Education.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 362, 18 January 1879, Page 8

Education.

BOARD OF COLLEGE GOVERNORS. A meeting of this body was held on Friday. Present—Hon. W. Gisborne, M.H.R. (in the chair), Rev. J. Paterson, Dr. Hector, Mr. Brandon, Mr. Hutchison, and Mr. Barton, M.H.R. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. reorganisation ov thr college. The following report was read : PROPOSALS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF WELLINGTON COLLEGE. The committee on the re-organisatton of the College beg to submit the following interim report: — 1. “In accordance with the resolution of the Board of Governors, legal notice has been given to all the masters —including the Principal—that their services will be dispensed with at the end of next term. In the case of Professor Kirk it was found that from the terms of'his appointment he was entitled to a six months’ notice, and that has been given. «2. In re-arranging the teaching staff, two things must be kept in view; .first, the efficiency of the inst tution, and second, the means at our disposal. We must do our utmost to secure its efficiency, but with our limited means we may not be able to do all we could wish to do. The expenditure must be regulated by the income. This principle must be kept in view in the appointments to be made, and in the scale of salaries to be adopted. “ 3. The income for this year from endowments and fees is estimated at about £1900; that ig the probable revenue of the College for the year. On this there is a claim-of £3OO for interest on the mortgage debt on the building, • leaving the sum of about £I6OO available for teachers’ salaries, insurance, &c. «4. The committee would recommend that the teaching staff consist of— (1.) A head master or principal, who shall be qualified to teach the higher classics, and mathematics and English literature, and whose salary'shall be £SOO per annum, with an additional capitation grant of £1 for every pupil attending the College ; also, with a free house, or in lieu thereof £IOO per annum towards house rent. (2.) A second master, also qualified to teach the higher classics and mathematics, as well as English in all its branches, and that his salary be £4OO per annum, with capitation allowance of 10s. for every pupil in attendance. “ 3. A third master, also qualified to teach classics, mathematics, and English. His salary to be £350 per annum, with capitation allowance of 10s. a head. “ 4. A teacher of modern languages, French, and German. As it would not be expected that he should devote his whole time to the College classes, his salary to be, as at present, £2OO per annum ; but with an increase as soon as funds will allow. “5. As Professor Kirk’s engagement at the College does not terminate till the expiry of six months from date of notice, the governors cannot till then make any change in his department. But it is evident that with the funds .now at their disposal, they would not be* able to continue the services of a lecturer on Natural Science at the salary now given to Professor Kirk. At the same time, the great importance of that branch of study in a complete course of education must not be.oveiv looked. All approved systems ofeducation in the present day give great prominence to the teaching of natural and physical science. A course of study without it would be radically defective. The committee would recommend that the department of science be reserved to be dealt with hereafter as a special case. «5. In regard to the organisation of the College, the committee would recommend that there be an upper and lower division ; and that pupils be admitted to the lower school at any age not younger than nine yeais, and who have passed, or who would be qualified to pass the fourth standard in the primary schools. In this lower school there should be given a good sound' English and commercial education, with the rudiments of Latin and French, and elementary instruction in mathematics to those who desire it. The entrance to the upper school should be determined by a somewhat strict examination in the branches taught in the lower school; and the course of study should embrace English in all its higher branches: mathematics (including arithmetic), classics, modem languages, and natural science. It should not be compulsory on students to take all these subjects. Choice should be allowed between classics, especially Greek, and modern languages and science. This important subject of the curriculum is reserved for more full consideration. “6. The committee would further recommend that the school year be divided into quarterly terms, with six weeks holiday in midwinter,and 6 weeks in midsummer, with the usual public holidays. The also recommend that the fees chargeable be £2 per quarter, or £8 a year for the lower school, and £2 10s. a quarter, or £lO a year, in the upper school. This implies a considerable reduction in the scale of fees, and so far therefore a reduction in the revenue of the College. But it is believed that the reduction in the fees, with other improvements, will tend to make the institution more popular, and will thus attract a larger number of pupils. 