EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 848, 9 September 1864, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD.

A special meeting1 of the Education Board was held in the office of the Provincial Secretary, yestmlsy, afcnoon. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair, nnd there were also pvasent Mr Patersou, Provincial Secretary ; Mr Clapcott, Provincial Treasurer; and Mr Miller, Secretary of Public Works.

The minutes ot the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

THE MINIMUM! BATE OP SCHOOIi FEES

The Secretary aanounced that 113 had received a number of cjoununieations from District School Committees throughout ths country, complaining of the increased rate of school fees fixed by the Board. There were al-o several deputations present to support their memorials, He would read the communications themselves. The Blue=kin School Committee wrote stating their belief that the new rate of fees would prove disastrous to the interests of their school; and, considering the requirements of the district, they asked that some modification in the minimum r-ite might be made. The North East Valley School Committee believed the new minimum rate would be detrimental to their school, unless it was placed on an equality with the Dunsdin schools, for the proximity of the North Dunerlin School would cause parents to send their children there, where the fees were considerably leas. The North Taieri School Committee received with reirret the increased |s«ale of fees fixed by the Board, and believed tbat it would not only greatly reduce the number of scholars, but would also tend to lower tli3 tone of education throughout the Province. Thft East Taieri School Committee wrote expressing a strong and unanimous opinion against the new rate of fees. The Waikari School Committee stated that the proposed change in the fees; would be most hurtful to the interests of their side school, because a number of parents would withdraw their children from the school if the new rate of fees was inti'odu"ed The Anderson's Bay District School Committee sent a petition to his Honor the Superintendent setting forth their belief that the rate has been fixed far too high, for the majority of parents in the district would not be able to pay the rates, and the effect would b3 the diminishing of the scholars by a very large number. They prayed that the rate should be reduced so as to bring educution withia the reach of every person in the The 'Portobello School Committee also stated that any alteration from the present rates would be highly detrimental to the interests of the school in' that district, because the present rates were as high as the residents in the district could afford to pay. A. higher rafe would have the effect of banishing the poorer class of children from the school.

The Green Tsland School Committee wrote asking that the minimum rate fixed by the Board should be-reduced. Mr H. F. Hardy, Secretary of the Danedm District Schor)] Committee, was in attendance, and presented the following memorial on this suV>j°cfc:— " The Memorial of the District School Teachers constituting the ' Educational Institute,' in meeting assembled at the AtheDjeum, Bunedin, on the 6th August, 1854, to the President and Members of Education Board ot the Province of Obago, " Bespeofcfuily sheweth, that your memorialists

beg to submit, in reference to the proposed in crease in the scale of school fees, that t>iey unanimously believe that if the same be carried into eftvct it wili be most iujizrioa< to the interests of education, and that they venture to offer Ihe following reasous which have led them to such a conclusion : —

" Ist. Because your memorialists are in a position to know that many parents are unable to pay the advanced ssale, and would therefore be under the necessity of withdrawing their children. , * *• 2nd. Because under these circumstances the revenue from fees would not be augmented, and that therefore the desircl end, namely, the lightening of the educational tax would not bs attained.

" 3rd. Because parent?in better circumstances consider that they do already, by the oparating of the tax, virtually |>ay an increased charge for their children, in proportion to their wealth.

"4th Because the new regulation does not allow uf the usnal -reduction being made when several clii'dren from the same family attend, as is the case in most countries, where education is fostered by the State, and because your memorialists feel that the same consideration is necessary in this Province.

'' sth. Because the necessity of making special application t^ the School Committees for the remission of the fees, in who'e or in part, would not have a beneficial tendency: a*, generally, those who are most, deserving con>idfiration in this respect are the persons who would not be likely to apply for the same, and, on the same principle of sjU'-respect, would not it is feared, send their children to a " Kacrged or Free School" —a feeling your memorialists consider it is cot desirable to d'scourage.

