appointments.—The following resignations were received:—Mtss C. Barry, assistant at Ponsonby Sehool; Miss L. Hobson, assistant at Ponsonby School; and Miss N. Spragg, assistant at Wellesleystreet School. The Teachers' Selection Committee recommended a number of appointments to be authorised by the Board. The Board's Architects.—The Board had taken the opinion of their legal adviser in the matter of the claim made by Messrs. Mitchell and Watt, the Board's architects, for the sum of £1412s for services rendered by them as architects in the reinstating of the school at Pokeno which had been burnt down, their contention being that such was an extra and special duty, entirely apart from their* contract with the Board. The Chairman read the legal opinion, which was to the effect that the work mentioned came under the arrangement entered upon by the said Board and Messrs. Mitchell and Watt, and was therefore not chargeable as an extra; and in expressing himself Mr. Udy said that the opinion of their legal adviser should be followed, although, in moving a motion to that effect, he would be acting in contravention to his own convictions concerning the arrangement entered upon between themselves and the architects. Mr. Cooper held that the understanding between the Board and architects had been that all ordinary architectural work, such as repairs, etc., cam* under the arrangement, but that it had never been intended by either party that special work of this nature should come within the meaning of the said, arrangement. After some discussion, it was moved by Mr. Cooper that the matter be referred to tho Government, the amount claimed by the architects to be included in the charge for the building. The motion was carried on the casting vote of the chairman. School Statistics. - The public school statistics for quarter ending 31st December were read as follows:—Total number of schools (including 40 half-time schools) 332, showing an increase of 3. Teachers: Male 280, decrease of 4; female 420, decrease of 3: total, 700. Sewing teachers 66, increase of 1. Scholars on roll: Boys 13,191, decrease 65; girls 12,403, decrease 56: total, 25,594; total decrease of 121. Average attendance (strict): Boys 10,948, increase of 74: girls 10,095, increase of 94: total, 21,043; total increase of 163. Total working average 11,332, showing an increase of 106.

Chapel-street School— ranging from £740 to £925 for certain additions to the Chapel-street School were received and declined. Finance.— Board's balance to date was read as follows Education fund credit, j £2824 i building fund credit, £4330 18s 2d: total, £6854 18s 2d. Notices of Motion.—Mr. S. Luke notified that he would move at the next meeting of the Board the following regulation: Any teacher personally canvassing members of the Board or members of a school committee regarding an appointment shall be disqualified as a caudidate for that appointment Scholarships.—The results of the senior and junior scholarships held during December are as follow -.—Senior scholarships (open), maximum marks 4900 : James J. Wilson (exRawling scholar), 15 years 11 months, Auckland College ami Grammar School, 3518 marks; W. R. B. Prideaux, 15 years 2 mouths, A.C.G.S., 3393 George B. Stephenson (junior scholar), 15 years 8 months, A.C.G.S., 3172; George S. Kent, 14 years 6 mouths, A.C.G.S., 2927: Alan G. Mulligan, 14 years 6 mouths, A.C.G.S., 2855 ; Oliver W. 11. Sinclair, 15 years 8 months, A.C.G.S., 2854|; Jessie J. Hetherington, 13 years 10 months, Thames High School, 2836; Hugh Vickerman, 14 years 11 months, A.C.G.S., 2813; Mary E. Davidson, 15 years 10 mouths, A.C.G.S., '2795; Owen L. Ilbert. 15 years 10 months, A.C.G.S., 2562; Ethel B. Caddy (junior scholar), 15 years 11 months, A.C.G.5.,2542. Junior District Scholarships. — Maximum marks, 820. Benson H. man, Ngaruawahia school, 551 marks; Eliza E. Melville, Tokatoka No. 1 school, 518; Lachlan B. Campbell. Waipu Central, 515; Albert W. Parker, Newton East. 515; Ella M. Taylor, Northcote, 507; Win. E. Alexander, Waiuku, 498; Arthur R. i Gatland, Onehunga, 487; Arthur R. H. Francis, Ponsonby, 483; Chas. Roberts, Parnell, 470; Hilda Fountain, Devonport, 462 ; Evan McOormick, Newton East, 454 ; Ida Hill, Kaukapakapa, 443 ; Thomas G. Rowe, Newton West, 441; Mary F. Kirkbride, Mangere, 439; William W. Edgerley, Epsom, 438; Thomas White, Remnera, 436; Herbert Thorburu, Tararu (Thames), 434 ; Rebecca Macky, Ponsonby, 432; Leonard T. Pickmere, Newton East, 4:30; Gideon L. Taylor. Mangere Bridge, 430; Fanny Hutton, Parnell, 425; Robert Clark, Wellesley-street, 424; Frank W. Garland, Awhitu Central, 411. The Board decided to award scholarships to the whole of the above, amounting in all to 34, of which 11 went to the seniors, and 23 to the junior?. Mr. Udy said this was the largest number of scholarships ever given by the Board, and a gratifying feature in connection with the junior scholarships was the maimer in which the country schools had held theirown with the town and suburban schools. The total of j uuiors examined was 144, of which 81 were males, and 63 females. Sixteen males had qualified and seven females, the total number of these failing to qualify being 121. _ For the senior scholarships 48 were examined, eleven of whom had qualified, thus leaving thirtyseven who failed.