'Andtheincrease in the numbers will more than compensate the reduction in .the. fees. With the great increase of population in the city and the country districts there ought to be a corresponding increase in. the numbers attending the College. ~ “ y. Arrangements in regard to the boardin 0 department are reserved for further considerate *3'. The committee have had before them the urgent necessity of making provision for the higher education of girls, and would recommend that steps be taken as soon as possible to establish a girls’ high school in Wellington. And meanwhile, and until this is done, it roay be a question for the Governors to consider

whether they should not provide that advanced girls may be admitted, at certain hours, to receive instruction from the masters in some of the branches taught iu the college. « 9. Finally, the committee recommend that applications for the head mastership, for the second and third masterships, and for the position of teacher of modern languages-—on the terms above stated—be at once advertised for in the newspapers in the principal cities of the colony and in the Melbourne Argus and the Australasian. “James Paterson, “ Convener of Committee. “January 10, 1879.” Mr Brandon suggested that the consideration of the report should be postponed for a week. This was the first time he had heard of some of the proposals. Dr. Hector : As the matter stands at present, the masters are under notice, and at the end of the term, unless something be done, the College will be without teachers. The Chairman : Yes. Dr. Hector: There is one point which struck me, that is as to how far the constitution of the College and its position as an affiliated institution may be affected by these proposed changes. , . , . IVTr. Hutchison : 7. cion t think that consideration comes in. We looked at that matter carefully. , , , , Dr. Hector : For instance, thereportstat.es that the head master shall teach classics in every branch. • The Rev. Mr. Paterson : Qualified to Dr. Hector : Yes, qualified to teach ; and so with the second master, which seems to indicate a wish that each master shall take a class and teach it in all branches. The Rev. Mr. Paterson : It. is as well to understand that the report is simply the opinion of the committee, and may not be adopted by the Board.. There is one matter which deserves immediate attention, that is the advertising for new masters. Dr. Hector : And that almost involves the adoption of the report ; because there are several thing 3 to be considered which might affect the position of masters. Mr. Brandon : There is one proposition which seems to amount to a division of the institution into two schools. Dr. Hector : Yes ; I rather like the idea.. It might be a very good plan to make one a commercial school and the upper school more in the nature of a college. The Chairman : With a. preliminary examination for boys who . might wish . to go into the upper school without first going through the lower one ? Dr. Hector : If the upper school were affiliated to the University, they would have to pass a matriculation examination. The Rev. Mr. Paterson : I think that would be far too high for boys entering the upper school. Mr. Brandon : I suppose there would not be two schools, but simply a higher and lower branch ? The Rev. Mr. Paterson : Yes; the same as in the High School in Dunedin. Professors Shand and Sale, and others advocated the plan, and it has been tried with good effect in Dunedin. After some further remarks, The Board decided to hold a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss the whole question. audit of accounts, etc., A memorandum was read from the Secretary for Education, mentioning that an auditor of accounts would be shortly appointed; and asking for certain information as to attendance at the College, number of teachers, &c.—The Secretary was directed to prepare a draft report as requested, for the consideration of the Board. The Registrar-General wrote asking for somewhat similar information. —It was resolved to comply with the request. ASSIGNMENT OF LAND. A letter was read from Messrs. Izard and Bell, asking the Board’s consent to a transfer to Johp Duthieof J. F. Margett’s interest in certain land in Willis-streefc. —The matter was referred to the Board’s solicitor for report. mr. waring taylor’s lease. Mr. Taylor wrote accepting tha offer of the Board’s terms for a renewal of his lease. —The Boaid ordered the preparation of the lease. INVESTMENT. It was resolved that £IOOO lying at the disposal of the Board should be invested at ten per cent., an offer to take it at nine per cent, not being considered satisfactory. MESSRS. HARDY AND BUCKLAND. It was agreed to give Messrs. Hardy and Buckland testimonials stating the length of their service, the cause of their dismissal (reduction of expenditure), and adding that in no respect had their services given