EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9564, 21 October 1892, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Education Board, held yesterda3', was attended by Messrs M. Fraer (chairman), J. Green, J. J. Ramsay, A. M'Kerrow, D. Borrie, Dr Hislop, Dr St^nuouse, H. Clark, mul the. Hon. J. Macgregor. UKSICINATIONS. The followiug resignations were accepted — Joseph Southwick, head teacher, Duutroo-i • Jamas G. Montgomery, head teacher, Kakapuwaka. APPOINTMENTS. Thefollowingappointments were confirmed — Margaret Dippie, head teacher, Inch Valley vice Handle, promoted; Isabella Dick, schoolmistress, Scacliff, transferred from Kurow Agnes J. Ballautyue, schoolmistress, Kurow transferred from Seacliff; John Ironside, pupil teacher, Clinton, new appointment; Blanche Luscombe, mistress, Naseby, vice Mrs Ciark deceased. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to L 5785 4s were passed for payment. STUDENTS IN TRAINING. r A letter was received from the rector of the Lawrence D lS trict High School, asking that students trained in other schools than the Normal School be recognised as students in training. After discussion, it was agreed to refer the letter to the inspectors for consideration, aud to consider the letter at next meeting. LIVINGSTONE. Mr D. Farquharson, of Livingstone, wrote corroborating Mr Neale's statement in reference to the teacher refusing to teach his girl in the Seventh Standard. He stated that his girl was in the same class, and both of them had passed the Sixth Standard at the last examination. His daughter returned to school, when the teacher told her it was absurd that such big girls as her and Eva Neale should attend school. Naturally the girls felt unwilling to go again. His wife then had an inlerviev? with Mr Closs, and asked him to put the girl in the Seventh Standard, when he refused to do so point blank, and smilingly recommended Mrs Farquharsou to send the girl to the High School. Mr J. G. Closs, head teacher at Livingstone, wrote with regard to the charge made by Mr Neale against him, stating that notwithstanding the unfriendly relations that existed, and had existed for some time, between Mr Neale aud himself, he was pleased that he had formulated his charge, that the vexed question of the teachers' relation to the Seventh Standard might now be finally settled. Mr Neale had at no time approached him in refereuce to teaching his children beyond the Sixth Standard ; nor did he indicate to him, either directly or indirectly, that he desired a higher education ot his children. Had Mr Neale approached him on the mutter, he was not sure how he would have replied. In all probability he would have refused to teach extra subjects, as he, with many other teachers in the board's employ, was under the impression that the standards of education in elementary schools were the standard defined in the syllabus issued to the teachers by the Minister for Education. It was his firm opinion that Standard VII was purely optional, us no clearly defined regulations had been, as far as he was aware, issued regarding it. If a syllabus had been issued for the Seventh Standard, then he had not received a copy of it. Mr Neale said that his girl had passed the Sixth Standard at 14- years o? age Now she was in her fifteenth, year. On the day of her examination, she was exactly 14 years and five months of age. Assuming that he was agreeable to teach her other subjects, and that she attended school regularly, at most she would have had but a few months' teaching in those subjects. It was strange that Mr Neale detailed only a part of what he said to his daughter, and that the least important part. What he said was that he was not compelled to teach extra subjects such as geometry, algebra, Latin, and French ; that there_ were secondary schools set apart for the teashing of these subjects; and if she wanted a secondary education 'Jae would advise her to attend one of those schools, as it was not possible in a school like the,'one in which he taught, where he had six standards and three infant classes, to take up extra subjects. At the same time he said : " I have no objections to your attending school, but you will require to take up most of the Sixth Standard work, and I will guide your studies in advanced arithmetic." During his 15 years' service in the board's employ he had nob in a single instance refused to teach a child after having passed the Sixth Standard, even when over age. ■ After a discussion, Mr Clcss' explanation was received, and the whole subject of teaching beyond the Sixth Standard was referred to a committee, consisting of the chairman, Dr Hislop, Mr Green, and the Hon. J. Macgregor, to prepare a circular for distribution among tha teachers on the matter, calling their attention to the necessity of imparting such instruction, as provided by the regulations.