Accounts.—The Accounts Committee recommended the payment of accounts, amounting in all to £2079 12s 4d, and referred back for explanation accounts amountin" to f6 16a. A Teacher Complains.—Mr. O'Donoghue, headmaster of the Mount Roskill public school, was present at the meeting and complained that the Board had not sent fair reports along with his application for the vacancy at Richmond Road School, and on previous occasions when he had tendered his application for other schools. He showed from documentary evidence received tcom the Minister of Education in reply to a letter forwarded by himself that the Minister was of opinion that certaiu questions put to the pupils of the Mount Roskill School in a recent examination were more difficult than the examining regulations warranted. Also, that one of the Board's inspectors had by mistake, substituted class for pass subjects, and vice versa. Mr. O'Donoghue claimed that these explanatory documents ought to have been forwarded to committees along with the examination and inspection reports relating thereto. He also said that he had passed an official document to the members of the Board showing that his school had more thandoubledinuttendancesincehetookcharge of it, and he held that this fact was evidence of his ability as a teacher, seeing that his school is surrounded by good schools, and that the Mount Roskill school is largely attended by children from the surrounding school districts. He held that the unfair reports submitted to the Schools Committee had resulted in inferior teachers beiug appointed over his head, and would lead to the Belief that ho was an unsuccessful teacher. The question as to whether the summary of reports sent by the Board does, or does not, fairly represent his reputation as a teacher, and to show that it did not, he would ask that the letters and reports of inspectors be read in order that the Board might obtain a full knowledge of the question they were about to consider. The letters were read by the secretary. Mr. Udy said the point at issue was as to whether Mr. O'Donoghue had been unfairly treated in comparison with other applicants. The summaries referred to by that gentleman had been made out by himself and Mr. Rice, and he could assure the Board that they were of the same nature as those of the other teachers. Mr. Rice usually forwarded these reports, or rather extracts, in all school cases, and had done so with his (the Chairman's) authority, and he was certain that he himself had i\o intention of misrepresenting Mr. O'Donoghue. However, tho matter was in the hands of the Board, to decide as to whether or not there had beou any unfair treatment. Mr. Luke thought that Mr. O'Donoghue had not proven that suppression had been made in his case, and moved " That the Board considers that the charges made by Mr. O'Donoghue of unfair representation of the inspectors' reports to the injury of his reputation as a teacher have not been substantiated." The motion was carried. Mr. Muir thought that now the matter had been brought up it would be advisable in future that all applications in cases of this nature should be accompanied with, remarks such as those of the Minister, together with any letters or documents of importance either detrimental or favourable to applicants should be forwarded to committees, and he moved," That the Board in future adopt this proposal." Mr. Theo. Cooper spoke in support of Mr. Muir's motion, and said he thought it was a move in the right direction. The Chairman and several members of the Board were also in favour of the proposal being adopted, and the motion was accordingly carried. The meeting was then adjourned until Tuesday next, <