dissatisfaction. FENCING ON KITXHKRBERT-TERRACK. Mr. Brandon was requested to see to some necessary fencing, and it was also resolved to see what repairs were requisite at the College. Messrs. Brandon, Jackson, and Gisborne, and Dr. Hector, being appointed a committee to inspect the building with that object. SCHOLARSHIPS. Mr. HUTCHISON complained that the information given in the advertisements now being published with regard to scholarships was too meagre to be of any value. He suggested thata full statement of all matters connected with the scholarships should be prepared by the secretary and published. The matter was ordered to stand over till Tuesday. , „ Other routine business haying been transacted, the meeting adjourned. A meeting of the College governors was held on Tuesday afternoon. Present: Hon. W Gisborne (chairman), his Worship the ftiayor, Rev. J. PatersoD, Dr. Hector, Messrs. Brandon, Jackson, and Hutchison. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read. and confirmed, the chairman said the first business

was the consideration of the report of the Reorganisation Committee. Mr. Brandon thought that as the consideration of the report would probably bring up the names of individual masters, and their respective merits might have to be discussed, it would- be as well that the reporters should not be represented. He moved that the representatives of the Press be requested to withdraw. Mr. Jackson seconded. He thought a good many personal matters .might crop up which the governors would desire to speak of .in private. Mr. Hutchison opposed the motion, stating that he believed the shroud of mystery which had in the past surrounded the doings of the governors had been one of the main causes of non-success. He could not see that personal questions were likely to arise, and if so, he felt that Mr. Wilson’s interest would best be served bv the fullest publicity. Dr. Hector and the Rev. Mr. Paterson supported the motion, which was duly put and carried. The reporters then left. Subsequently the secretary informed our representative that the report had been considered, and the governors had decided to offer Mr. Wilson the office of principal at the salary proposed by the report, and to advertise for a second master, to teach classics and English, a mathematical master, and a teacher of modern languages. On those portions of the report which deal with the fees to be charged, girls’ school, and other matters, no decision was arrived at. At a meeting of the Scholarship Committee of the Wellington Education Board held on Tuesday it was decided to recommend for the consideration of the Board atitsnextmeetiogthe desirableness of establishing seven scholarships of the total value of £l5O, to be given annually and to be tenable for two years. The committee propose to allocate the scholarships as follows : one of the value of £3O per annum to the Wellington City schools ; one of the value of £3O to the \Vairarapa schools ; one of the value of £3O to the Wellington Country Districts Schools ; one of £2O, two of £ls, and one of £lO to be open to all comers in the Wellington Educational District, no matter from what particular school district. The committee recommend that the whole of these scholarships shall be open to competition by all children of a school age in the Educational District, irrespective of whether they are attendants at Board schools or not ; and that they shall be tenable at any school under the Board of Education, or any educational establishment (at which the higher education is taught) submitting itself to inspection by the Board’s inspector, and coming out of the test creditably. The committee suggest that the scholarship standard shall embrace similar subjects to those forming the ordinary sixth standard, and further, that any candidate to be successful shall obtain at least two-thirds of the maximum number of marks. WELLINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE. A meeting of delegates from the various school committees in the City of Wellington was held on Friday in the Mayor’s room, Corporation offices. There were present: —Thorndon —J. Woodward, A. T. Maginnity, C. Richardson, W. F. Parsons. Te Aro—Ven. Archdeacon Stock, L. Wilson, R. Gardner. Terrace—W. Baird, Rev. W. H. West, A. Lindsay, J. Burne. Cook Ward —H. J. Blow, G. R. Russell. Mr. Woodward was voted to the chair and explained that it had been thought desirable that representatives of the various school committees should meet occasionally for the purpose of discussing matters of interest, which were common to all,, and which did not affect one school any more than another, so that there might be some unity of action in the management of schools. There were many subjects of the character indicated. Take, for instance, the question as to whether a child should be struck on the head under any pretext whatever. If he or any other member brought forward such a subject for discussion In a committee, it would at once be supposed that it was intended to have application to the school