BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10046, 5 February 1896, Page 6

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Tub ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above Board was lield yesterday, there being present: Mr. R. Udy (chairman), Rev. J. Bates, and Messrs, Luke, Lambe, Harris, Muir, Wright, and Cooper. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Chairman's Report,—The chairman's report stated that allotments 0,10,11, had been purchased from Mr. J. Stewart, at a coat of £125, as an addition to the school site. Resignations had been received from : Miss M. U. Nixon, ltiverhead School; Miss A. S. Reid, assistant, Karangahake School; Miii M. Harris, ex pupil teacher, late of the Otahuhu School; Miss S. A. Mandeno, pupil teacher, Baylleld KchoaJ ; Miss M. J. Mander, pupil teacher, Port Albert School. Mr. W. H. Bartlett'i tender for school building At Taupaki (£160), and the same gentloinan's tender for additions to the Coromandol School (£325) had been accepted. Dr. Ryder had waited upon him with a view to obtaining the Board's consent to give health lecturer to the elder girls in the public schools, and explained that the only expense incurred would be that of hiring the hall.. The request was agreed to by the Board, subject to the approval of the several school committee. Finances. Board's bank balances are as follow -.—Education fund, credit, £7528 9« 4d ; building fund, credit, £4018 9s sd: total, £11,548 18s od. The Accounts Committee recommended the payment of accounts amounting in all to £577 lis lid, and tho recommendation was adopted SCIKNCK AND Art EXAMINATIONS.—The committee as appointed on January 21 to report upon the request from the Minister of Education, asking the Board to undertake arrangements for local examinations in science and art under the Department, South Kensington, London, recommended the Board to undertake the arrangements for these examinations ou the terms stated iu the Minister's letter dated December 17, ISOS. The report was adopted. Ponso.ndv School .-The report of the Teachers' Selection Committee stated that tho following names had been submitted to tho committee for the position of asiistanat at the Ponsonby central school: —Misses K. Keeaing, K. P. Mulvany.M. Maxwell. A. R. Hamlin, M. Q. Harris, and K. K. Thompson. Tho committee also recommended that the Ponsonby Committee should be informed, in answer to their application for the appointment of Mr. F. 0. Crockes to the Ponsonby school, that Mr. Flavell had resumed duty, his leave of absence having expired. The reports were adopted. Board Candidates.-The following candidates have been nominated for election to the vacancies on the Board caused by the retirement of Messrs. T. Cooper, R. Udy, aud Wright, the election to take place on the 10th of March nextll. F. Cooper (nominated by 19 committees), Theo. Cooper (nominated by 15 committees), M. Kirkbride (nominated by 10 committees), It. I'dy (nominated by 18 committees), M. Whitehead (nominated by 20 committees), and J. Wright (nominated by 28 committees). Ther» was a seventh nomination, that of Mr. J. D. McKeniie, but this latter one wis not valid. Mr. O'Donoohuk's Complaint.Thin gentleman wrote, acknowledging the receipt of letter from the Board conveying Hie lirst of the two resolutions adopted by the Board re recent complaint by himself of unfair representation of hie application for the vacancies at Devonport, Ponsonby, and Parnell schools, in the matter of unfair abstracts, etc., from Inspector's reports, andasked that a co»y of the second resolution be forwarded to him. The Board decided to forward the following " That in future any communications from the Minister relative to a teacher's school work be added to the teacher's report." Revision op Regulations.— In accordance with his notice of motion of December 17, Mr. Udy moved, "That except in cases of ill health or other special emergency, no head teacher shall be considered eligible for removal to another school until tile completion of at least two years' service from the date of his or her last appointment." The Chairman spoke at some length in support of his motion. Mr. Luke opposed the motion. He thought teachers should not be bound down in this hard and fast stylo by a regulation of the class Mr. Udy proposed to introduce, but that they should ulopt the Chief Inspector's advice by making as few changes as possible without actually binding the teachers down. Several other members spoke in support of Mr. Luke's contention, and on the motion being put by the chairman it was lost. Canvassi.no Appointments.