Education.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 385, 28 June 1879, Page 21

Education.

BOARD OF EDUCATION. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Education Board was held ou Wednesday. There were present the Hon. C. J. Pharazyn (chairman ) Veu. Archdeacon Stock, Rev. J. Paterson, Messrs. Heetham, Hutchison, Bunny, Toomath, and G. Pharazyn. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. FINANCE. The Chairman stated that the payments made since last month had been £2574 7s. 6d. The sum of £3140 19s. 3d. was to the credit of the banking account.

The pay-sheet for June, amounting to £202 10s. Id., was passed for payment. The building account showed that the money at the disposal of the Board was £4148 10s. 3d. About £12,000 was wanted, so that there was a deficiency of about £BOOO.

Some discussion took place as to whether the money had yet been placed at the disposal of the Board by the Government. The Chairman stated that estimates of the cost had been sent in to the Government, but nothing further had been done, and the Government had not yet replied. A question was raised as to which was the most urgent school to be built, some of the members being of opinion that those most required should be proceeded with at once with what funds were in hand.

Eventually it was decided that until a reply had been received from the Government no tenders should be accepted for the erection of schools in excess of the funds shown to be available for such works.

It was then proposed by Mr. Toomath that the Thorndon and Newtown schools be the first works proceeded with—Thorndon first, Newtown second.

A discussion took place as to which of the schools should be built first.

Mr. Paterson moved that steps be taken to at once call for tenders for the three schools, Thorndon, Newtown, and Te Aro, as these, being equally important, he thought should be proceeded with together. Mr. Toomath’s motion was ultimately carried. TERRACE SCHOOL. The Rev. J. Paterson moved, —That having received an application from the Terrace School Committee to form the Terrace school into a District High School, the Board approve of, and agree to the application of the committee, subject to the sanction of the Minister of Education, in terms of section 53 of the Education Act. He considered it was the duty of the Board to foster and encourage the best education in the power of the Board to give in the primary schools. There was clearly a gap between the primary schools and the College, and the Board should endeavor to fill up this gap. The boys who went from the primary schools to the College, although being well up in English, had no knowledge of the rudiments of Latin or Greek, and this placed them at a disadvantage. He advocated teachers forming classes for Latin and Greek. He mentioned two teachers who were willing to do this. It had been urged that two classes would be fostered in the schools, but this was absurd, for all were on the feame footing, payment only being made for the higher branches of education. He moved that the application from the Terrace School Committee be granted. Mr. Hutchison seconded.

The Chairman said that he believed ou good authority that the Minister of Education would not agree to this, as it would be weakening the influence of the College. The question of a deputation to wait upon the Minister upon the subject was mooted, but the suggestion was not entertained. A general discussion ensued. Mr. TOOMATH warmly supported the present system. Archdeacon Stock followed in the same strain, as he considered the motion would be the means of forming two separate classes in the schools, and perhaps cause the teachers to neglect the lower classes in order to attend to the higher ones. Mr. Bunny entirely endorsed these views, and opposed the motion. Mr. C. Pharazyn also opposed the motion. The Inspector was in favor of enlarging the present system of education, and agreed with Mr. Paterson. The same objections urged against the extra subjects could be just as reasonably advanced in regard to music, drawing, &c. Mr. Paterson, in reply, would be sorry if the motiou were lost, for he considered most of the objections urged against it were purely imaginary. He thought the feeling shown was the old conservative feeling, which was averse to giving the lads of the town anything more than au ordinary education. The motiou was lost on a division of five to three. A NORMAL SCHOOL. Mr. Beetham moved, —That immediate action be taken to provide normal education within the educational district of Wellington. He said that £BOOO had been voted by Government for this object, and this vote had been taken advantage of in the Southern districts. He thought the Board should take immediate steps in the matter, and secure their share of £2OOO that Mr. Ballance had promised to agaiu place ou the estimates. He thought the question should be considered by the Building Committee in conjunction with the Inspector. Some desultory discussion ensued. In reply to Mr. Paterson the Inspector explained that the pupil teachers should be taken in hand and taught their work. There should be a normal master, an educational library, lecture hall, &c. If there was such a school there was scarcely a master in the province who would not gladly avail himself of it. The motion was adopted, and it was decided that the carrying out of the resolution be referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs.

Hutchison, Beetham, Hon. C. J. Pharazyn’ Toomath, Paterson, and Gisborne. competitive designs. Mr. Beetham moved that the origiual resolution ordering competitive designs to be called for previous to the erection of new school buildings be rescinded. Mr. Toomath had previously moved the motion, but it was lost in the absence of several members, and he therefore brought the subject up agaiu. Mr. Bunny seconded the motion. The Rev. Mr. Paterson objected to the passage of the motion, as the matter had already been fully discussed and decided. Mr. Toomath supported the motion at some length. After some further discussion the motion was put and carried. featiierston school. Mr. C. Pharazyn moved that this school be formed iuto a district high school. He merely made this motion in response to the request of the committee. He di<l not think the arguments with reference l Mie Terrace school would apply to this cas-, ... this was a country school. The motion was oa*-v’<»d. PAYMENT OF EX L K SRS. Archdeacon Stock moved after the sittings of the Board members’ expenses be reimbursed by the treasurer. His own expenses were trifling, as he generally bad a few buns when detained iu town ; but there were other members who came from a distance, who were no doubt put to greater expense. He said the Board was always being snubbed by the papers upon the desultory way in which the business was transacted. If they were treated with proper respect lie should not have moved in the matter, but he thought under the circumstances they were entitled to their expenses. Mr. Hutchison thought if they were paid according to the length of the snubbing, they would be well paid. A general expression of opinion was made that the motion was only fair and reasonable. Mr. Toomath referred to the old Board, where travelling expenses for country members were allowed. He said the result of this was that the country members only came into town to the Board meetings when they had private business to transaot. They got the coppers and not the kicks, while the town members, who transacted all the Board business, got all the kicks but no coppers. The Rev. Mr. Paterson thought it was a serious reflection on those gentlemeu to say that they came into town to do their own business, and got their expenses paid. Mr. Toomath : I did not say so.