under the charge of that committee; but if meetings of representatives of all committees were held, a matter of that kind could be brought forward without such a feeling arising. So in regard to the teaching of sewing in schools. Of course the meetings must be entirely of a consultative character. They had no power to legislate, and could only recommend the respective committees to do so and so. It had been intended that he should advertise the subjects to be talked over that evening, ljut he had been unable to get information regarding the wishes of committees, therefore he had invited gentlemen to come and raise points for discussion. He had a list of several subjects, and these he would submit. The first was SHOULD SEWING BE TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS ? The Rev. Mr. West said any one who was in the habit of visiting the homes of people could not but be aware of the. necessity of girls being taught sewing, but still he thought it extremely undesirable to subtract any time from that now devoted to the study of ordinary school subjects. Inducement should be. held out to teachers to teach sewing after ordinary school hours. He moved that the committees be recommended to represent to the Board the desirableness of extending the school hours, for the purpose of allowing sewing to be taught.—Mr. Parsons seconded.—Mr Wilson thought it should be taught in school hours ; and Archdeacon Stock took the same view 7, believing it should be regarded as a necessity, not an accessory. He quite agreed with Mr. West as to the importance of sewing being taught, and would go so far as to wish to see boy 3 taught a little sewing. He thought the question would be met if the Inspector were requested to take more notice of sewing in the examinations, and therefore moved an amendment to that effect. After further discussion, iu which Messrs. Baird, . Gardner, McGinnity, and others took part, the meeting resolved in favor of teaching sewing in school within the ordinary hours.

THE PAYMENT OF TEACHERS. Mr. Wilson moved, —That in the opinion of the meeting it was desirable that local commit* tees should be the medium through which teachers shoul be paid. He explained that the committee with which he was connected had taken action in the matter, but with no success. —Mr. G. R. Russell seconded.—Mr. Blow supported the resolution. —Rev. Mr. West also supported the resolution, but remarked that as it at present stood the Education Act was an absurdity. It gave the committees a show of power, but gave the power really to the Board. It was therefore quite useless to make the request suggested by the resolution. He considered that as the committees had the nomination it should also have the privilege or duty of paying, and thereby be entrusted with control over the teachers. —Mr. Maginnity thought the committees at present had plenty of responsibility, and should not ask for more. The committees were only in office for twelve months, and could not perform so satisfactorily as permanent offiers the duty of paying teachers and keeping accounts. —The Chairman: The resolution only asks that the committee shall be the medium. —Mr. Parsons could uot see the value of such a power.—Mr. Gardner supported the motion.—After further discussion the motion was negatived by 6 to 5. REMOVAL OF TEACHERS. Mr. Wilson moved, —That in the opinion of this meeting no teacher should be removed by the Board from any school without the committee of such school first being consulted. He said at the Te Aro school lately a teacher had been suddenly removed to fill a country vacancy, and a school of 275 children thus left with but one master. —In answer to questions, it transpired that the Board had no power to dismiss a teacher without consulting the committee, but could remove.—The CHAIRMAN: No doubt they have the power, but we ask them not to exercise it. —Archdeacon Stock said the fact was the Education Act was lamentably defective, and required amendment perhaps in this respect. He had come to the conclusion that either the School Committees or the Board was surplusage in the system. He should like to see the committees given more power, and the Board wiped out altogether. (Hear, hear.) But at present the Board was, like the Committees, bound by the law.—Mr. Maginnity hoped the Committees would not a9k too much. The care referred to by Mr. Wilson was an emergency, and the Inspector had a right to act as he did. -—The Chairman thought that no answer on the general question. At any rate the motion, would call attention to the condition of the Act.—The motion was carried unanimously. MODE OF PUNISHMENT. The Chairman moved that the committees be requested to issue a regulation that no teacher be allowed under any circumstances to strike a child on the head. There could be no doubt that the practice was dangerous, and could not be too strictly prohibited.—Mr. Wilson mentioned an instance where a child attending school in Wellington had been injured. In answer to Archdeacon Stock, the Chairman said he had not heard that the practice was general, but that it was done occasionally.