WELLINGTON TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4153, 13 July 1874, Page 3

WELLINGTON TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above association was held on Saturday last, Mr. Holmes in the chair. The meeting took into consideration the minutes of the 20th of June, which were not hitherto made public, waiting their consideration by the Wellington Education Board. The resolutions resulted from a recent cifflralar issued by the Education Board, and according to them the teachers are now compelled "to purchase their books from the New Zealand Educational Depository," also "to obtain at their own cost a sufficient supply of firewood, chalk, pens, ink, paper, and penholders, and to defray all cost of school cleaning, sanitary labor, postage and carriage of books, &c. To cover these expenses the Education Board will allow a capitation fee to the teachers of one shilling yearly for each child as appearing in the Inspector's reports, payment made halfyearly, on condition that the schools be furnished with the necessary materials, and the schoolrooms kept clean and well ordered to the satisfaction of the Inspector and the local committees of advice." The resolutions were as follow :

" That this meeting is of opinion, Ist. That teachers will be unable, without loss to themselves, to provide fuel for their respective schools for any leas sums than the following, viz. : In town schools, £2 10s. per fireplace ; in country schools, £2. 2nd. That the allowance mentioned by the Board, namely, one shilling per head per child, will barely suffice to provide stationery alone, and is actually loss' than is allowed for the same purposes at Home. 3rd. That the cleaning and sanitary arrangements, so far as regards town schools, would bo moro economically and efficiently done by contract, and„ that two and sixpence per week

would be a fair allowance for each country school. 4th. That the Board Bhould be respectfully requested to reconsider their resolution with respect to the retention of the one month's salary, on the following grounds, viz: 1. That the Board no longer require the money as a guarantee against the supply of books in the hands of the masters. 2. That the teachers are now required by the recent regulation of the Board to expend a sum of ready money in the purchase of school books, which under present circumstances many will be unable to afford. sth. That in making out the average attendance per month teachers should be permitted to exclude days on which the attendance is greatly reduced by bad weather. 6th. That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Board aud that the Chairman and Secretary, Messrs. Holmes and Newlyn, be appointed a committee to see that such be done. '

At the meeting held on Saturday, the Secretary stated he had received the following reply from the Secretary of the Education Board : Education Board, Wellington, July 11, 187-I.' Mr. J. Hurley, Secretary Teachers' Association, Wellington.

Sir,- —I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of yours of 29th June, with certain resolutions passed at a meeting of the Teachers' Association, which were duly laid before the Board at their last meeting, and I am instructed to inform you that the Board came to the following decision thereanent: —" That in any town school where the incidental expenses are not covered by the capitation allowance of one shilling per head, the Board will protect the teachers from any considerable loss, if it can be shown that the expenses incurred have been ordinary and not excessive. That the Board did not wish materially to alter the pecuniary position formerly held by the teachers, either for better or worse, and that the teachers were still expected, if necessary, to carry out the former arrangements as to fuel—viz., by levying a small subscription from all the children attending school. That the Board declined to rescind their former resolution as to the retention of a month's salary, or to become responsible in any way for liabilities incurred by the teachers in the purchase of school requisites, nor were they willing to depart from their present regulations as to average attendance."—l have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Chakles C. Graham, Secretary.

The consideration of the foregoing reply was left over till next meeting, to be held Bth August ; also the appointment of Chairman and Treasurer.

The following resolution was earned unanimously :—" That our Secretary be directed to write to the Secretary of the Otago Education Board with a view of ascertaining how many vacancies there are in the Otago schools, and what salary classified teachers would be likely to get there." The meeting then adjourned with a vote of thanks to the chairman.