WARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11162, 7 September 1899, Page 3

WARD OF EDUCATION.

The Board of Education met yesterday, when there were present: Th 6 Chairman (Mr. Richard Hobbs), Messrs. Muir, S. Luke, J. Blades, J. R. Reed, Bagnall, Farrell, and Dr. McArthur. Chairman's report: The report of the chairman contained the following clauses: — Te Arai: The teacher reports that the school building and furniture have been destroyed by fire, and the local manager has been asked what arrangements he can suggest for carrying on the school. Measles: The following schools have been temporarily closed on account of prevalence of measles, etc., Ardmore. Hunua, Maungakaraiuea. Examination of schools: The Waikato branch of the Educational Institute has been furnished with a copy of Dr. McArthur's motions regarding examination and inspection of schools. Documents: Conies of tho minutes of the Educational Conference, draft regulations for inspection and examination of schools, and of the Ministers' report for 1898, have been forwarded to school committees. Copies of minutes of conference have also been forwarded to each teacher above the rank of P.T. Copies of Parliamentary papers have been forwarded to head teachers. Teachers: Resignations have been received from Miss L. Yellenoweth, assistant, Lake school: Miss H. J. Walter, assistant, Papakura school; Miss A. B. Finch, ex-pupil teacher, Otorohanga school. Temporary arrangements havo been mado as follows: — Miss E. R. Wilson, relieving teacher, from Wollesley-street to Parnell; Miss E. R. Kelly, from Chapel-street to Napier-street, during the absence of the teacher; Miss G. Twiname, junior assistant, from Wollesleystreet to Beresford-street, during the absence of the pupil teacher. The report was adopted. Report of Finance Committee: The Finance Committee reported as follows: — Your committee recommend payment of tho following accounts, which havo been duly examined and initialled: Board fund,' 19 vouchers, amounting to £1026 10s lOd; building fund, 13 vouchers, amounting to £387 19s lOd. Your committee recommend that the sum of £34 7s 5d be paid to contractors for Owharoa school building, in settlement of their contract, as recommended by architect. Your committee recommend that the selection of designs for scholarship certificates be deferred till next year. The report was adopted. Report of Teachers' Selection Committee: The Teachers' Selection Committee recommended as follows:—Your committee recommend that the following appointments should lie authorised by the Board: Miss A. 11. Crickett, ex-pupil-teacher, from Hamilton to Otorohanga; Miss K. R. Kelly, ex pupil-teacher, from Chapel-street to Matakaua: Miss L. G. McKay, cx-pupil-teachor, from Tuakau to Lake. Your committee recommend that the name of Miss E. A. W. Power, D 3, be submitted to tho Papakura School Committeo fox appointment of assistant teacher, in place of Miss Walter, resigned. Your committee recommend that applications for appointment of pupilteachers to the Lucas Creek, Paeroa, and Richmond Road schools be deferred till ond of quarter. Your committee report that there is no relieving teacher available to act as substitute at Waitckauri school, in absence of pupil-teacher. Your committee recommend that, owing to the decreased attendance, the Komata school be closed at September 30. Your committeo recommond that for the future teachers be not granted leave of absence, with salary, for a longer period than one week in each year. 'I ho last clause was discussed at some length, several members maintaining that each case should bo dealt with on its merits. Mr. ) Luke said that tho regulation was a very harsh one. He moved, " That the consideration of the matter be deferred for a fortnight." The amendment was negatived, and the report as a whole adopted. Standard Passes: The secretary of the College-street School Committee, I'almerston North, wrote stating that the committee were opposed to tho abolition of standard passes, and thought that free classification night load to favouritism. Tho letter was received. Building Grant: A letter was received from tho Minister for Education, stating that consideration of the building grant would be deferred till next quarter. Scholarship Candidates: A letter was read from tho secretary of the Now Zealand Educational Institute, asking the Board to forbid the granting of extra tuition to candidates foi scholarships, in order that the entire energies of the teacher might be given to the pupils as a whole, and candidates for scholarships might compete under equal conditions. Tho institute also asked that candidates bo not allowed to receive paid assistance iu preparing for their examinations. It was pointed out by several of the members that such regulations could hardly bo carried out. The letter was received. Geographical Readers: A letter fiom Messrs. Collins Brothers, forwarding copies of the Graphic Geographical Readers was received, and referred to tho chief m-'pectoi. Salaries: Dr. McArthur drew attention to tho fact that several married teachers in tho country districts were not receiving a living wage. Mr. Blades paid that it would be impossible to make a change, unless the scale were readjusted. The. Chairman said the committee could not be altogether ignored. Tt was resolved that the matter bo deferred for the present. New Schools: Applications for new schools from Avoca and Ounuwhao wero referred to the inspector. An application to re-open the school at Riverhead was deferred pending the inspector's report. Paeroa: An application for the enlargemen' of the Paeroa school was received. Tho inspector reported that ho' could not recommend the granting of the request. It was resolved that a copy of the report bo sent to the committee. . Waiotahi Creek: The question of repairs at Waiotalii Creek was referred to tho arclnAmodeo Bay: The Amodeo Bay Committee Amodeo Bay: The Amodoo Bay CommiUeo wrote requesting school furniture. Tho request was declined. Auckland City: A request for new desks for Welleslev-street school in place of the old-fashioned ones in use was received, and deferred. Dome Valley: An application for a grant for fencing purposes was received, and tho Board resolved to pay half-cost. Epsom: The usual grant for science apparatus was allowed to the Epsom school. Mount Eden: A grant was allowed for drainage repairs to tho teacher s house at Mount Eden. Papnkura : Repairs at Papakura school were authorised. Hnntly: The railways district engineer drew the Board's attention to the trees on theii property. It was resolved tho matter he referred to the school committee. Katikati: Correspondence was dealt with relative to the closing of Katikati No. 1 school, Mr. Farrell defending the action of the committee in protesting against the school being closed. 'Hie matter was deferred.