—ln accordance with his notice of motion at the previous meeting of the Board, Mr. l.uko moved thai the following clauses be added to the regulations of the Board: — " Any teacher personally canvassing members of the Board or members of a school committeo regarding an appointment shall be disqualified as a candidate for that appointment." In speaking to his motion Mr. Luke pointed out that the system adopted by town teachers of canvassing school committees whenever a desirable vacancy occurred was detrimental to country candidates who, though of equal merit, had no opportunity of canvassing the committees, and therefore seldom .obtained situations to which they wore equally eligible. This was unjust, discouraging to country teachers, and unfair, therefore in adopting the motion the Board would be taking a step in the right direction, tliat- of stamping out the detestable practice of personal canvass. Mr. Woodward supported the motion, and spoke at some length in its favour, as also did Mr. Harris. Mr. Muir spoke against the regulation being carried. He said it had lieen in vogue before and had been rescinded, simply bocause it had been found Impracticable and unworkable. It would probably cause what might be termed dishonesty on tho part of candidates, who on beine personally prohibited from adopting this procedure, would avoid the regulation and still seive their own ends by getting their wives and friends to do the canvassing for them. This would be worse than the present state of affairs. Mr. Wright said he would like to support Mr. Luke's motion if he thought it would by any means secure the end intended, and the Rev. Mr. Bates laid his vote would certainly go in the same direction as he believed that if tho regulation would not actually cope with the evil, it would at least mark the Board's disapproval of the canvassing tactics at present adopted by teachers. lie thought au effort should be made to persuado school committees to co-operate with the Board in their endeavours w. stamp out this undesirable and growing evil. Other members spoke in favour of the adoption of the motion, which, on being put to the meeting, was carried, Mr. Muir being the only dissentient. Architects' Fees.—At the previous meeting of the Board it was decided to forward Messrs. Mitchell and Watts' claim for £14 lis for plans, etc,, in connection with the re-erection of the school building at Pokeno to the Governnent together with the general account for the building, for payment, it being considered that the amount should be paid by Government. Mr. Muir objected to the proposal, and gave notice that at the next meeting of the Board ho would move " That the resolution of the Board deciding to send the architects' claim for fees in connection with the re-erection of Pokeno School to the Government for payment be rescinded." In accordance with Lis intention Mr. Muir yesterday moved to that effect, and in support of the motion said that he considered the claim an improper one. Tho matter had been submitted to the Board's solicitor, aud he had given it as his opinion that the re-erection of the school building in question came within the duties of tho architects, as laid down when the original agreoinent was made between the Board and Messrs. Mitchell and Watt, on their etigagoment as the Board's architects. In fact he could show that tho Minister of l£ducation hold that the claim was an improper ono, and under those circumstances it was e»ident that buch was the case, and the duty of the Board was to abide by their solicitor's opinion, and therefore rescind tho resolution of the previous meeting. Mr. Theo. Cooper said there was no doubt in his mind that the architects' claim should be added to the amount forwarded to the Government for payment, and when paid to the Board should be handed over to the architects. It certainly had not been understood by the contracting parties when the arrangement was entered into that such duties should couto within the agreement, which only applied to the ordinary administrative work of the Board. Tho Government in a sense undertook tho insurance of tho Board's buildings, and consequently had to re-inatate buildings, and the architect's fees were a portion of that expense. Mr. Lambe asked the Board not to be led away by any eloquence on the part of Mr. Cooper, whose arguments in favour of the claim appeared so convincing, as he, being a legal gentleman, held an advantage over the Board mombers, and could present his views in a much more plausible light. Mr. Bates said he had previously objected to tho amount claimed by the architects, but as the matter had been fought out before, and those who had objected to the payment were defeated, he would not voto for the rescinding of the motiou. The Chairman thought it was the duty of the Government to pay the amount claimed, and on this score he would oppose Mr. Muir's motion. The motion, on being put to the meeting, was lost. Tenders.