—The Rev. Mr. West, while a supporter of corporeal punishment in schools, quite agreed with the motion. —The resolution was agreed to unanimously. savings banks in schools. The next question brought forward was that of the propriety of establishing penny banks in connection with the various schools. Some five years ago he had started a penny bank in connection with the Te Aro school. He now had upwards of £3OO deposited in a bank to the credit of the children, and he had £l2 in hand. This had been contributed by 190 children, and the average sum paid iu was lOd. Each child entering was charged a penny for a book, and was allowed to pay in any sum at entrance, but after the first payment not more than Is. a week. This idea in making that regulation was to prevent parents depositing money. They ought to go to the Post Office Savings Banks. He entered into some details to show how the security of the bank could be insured, and said, although the objection as to the limited tenure of office of the committeemen might be made, still it would most frequently happen that at least two-thirds of the committee would be reelected, so that interest in the institution would be sustained in that way.—Mr. Maginnity thought the principal objection was the question of keeping the accounts. If the head master could be induced to keep the accounts it would be all very well, but if it were left to the committee the work would fall on one committeeman practically, and if that particular gentleman were not re-elected there might be confusion. Messrs. Wilson, West, and Gardner supported the idea of establishing banks.—Mr. Blow thought the .committee would be in the hands of the head master.— Mr. Maginnity said no doubt there would be some difficulty in that respect in connection with these banks, as there was in the Government Post Office Baks. —Considerable discusgjQjj ensued m reg'ard to the question of keeping accounts, and the security of the monies.— Ultimately it was resolved to adjourn the further consideration of the matter for a fortnight. SCHOOL OOMMTTTBKS ACCOUNTS. The Chairman drew attention to a peculiar clause in the new regulations just issued. It provided for the appointment of auditors of committees’ accounts by the committees themselves. It was exceedingly convenient for committees perhaps, but scarcely business-like. WELLINGTON COLLEGE EXHIBITIONS. The Rev. Mr. West drew attention to the fact that there were offered a number of scholarships open for competition among State school boys, and tenable at the Wellington College, but complained that only the most meagre information was available. It would be well if there was more publicity, because it would put the masters of the various schools on their mettle. The Chairman said he had been informed that at a meeting held that afternoon the College Governors had decided to publish full

information on the point.—The Rev. Mr. West •bserved that in that case it was not necessary to make a motion.—The Chairman incidentally remarked that some of the scholarships had' been established out of the profits of the old Welliagton Savings Bank. COMPULSORY CLAUSES OP THE ACL, Mr. Wilson enquired if any committees had taken steps to give effect to the compulsory the Act ?—The Chairman believed not, ancl conceived it would be worse than useless to attempt to do so while there was not enough accommodation for the children sent to schooL VOTES OP THANNS. Votes of thanks were passed to the Mayor for his kindness in placing the room at the disposal of the meeting, and to Mr. Woodward for presiding. The meeting then adjourned for a fortnight. The members of the conference of school committees which met last Friday will be glad to learn that the question of penny banks has been brought under the notice of the [Education Department. All arrangements have been px-etty well perfected, and the new experiment will commence when the schools reassemble. The necessary books and forms would have been issued before this had it not been for tbe block in the printing office. No difficulty is anticipated by the authorities in regard to the account keeping. Penny-bank journals have been prepared by the postal depai'tment which will render the account keeping a very simple matfcei. These journals will be forwarded to the Central Board, for distribution to the local school committees. It will rest with them to appoint trustees and treasurers. In many cases the master will probably undertake this duty of cashier. In England there has been no difficulty, as we are informed, in finding volunteers for the office. Under the new regulations any individual scholar having saved five shillings may at once transfer his account to the Post Office Savings Bank without expense, two banks will be connected. This establishment of penny banks has long been under consideration, and is now likely to be at once started in all schools where there is likely to be a sufficient number of investors to make it worth while.