" 6th, Because the experience'of the teachers in t.lieiv respective districts has convinced them that the proposed augmentation of ihe fees to so great an extent is receive:! very unfavorably by the parents and the friends of Education generally; and the teachers usually having to collect the fees, the odium caused by the increased scale would in a great measure fall upon them. "7 th' Your memorialists, however, believe that if only a very slight increase be made, the parents would not be obliged to withdraw their children, and thus, in so far as education is concerned, the greatest good to the greatest number would be afforded as heretofore under the present scaie. " Your memorialists beg to submit that although it may be desirable to fix a scale <>f fees, in some districts differing from that in others, yet they believe that the circumstances of the parents residing in the suburbs of Dunedin are so similar to those in town, that the inhabitants of those districts may think it unfair to charge them a higher fee, and your memorialists fear that it would be found inoperative in practice. "In conclusion, your memorialists in the exercise of their office necessarily acquire an , intimate knowledge of the circumstances and feelings of parents, and having themselves a vital j interest in whatever may promote or ret-.rd ihe j progress of education, they sincerely hope that they will not be considered as having outstepped the'bouuds of their office in thus presenting their views and earnestly solicit>our best consideration of ihe same. " And your memorialists will ever pray. " Signed on behalf and in the pre«encs of the District constituting the "Educational Institute" of Otago. "James H, Pope. " President." Mr Hardy spoke at some length urging the prayer of the memorial upoa the attention of the Board. Several members of deputations from country districts also addressed the Board on the same subject. His Honor the Supehintendent said he was absent from the last meeting when the rate was fixed which was now'so generally complained of.' H-i was not aware why the fees charged in the Dunedia schools were to be less than in the conn'ry schools. The Secretary (Mr Hislop), said the suggestion was his, and he made it from the belief that in Dunedin there were a large number of poor persons who could not afford to pay the increased rate as well as the inhabitants of the rural districts. His Honor the Superintendent also supposed that another reason was that the schools in Dunedin were worked upon a much larger scale than those in the country, and could consequently be done at a much less figure per head, But it now appeared that the general opinion in the country districts was not in favour of raising the prices, and perhaps the tetter plan would be to agree thab the resolutions of the Board should not he put into operation until after the next lrJf-yearly meetiug of the Board, and by that time the rate payers in the various districts would have an opportunity of expressing their opinions on this subject, and should it then appear to the Board that these rates were generally distasteful, there was no necessity for forcing them upon the districts. ■'. , Mr Paterson thought the general opinion expressed by the Provincial Council was that the present rate of fees was too low. His Honor the Soxerintendkn't was of opinion that the Council toffk the view that the acreage rate was not an equal one, and they therefore proposed an ad valorem rate upon houses, lands, &c. Bat that matter had been fixed by Ordinance, and could not be interfered with without the consent of the Council- With reference to the memorials which had been. read, he would move the following motion :—" The Board having considered the communications forwarded by the different School Committees, on the subject of the minimum rate of school-fees, and having heard the statements of the several deputations now in attendance, resolved—that the adoption by thd different School Committees of'he minimum rat»-s of school-fees fixed by the Board is not rendered imperative until after the next half-yearly meeting of the Board in January, 1865, by which time the settlers throughout the different educational districts will have an opportunity of publicly expressing their views on the subject of school-fees at the annual meetings of the ratepayers, to be held on the second Monday of October, and that the Secretary be instructed to inform the different School Committees of this decision of the Bnard, and to reauestthem to forward for the consideration of the Board as Soon as possible after the election of the new School Committees, a list of the rates of school fees which they may consider suitable to the circumstances of their respective districts." . The other members of the Board present having concurred ia this motion, it was unanimously agreed to. . Several members of deputations expressed themselves satisfied with the decision arrived at, and the various deputations then retired. GENERAL BUSINESS. A letter was read from Mr J. S, Webb, as secretary of the Dunedin Athenceura, stating that he hid received a quantity of drawing materials from Home 'without orders, and offering them to the Board at invoice prices before he returned them to the shippers, -^letter was also read from Mr F. Simmons, Head Master of the High School, approving of the drawing materials in question, and recoraraendin" tbe Board to purchase them and to form a drawing class, to which Mr Hancock could be appointed pro tern. The Board agreed to purchase the materials, and the Secretary was instructed to request the Head Ma ter of the High School to submit a scale of fees foe a drawing clas? to the consideration of the Beard, before taking any steps to establish such a class. A letter was read from Mr Pope, one of the masters of the High School, with reference to his salary. It was resolved to increase Mr Pope s salary to L3OO per annum, and his engagement to be considered a quarterly one. _ The question of Miss Hooman's appointment to the Port Chalmers school, was diseased, and it was resolved to sanction her appointment for six months. . , .. . The Inspector's recommendation for tne envision of the Olutha Educational District into four districts, was considered, and it was ultimately agreed that the recommendations be adopted, and that the names of the four districts will be Bast Clutha, Inch Clutha, Warepa, and Kaihika, the same division to take effect on. and after the Ist