The Rev. Mr. Paterson said that was the impression Mr. Toomath’s remarks left on his mind, and he considered the statement most uncalled for. He therefore moved that Mr. Toomath be called upon to withdraw the statement. Mr Toomath : What statement ?

The Rev. Mr. Paterson : That the country members allowed the town members to do the work for them and get all the kicks, while the former came into town upon their private business and got the coppers. Mr. Toomath disclaimed having said anything of the kind. He had been guarded in what he said, which was that country members only came in and attended to the Board meetings when they had business of their own to transact.

The Rev. Mr. Paterson failed to see any difference between this and what was objected to.

Mr. Toomath indignantly denied having cast any reflection upon the country members of the old Board. He was not goijig to receive any leßSonß upon either Christianity or morality from the Rev. Air. Paterson, as he considered he knew how to conduct himself as a gentleman before Air. Paterson was born. He was not going to let Air. Paterson put anything into his mouth. He had tried to do it once before. He appealed to the other members of the Board to state what their impressions of his remarks were.

Air. C. Pharazyn said his impression had been the same as the Rev. Air. Paterson’s, and he was glad Mr. Toomath had had an opportunity of explaining himself. Air. Toomath was glad of this too, as he would not have liked such an impression to go abroad through the Press. Mr. Bunny thought the matter had better drop. Archdeacon Stock did not think every member should te paid, but only that those who were put to expense should not be allowed to suffer personal loss. He did not object personally to paying sixpence or so, but still, whether it were sixpence or six pounds he did not think he ought to pay it. Air. Hutchison advocated the granting of free railway passes for country members. After some further discussion, the motion was put and carried. The Board adjourned for lunch at 1.45 p.m., resuming at 2.30 p.m. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the committee of the Thorndon school, upon the subject of providing more school accommodation there, but it was decided that this subject had been disposed of by Air. Toomath’s motion previously carried. A letter was received from the Terrace School Committee applying for additions, and for the appointment of a music master. It was decided that want of funds would prevent the required additions being made, and the Inspector was directed to make inquiries and report fully to the Board a 3 to the appointment of a music master. On the application of the Greytown School Committee the sum of £22 was ordered to be voted for the erection of a chimney. A similar application was made by the committee of the Waihenga School, and authority was given for the erection of a chimney.

A letter was read from the Terrace School Committee as to the legality of the election of the committee. The Board decided that if Dr. Newman was a resident at the time of the election he was legally elected. A report from the Alasterton School Committee on the subject of a school at Xuripuni

was ordered to be forwarded to the residents the latter district.

Mr. Gordon, second master at Alasterton, wrote forwarding his resignation. The resignation was accepted, and the Appointment of Teachers Committee was authorised to advertise for applications for the vacant position. In response to a communication upon the subject, authority was given for making seven pupil teachers' desks for the Thorndon School.

Air. Brown, master of Johnsonville School, wrote forwarding bis resignation, which was accepted. An application from the master of the Kaiwaiwai School, - for allowance of house rent, was refused, as the Board considered there was sufficient accommodation there.

Authority was given for fencing the school grounds at the Upper Hutt and Aluugaroa, and a further sum of £ls was voted towards the completion of the Taita School buildings. With reference to the application of Mr. Porrit, master of the Greytown School, the Board decided that the whole of his salary be paid, as they considered lie was entitled to it. ECHO LA RSH IP EXAM I NATION. The Board decided to appoint Mr. Gammell to conduct the examinations for the Board scholarships, in conjunction with Air. AVest, appointed last meeting. EDUCATION ACT. Certain amendments in the Education Act, suggested by the joint city schools committees, were ordered to be forwarded to the Aliuister of Education. DESIGNS FOR NEW SCHOOLS. On the recommendation of the Building Committee, the design bearing the motto “Wellington,” for the Newtown school, as amended, was accepted, and authority was given for drawing up specifications and calling for tenders for the work. The design of Mr. Thos. Turnbull, for the Te Aro school, was accepted by the Building Committee, subject to the approval of the School Committee. NEW SCHOOL SITE. Authority was given for fixing the seal of the Board to the lease of a site in Upper Willis-street, recently acquired from Air. Richardson. The Inspector reported that there were some weekly tenants occupying land aud cottages on a portion of this ground. The Board decided to allow them to continue in occupation until the ground was wanted. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr. Beetham was authorised to take the necessary steps for having water-closets erected at the school at Eketahuna. The Inspector stated that in a school which he mentioned the committee had curtailed the school hours during the winter months, and he doubted whether they had the power to do this. The Board decided that this could not be done under the regulations. The Rev. Air. Paterson mentioned a case where the committee bad let the schoolhouse for a meeting, and had given the children a holiday. The Board considered they had no power to do this, but the occasion referred to might have been a special occasion. They did not think the committee were likely to abuse their trust in the matter. The Secretary reported the reception of a petition upon the question of making the Terrace School a high school after the subject had been decided by the Board. NOTICES OF MOTION. Air. Beetham to move, —“ That the Board appoint its own architect.” The Ven. Archdeacon Stock to move, — “ That at the meetings of committees of the Board two members shall consitnte a quorum.” The Board rose at 4.15 p.m.