—Of the two tenders received for tho removal of classroom from Howe-street to Newton Rut School, tho I'West, that of Mr. J. Elliiwham (£180), was accepted. The question of the enlargement of the Chapel-street School was referred to the City Schools Committee for consideration and report, the Chairman pointing out that the lowest tender for the work (£740) had been refused. Several matters relative to repairs, erection of country school buildings, grants for repairs, etc., wore also dealt with. Richmond Road School Appointment. much-vexed question of the appointment of a headmaster to the Richmond Road school, which has been occupying the attention of the Board of Education and the Ponsonby Schools Committee for some months past, was finally disposed of yesterday, the Board appointing Mr. If. J. S. nil's, of Ngaruawahia, to the position. Messrs W, Leys (chairman), J. Swales, and W. J. Itees, of the Ponsonby Schools Committee, were in atendance at the meoting Before proceeding to discuss the matter the Board's recommendation to the Ponsonby Committee, that Mr. Ellis be elected to the vacancy, was read, and also the committee's refusal to accent the recommendation, and a letter in which that body regretted tho action of the Board in ignoring tho wishes of the committee and the representative petition and deputation from the householders, asking for the appointment of Mr. T. U. Wells to the vacancy. The Chairman, in placing the matter before the meeting, said that it would be advisable to allow Mrs. Rooney to resume charge of the school until such time as the newly-appointed master could hike up bis dnties, which would bo at least a month hence. Tho proposal wis agreed to. In dealing with tho question of the appointment, Mr. Udy said the duty of tho Board was plainly set forth, and Mr. Ellis was undoubtedly tho man they should select, he having recoived tho largest number of votes of the 21 applicants forwarded to tho Ponsonby Committee for their consideration. Had the Board adopted the old plan of submitting three names only, probably Mr. Kills would not have been selected, as there were other applicants with prior claims, though Mr. Wells was certainly not ono of thorn. Mr. Kills was a tried teaohor of considerable oxperlonco ami would no doubt justify his selection. Mr. Woodward and Mr. Luke spoke in favour of the appointment, referring at some length to the excellent qualifications of Mr, Kills, and felt assured that tho step of selecting liira for the position would never bo regretted. Mr. Coopet thought that there wore special circumstances which Justified the appointment of Mr. Wells, who was a chief militant In tho Ponsonby School, and thoroughly iu tench with those situated In the locality, and would accordingly understand the requirements of the school children, The committee, iu selecting Mr. Wells, wore undoubtedly doing their utmost to coiiHnrve the host interests of the school by obtaining a toichcr who had for so long been under tlinlr jurisdiction, and whoso record was such a good one. Moreover, tho parents of the school children ami residents of the district had supported tlincommltteointhoaoloclion, and they surely were capable of judging tho capabilities of Mr. Wells. There was no doubt but that the object of both the committee and those who had supported them was to obtain the best man thoy could to till the vacancy, and in tlto face of this the only thing to do would lie to adopt their proposal. The Rev. Bate« said that Mr. Cooper's view of tho matter was In & great pieasuro the correct one, but

would bo striking a fatal blow to education in the 11 country, as all young rail# assistants would then I ] stay in town and refuse all offers of going into the : country, thus causing a paucity of good men in the . out lying schools. On these grounds he could not • support Mr. Cooper, and considered that the Board 1 should proceed to make the appointment. Mr. ( I,amlie considered it the duty of the Board to i support the committee as far as practicable, though ] a departure from the regulations would be inflicting 1 ail injustice on other teachers. It was a question as to whether the Board was clearly within its ! statutory rights in the matter of making the ' appointment, aud if not it would be advisable I to go back on their action. Perhaps it I would be bolter to submit the nutter , to the Board's solicitor and he wonld , more an amendment to that effect. Mr. Wright , and Mr. Harris supported the amendment, the latter gentleman saying it would 1» as well to ' retrace theirsteps if they were acting illegally. Mr. I Muir thought the Ponsonby Committee were solely | to blame for the whole state of affairs, anil that as { Mr. Wells had not fulfilled the conditions required . the Board would not be justified in selecting him. Mr. I.arabe's amendment wu then put to the meeting and lost, and the motion of the Chairman that Mr. Ullis lie appointed headmaster was put and carried on the »oices.