WELLINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5550, 11 January 1879, Page 3

WELLINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Ameetingof delegates from the various school committees in the City of Wellington was held last evening tho Mayor’s room. Corporation offices.

There were present;—Thorndon—J. Woodward, A. T. Maginnity, O. Richardson, W. F. Parsons. To 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 iu the management of schools. There were many subjects of the character indicated. Take, for instance, the question as to whether n 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, but 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 bo 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, 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 boys taught a little sewing. He thought the question would be met if the Inspector were requested to take more notice of sewing iu the examinations, and therefore moved an amendment to that effect. After further discussion, in which Messrs. Baird, Gardner, MoGinnity, 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 opiniou of the meeting it was desirable that local committees should be the medium through which teachers shoul be paid. He explained that the committee with which he was connected had taken action iu 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 tho Board. It was therefore quite useless to make v tho 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 wot see the value of such a power.—Mr. Gardner supported the motion.—After further discussion the motion was negatived by 6 to 5.

REMOVAL OP 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. Ha said at the Te Aro school lately a teacher had been suddenly removed to fill a country vacancy, and aschoolof 275 children thus left with but onemaster.—ln 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 detective, and required amendment perhaps in this respect. He had come to the conclusion that either the School Committees or the Beard 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 ask 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 OP PUNISHMENT. Tho Chairman moved that the committees be requested to issue a regulation that no teacher te 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 ho had not beard 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 hod started a penny bank in connection with the Te Aro school. He now had upwards of £303 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 in 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 bo reelected. so that interest in the institution would bo 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 iu that respect in connection with these banks, as there was in the Government Post Office Bales.—Considerable discussion ensued in regard 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 COMMITTEES’ 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 Kev. 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 observed 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 Wellington Savings Bank. COMPULSORY CLAUSES OF THE AM, Mr. Wilson enquired if any committees had taken steps to give effect to the compulsory clauses of the Act ?— I The Chairman believed not, and 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 OF 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.