BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15096, 12 September 1912, Page 4

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

WHERE ARE SCHOLARSHIPS

TENABLE?

denominational schools.

The Auckland Education Board met, yesterday. Present : Messrs. G. J. Garland (chairman), C. T. Barrifoall, A. Bums, G. Edgecumbe, H. J. Gree:.islad.e, J. D. McKenzio, and G. W. Murray. Some discussion took place as to whether a Board scholarship should be allowed to be taken out at the Sacred Heart College or not.

Writing on February 6. 1912, Mr. D. O'Connor stated that- his son, Patrick O'Connor, gained a Board scholarship at the December, 1911, examinations, the said scholarship being tenable "at a secondary school or its equivalent approved by the Board." lie asked the Board to give effect to the latter part of the section by permitting his son to take.out the scholarship at the Sacred Heart College, the collego having been approved by tho Education Department for scholarships for Maori boys, being open to Government- inspection, and having achieved marked success as a secondary school. In connection with this letter tho chief inspector (Mr. E. K. Mulgan) had reported that according to his interpretation of the Act tho Board had not the power to grant the request, and Mr. O'Connor was informed accordingly. Mr. O'Connor, however, had telephoned to the secretary of tho Board two days later and stated that he had decided to send his boy to the college. No more correspondence was received until August 12, 1912, when the principal of the Sacred Heart College wrote stating that the college was at all times open to tho Board's inspectors. Tho writer believed that the education imparted was fully " equivalent" to that of State secondary schools under the control of tho Board, but should any defect be found immediate steps would be taken to any such defect. In the matter of secular instruction the principal desired to cooperate with the Board and its inspectors in giving holders of scholarships an excellent intellectual training. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Clear}*) wrote in support of tho above letter, and added that lie felt confident that the Board would not refuse to exercise its right in regard to the college merely because it imparted a knowledge of religion under a form somewhat different to that adopted by the head teachers in the Board's own secondary schools. Mr. O'Connor also wrote on the same date and pointed out that the legal right of the Board to grant tho application had been made clear by tho Solicitor-General and the Minister for Education. He had- a religious objection to allowing his son to attend the ordinary State secondary schools. Tho chief inspector, reporting further upon the request on August 23, 1912, maintained that it had yet to be proved that private schools, not under the control of the State, were as efficient as State secondary schools. Tiro main question to be decided was not a matter of general, but of relative, efficiency. He recommended that tho Education Department bo asked to state definitely whether it considered the college equivalent to the Grammar School. In a letter dated September 2, the Board informed Mr. O'Connor that as the scholarship won by his son had been declined, owing to the fact that the boy went to Sacred Heart College, it had been awarded to the next highest candidate on the list, while on the same date the whole matter was placed before the Inspector-General of Schools. Tho final letter was one- from Bishop Cleary, written on September 3, which stated that neither Mr. O'Connor nor his son had declined the scholarship. He further pointed out that Education Board scholarships were tenable at Catholic secondary schools at Greymouth, and at private denominational schools at Christchurch and Wanganui. Tho Board now awaits the decision of the Inspector-General.

TEACHERS' APPOINTMENTS, RESIGNATIONS AND TRANSFERS. The Chairman reported that the following resignations had been received Miss F. M. Day, assistant, Te Kuiti; Miss F. N. Mahoney, assistant, Puriri; Miss K. E. Vickery, assistant, "Whakapara; Miss J. F. Barriball, assistant, Richmond Road.; Miss E. N. S. Bruce, assistant Avondale; Misa A. L. King, teacher, Orini; Mrs. K. Den vera, teacher, Koutu; Mr. V. R. Vos, teacher, Purerua. The following appointments were authorised by the Board —Mr. A. Murdoch, assistant-master, Napier-street; Miss A. J. Fawcett, assistant, Te Aroha; Mrs. M. A. Hawkins, assistant, Waihi East; Mr. R. N. Johnson, temporary teacher, Te Hana; Mr. E. T. Keys, temporary teacher, Tauhei; Mr. F. N. Allen, temporary teacher, Hoteo North; Miss H. McGeo. te porary assistant, Paeroa District High School; Mrs. C. G. Maxted, temporary assistant, Bail lie-street; Misa A. R. Tracy, temporary assistant, Avondale; Miss J. M. Scott, temporary assistant, Whakapara; Miss E. E. Rao, temporary assistant, Waiotahi Creek; Mrs. M. C. Campbell, temporary assistant. Whakatane; Miss H. R. Knight, pupil teacher, Mount Albert; Miss D; M. Yearburv, pupil teacher, from Mount Albert to New Lynn; Miss D. C. O'Neill, pupil teacher, Hamilton West: Miss C. L. Bayly, pupil teacher. To Kuiti; Mr. H. N. E. Clarke, pupil teacher, Te Kuitj. School committees are to be consulted regarding proposed appointments as follows :—Mount Eden, assistant, lilies E. F. Hawkins; Epsom, assistant, Miss B. Ford; Grahamtown, assistant. Mr. F. M. Groome; Puriri, assistant, Miss S. A. Hunt; while applications are to be invited by advertisement for the following appointments :—Head teacher, Orini ; assistantmaster, Mount Eden; assistants., Richmond Road and Silverdale.

Recommendations regarding the following appointments were deferred —• Teachers, Pukcti, Koutu. and Purerua; assistant, Taringamutu; while it was decided that effect be given to the inspector's recommendation for Mr. Brennan to be allowed to remain at the Kaurihohore school until the end of the year.

MISCELLANEOUS.

INCREASED GRANT WANTED.

Tho Chairman reported! that the trim'ster for Education had been asked to increase tho grant for lighting the Technical College to £1019, tho amount of the lowest tender.

It was decided, upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, to call the Minister's attention to the inadequate grant for tho payment of relieving teachers, and that he be asked to authorise an increase of the capitation grant to 9d per head. In terms of the same committee's report it was decided to make the usual grant in aid of a school library at Cambridge.