TRUANT OFFICE Ll'S IlUl'OliT,

The Truant Officer reported that during the month endetf 18th October. 98 eases were dealt with, as follows : —Eleven children were ques-tioned-in. the street, &c, and at home during school hours ; 56 neglectful parents were visited from information received throuah head teachers and others ; 21 children were said by their parents to be unable to attend school through illness ; and 10 children were said by their parenbs to be unable to attend school'for the waut of clothing and boots. The total number of cases dealt with up to, date was 401. He had issued 54 summonses calling on parents and guardians to send children to school in accordance with section 91 of the act, in a great many cases with good results. The majority of the city and suburban school committees had appointed him as truant clerk, as this position enabled him to deal forthwith with parents and guardians in cases of truancy. It was to be hoped that the remaining committees would follow suit, which would assist him considerably, although the compulsory provisions of the act were parbly unworkable.—The reporb was received.

THS PEKCENTAGE QUESTION

Mr Jeffery, clerk to the Anderson's Bay School Committee, wrote as follows :—

I have the honour to forward the -following resolution, moved by the Rev. A. Cameron and carried by my committee:—" This committee oegs to suggest to the board the need of a radical change in the manner of reporting to school committees on the work of the year, on the grounds that the present reports are useless and hurtful(l) They are useless because the bare statement opposes and failures give no means of judging as to the value of the work done. (2) They are hurtful because they concentrate the attention of teachers and committees too exclusively on tho question of passes, to the great injury of children and teachers.

The Sechetauy remarked that the question raised was one that would require to be dealt with:by Order-in-Council; it was beyond ths power of the board.

The Hon. J. Macguegor said the letter went deepv into two points, and if the committee were satisfied some radical alterations must bs made. He thought, however, that the board, by giving certain instruction, to the inspectors, migM succeed in modifying the hard and fast rules of the department. Mr Green moved—" That the letter be referred to a select committee, consisting of the chairman, Dr Hislop, the Hon. J. Macgregor. and the mover."

Mr Ramsay seconded the motion, which was carried.

CONGRATULATING THE lIOX. .1. MACGTIEGOtt

Mr Green said it would not be out of place to ask the board to express their congratulations to Mr Macgregor on his promotion to the Upper House. He (the speaker) had the honour and pleasure of sitting with Mr Macgregor for a considerable time, and, quite irrespective of the political significance, he wished to express his pleasure that the Government had seen fit to call him to the Legislative Council. He moved—"That this board congratulate the Hon. John Macgregor on the honour conferred on him by the Governor iv calling him to the Legislative Council of New Zealand, and express their appreciation of the appointment of their colleague to a seat in the Council."

Mr Ramsay seconded the motion. He had not been a member for any time, but in the short period in which he had been on the board he had formed a very high opinion of Mr Macgregor's ?.bility and probity, and he also recognised the interest he took in all public matters He was sure that the appointment would be thought a great deal of after Mr Macgregor had once taken a part in ln'3 new position.

Dr Hislop supported the motion on the. understanding that the passing of the resolution was on the condition that they as a public body were not to be held as approving or disapproving of any action that might have been taken by the authorities in connection with the calls to the Council.—(Laughter.) Dr Stenhouse and Mr Borkie also congratulated Mr Macgregor, after which the motion was put and carried unanimously. The Hon. J. MACfiRKGOii said : I assure you that the resolution just passed so unanimously and so enthusiastically by the board is exceedingly gratifying to me, and also the very kind expressions used with regard to mo by the members. I only v/ish that I could prevail upon myself to believe that I deserve half of the good opinions that have been expressed regarding me. However, I assure you that I am exceedingly grateful to the board and to members individually for the expression of their opinion, and I may also take this opportunity of thanking the board individually and collectively for the great consideration they have extended to me during the time I have been a member of the board.—(Applause.) The board then went into committee.

— A man was fishing in the Surrey Canal recently when he pulled up on his hook a lady's sealskin bag, which was found to contain 39 gold wedding rings and keeper rings and L 23 in gold and silver. The bag had apparently been under water for a very considerable time.

— " Did you ever see a deformed or crippled Chinaman ?" asked one man of another. There was a negative reply, and the questioner continued : "Idou'fc think you ever will. If a Chinese child is born deformed it is made a-way with as soon as possible. Just Low the babe is killed I do not know, bufc it is never permitted to live. You may travel all over the world and never see a crippled Chinaman. When an accident befalls one of them he is made away with too. This is a part of their religion, and they adhere to it closely."