EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8523, 1 November 1888, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

Tilt* rn- nth'v <>f the Education E-.ard was held n tho Board’s office yes-tt.-ulay morning. -There were present Messrs Biair (uliatrinai;), Bunny, Young, Buchanan, M.H.R , Eraser, and Rev J. Paterson. The ,»ay-sheet, which amounted to L2J4B BJs 4d, was passed for payment. Mr J. Young staved that there was some dissatisfaction existing in consequence of the recent, reduction of salaries, Tho Chairman thought that the dissatisfaction was principally confined to tho unclassified teachers, who received 800 a year, and those classified assistants who were paid about LBO. As far as ho could judge, the reductions seemed fair and reasonable. Mr Young said he had heard that L 5 a year had been taken off teachers who were in receipt of L4oand LSO, while the salaries of tho Board’s officers were untouched. Mr Bunny was of opinion that the Board had dealt very liberally with the teachers all round, and he objected to the matter being discussed upon mere gossip and without notice. Some further discussion having taken place, the subjeot was dropped. The Chairman stated that the Government had agreed to give an advance of L 1271 Os 6d on the building account for the purpose of carrying out repairs at a number of schools. It was decided that the Inspector and Board’s architect (Mr T. Turnbull) should examine the schools requiring improvement, and call for tenders, to be submitted at the next meeting of the Board. Pour months’ leave of absence was granted to Messrs Buchanan and Beetham, two months to Mr A. W. Brown, and one month to Dr Newman.

Circulars from the Education Department in reference to the syllabus of the Art for Schools Association, and from the South Canterbury Board on the subject of “Strict Average,” were referred to the Inspector to report on. The North Canterbury Board forwarded a circular controverting the education statement of last session, which had reference to the alleged extravagance of Boards in regard to building. The Chairman expressed the opinion that the statement was vitiated by the fact that the Minister had started from a false basis, and he pointed out that buildings could now be erected for from 30 to 50 per cent cheaper than was the case some ten or twelve years ago, upon which period the calculations in the Minister’s paper had been founded, Mr Buchanan thought the Board had not kept as tight a band upon the extravagant tendency of architects than a private employer would have done, and all over the district more money had been spent than was needed for the accommodation provided. With these exceptions he agreed with the Chairman,* and he considered that the Minister’s paper was unjustifiable and ill-thought out. The Board decided to acknowledge the receipt of the circular. Mr J. B. Stewart, pupil-teacher at Mount Cook, and .Mr William Mansill, teacher at Dreyerton, forwarded their resignations, which were accepted. Miss A. Lockie’s leave of absence was extended till the end of the year. A month’s leave of absence was granted to Miss Emily Browne, of Yogeltown. An application for extension of leave by Miss E. Davis, of Porirua, was refused. An application for an aided school at Shannon was referred to the Chairman and Inspector to deal with. Permission was given to Mr N. A. Anderson to clear trees from several of the Board’s sections at Manakaju, on the condition that he did the work thoroughly.

The Maaterton Committee wrote drawing attention to the unsatisfactory sanitary arrangements at the' Maaterton school. The Board agreed to defray half the cost of affecting improvements. ‘ With regard to the application from Tauhercpikau for a grant for repairs, it v was decided to inform the Committee that they would have to do the work out of the money they have in hand. It was decided that tenders should be called for the provision of increased accommodation at Waihenga. A grant of 1A was made to the Wadestown Committee for repairs. Permission was given to the Upper Hutt Committee to sell the old schoolhouse, for which they stated they could get L 7, and with which sum they intended to erect shelter sheds. The Porirua Committee forwarded a copy of : the following resolution which was passed at a recent meeting of the Conimittee :-7-f* That the Chairman bring under the notice of the Education Board that at the late examination of this school the Inspector*, marked questions in arithmetic wrong that; -were perfectly correct, and that the Committee consider the action of the Inspector in upbraiding the schoolmaster in presence of,the pupils as tending to weaken the authority of the master over the children, and that .the Committeeia thoroughly dissatisfied with the manner in which the examination was conducted,, and that “this Committee has ho confidence in the Inspector.!’ Mr Lee (School Inspector) said that the Committee knew nothing about the . matter. The examination was far from satisfactory, and of course the master, had been hauled over the coals, and he had now:to act on the defensive. Mr Bunhy thought that if it was the master’s action it was a question whether they should not get rid of him. If, on investigation, it was found that the Inspector was right, then they should give the master notice. The , Rev J. Paterson said he had heard that the Inspector had spoken to teachers before their pupils, and, if that was so, he considered it was very wrong, as .it tended to lower the master in the children's eyes. The Chairman pointed out that last month there was some trouble abont the wrong marking of the register at this school, and the master had taken a holiday without leave. Mr Lee said it was possible that ho might have marked a sum wrong, -blit such a thing would bo very rare. A boy, for instance, might have taken, a sum down wrongly. Ho went on to say that there had been several irregularities in this and altogether it was thoroughly unsatisfactory. It had been his custom to criticise the work of a school, and he considered that an inspector would be useless if he were not critical, for it was by this criticism thathereally benefited thesyatem. Speaking to a teacher privately would, he thought, make no good impression. The Rev J. Paterson quite agreed that an inspector should be critical, but that criticism should net be given before the pupils. It was subversive of all .discipline, and many of the children would chuckle over the Inspector “ going for ” the teacher, and it would give the teacher severe pain. Mr Eraser was of opinion that the teacher should not be subjected to any reproach from the Inspector before the pupils. ‘ The Chairman thought that if Mr Lee told a teacher before his class that he was stupid, that he acted very wrongly. Mr Lee said he did not do that. He criticised the work openly, but he did not tell the teacher ho was this or that before the pupils. To bally a master before the children would be decidedly wrong. Eventually a committee consisting of the Chairman and Messrs Fraser

and the Rev J. Paterson was appointed to! fully investigate the matter. _ j The opening uf tenders for the erection Jof a school at Mangatainoko was postponed. It appeared that the school 'site | ig surrounded by fallen bush which is not yet burnt. It was decided not to call for tenders untill the land is cleared, and that an iron roof should be substituted in place of » wooden, one specified in the plans. ! Tho acceptance of a tender for the alteration of the Gladstone School was left in the Chairman’s hands. It was decided that tenders should be called for the erection of an additional class-room at Vogeltowc. Permission was given to Mr A. D. ■ Riley, Principal of the School of Design, to act as examiner of drawing under the Education Department, The Board decided to pay the proprietors of the Ngauranga Hall the sum of ; Ll 6 per annum for the use of the building for school purposes. The Board then adjourned.