OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 27 November 1880, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the Oamaru Schools Committee was held last evening at the Secretary's office. There were present—Messrs. Fleming (Chairman), Smith, Stevenson, Forrester, Mollison, Mitchell, Bee, and Hardy (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The Secretary to the Education Board wrote forwarding copies of the Inspector's reports on the state of the three schools. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Education Board in reply to a resolulution passed by the Committee with reference to the non-providing of a substitute for Mr. Fidler during his. absence. The writer referred the Committee to a telegram from the Bector, in- which that gentleman stated.that he could manage without a substitute.' Some discussion took place upon the. matter, during which several members expressed regret that the Rector, in bringing the matter before the Committee, jhad omitted to place the full facts before them. It was resolved on the. motion of, Mr. Stevenson, seconded, by Mr. Forrester, " That the Secretary be instructed to in-

form the Education Board that at the time the instruction to write to the Board in reference to the application for a substitute for Mr. Fidler, during his absence for examination, -was given, the Committee were not acquainted with the nature of the telegram which had been sent by the Rector in reply to the letter of the Board dated October Ist, 1880 ; the Secretary further to state that this is another proof that all communications from and to the Education Board should pass through the Secretary of the Committee." The Secretary was directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Rector.

A circular from Mr. J. Robin was read enclosing the following proposed alterations. in the Education Act passed at a meeting of a number of Chairmen of School Committees in and around Dunedin.

Ist. It was resolved to endeavor to get the Act amended, so that the appointment clauses be more clearly defined, and to recommend that in the interests of education the school committees in the various districts shall—subject to the approval of the Education Board—elect the teachers; but that no assistant teacher be appointed without the head master (who is responsible for the success of the school) being consulted as to the eligibility of the candidates. 2nd. That the character book now kept in the Education Office instead of being kept private, as at present, should be open for inspection to the teachers themselves and to the chairmen of school committees. 3rd. That the Education Board be requested to forward to committees the names of each and every one of the candidates for any vacancies requiring to be filled. 4th. That, at the coming elections for members of the Education Board, committees should vote for gentlemen only who will favor an amendment of the Act in the direction indicated, and will pledge themselves that the Board in the meantime will exercise their powers, as far as they can do so, in accordance with these resolutions. The Committee expressed concurrence with the first and third recommendations, and dissent from the second and fourth. The mid-summer vacation was fixed to commence on the 17th December, and continue for six weeks.

Leave, of absence was granted to Miss Cooke, Mr. M'Donald, and Mr. Forbes, from the afternoon of the 15th December until the close of the vacation.

The question of giving prizes at the close of the session: was brought before cthe Committee by Messrs. Peattie and Lindsay.—lt was resolved to express the sympathy of the . Committee with the object, and a desire that the masters would act in concert in raising a fund for procuring prizes.

Mi-. Mitchell gave notice of his intention to move at next meeting, " That the compulsory clauses of the Education Act be brought into force in Oamaru."