October next. The t-'ecretary was instructed to advertise the boundaries of the said districts ia tite Provincial Government Gazette Mr short waited on the Board, i<> connection, with the North East Valley school, and explained that a sum of money was necessary to repair the buihiings, which were falling into dtcay. It was explained that this sum was formerly placed on the Estimates, and v« fed for this purpose; but in consequence of it not having been taken up at the time, it lapsed. It was agreed to recommend the Government to plsce a sufficient sum on the Estimates for the above purpose, but on the distinct understanding that this was to be the last application of the kind from the district. The Secretary reported that he had visited Lawrence, and constituted it, into an hducationa District; and he recommended that this district should comprise an area extending three miles on. all sides around the township. A memorial from 126 settlers, in Queenstown, asking to be formed into an Educational Dist.ict, was rf considered, as it had been allowed to stand over from last meeting of the Board. The Secretary recommended that the prayer of tbe memorialists should begrarteJ. He had visited the district nnd.fmnd tbat a large quantity land in the neighbourhood had been sold, aud there, were a very consi arable number ol children there who required education. _ He found there a good working School Committee, and in the present school a duly cert Seated teacher. .

It was resolved to form the district at once, a>.d ttie Secretary was instructed to take all the usual steps in the matter. A similar memorial to the above was read front Otepapo District, and after due consideration it was resolved to constitute it an Educational District.

Jt was resolved that the Superintendent be requested to place on the Kstimat.es sums sufficient ior the erection of school buildings at Queenstown, Inch Clutha, Anderson's Bay, Kaihika, and Otepopo. The -ecretary reported the following appoint ments of teachers since the date of last meetingof the Board :—Mr J.. M'Donald, Taieri Beach j Miss Hooman, Port Chalmers;. Mr T. R. Meeking, Kaihika; Mr D. M'Lauchlan, Wakari. These appoi-tments were confirmed.. A letter was read from Miss Brown, Bowling street, Dunedin, stating that she had established a preparatory school fjt boys near the High School, and she asked that the Board would place her school under the supervision .of the Head Master of the High School, in order that the boys might be prepared to enter that establishment. Ths letter was referred to Mr P. Simmons, to take such steps in the matter as he might think best. . An application was read from the Waipon School Commit! cc to grant for the teacher of the school in the district the tea acres of land originally set aside for that purpose, and that the half acre around his house should be fenced. The application was granted so for as it referred to the tan acres, but the fencing was refused. » The Secretary reported that the Middle Dunedin District School buildings were completed, and the school commenced therein. The ground, was not fenced in, n"r had any out-hou?es for the useof tbe scholars been provideJ. Of the building fund L 153 still remained, and he suggested that this sum should be handed over to the School Committee on the understanding that for this they should complete the fencing and all necessary furnishings, and take over the school buildings into their 6wn care. This- recommendation was agreed to. ,'■««. In answer to an application from the East Taieri School Committee with reference to certain repair 3 requirei on the building, it was agreed to send down a Government officer to inspect the building, and to report. The iioard then adjourned sine die,