EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10630, 23 October 1896, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD.

The adjourned meeting of the Education Board, held yesterday, was attended by Messrs M. Cohen (chairman), A. M'Kerrow, J. F. M. Frascr, J. M. Gallaway, J. J. Ramsay, D. Borrie, H. Clark, &nd the Hon. J. MacGregor. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made: — William A. Btll&nfcyne,- head teacher, Danrobin, vice Booth (transferred) ; Alex. Gow, head teacher, Wairuna, vice Davidson (promoted) ; Edward Smith, hsaa feachsr, Blacks, vice Beaks (!e!t the service) ; Martha Ksrkland, first assistant. West Taieri, vice Sutherland (promoted); Eliza S. Beveridgo, junior assistant, High stiest, vice Reid (left the service); HeloH C. Gibb, assistant, Tokomairiro, vice Yorston (promoted). RESIGNATIONS. The following resignations were accepted :— Alex. Gow, head teacher, Rxtanui; Eliza S. Beveridge, hesd toucher, Macrewhenua; Janet J. King, head teachar, Island CJiff; Helen C. I Gibb, bead teacher, Southbridjfe; Martha Kirkland, mistress, Manngatna; William A. B&llantyne, fourth assistant, Normal School. ACCOUNTS. j Accounts amounuug' to £6263 Oa 5d were ! passed for paymont. j POPIL TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS. ! Inspectors Goyen and Fitzgerald reportsd aa follows:—"(1) Finding impracticable oar proposal to ta,ks the tcholsrship examination at | midwinter, we bej; to propose that in future years tha pupil teachers' examination be held at that time. (2) No. 6of the pupil teacher regulations provides for tcsMug in such manner as may be deemed advisable the qualifications of cacdiilatss for pupil teachOTships; No. 2 of the recently propped regulatioiin defines the test, we think, ohciiild be applied We beg, therefore, to suggest that this test be the test | applied under No. 6 of the regulations now iv I force, and tban th« first examination be held ia j December of this year." I The recommendations were agreed to. I THE ALBANY STJUSBT SCHOOL. A deputation from the Albai^y street School | Committee, consisting of Messrs H. W. Wait, jA. T. Anderson, and J P. Simon, waited j on the board, and urged that the proposed new i infant room ehunfd be msde 6f6 wider thaa tho i measurement shown on the plans. ! BSr Wait said thut the School Committee : had had a ground plan of the proposed new I class rooms before them on Tuesday evening i when they considered the question of reoom- | mending the boani. to heat the rooms by gan, j and were surprised to find that the now infant department wouid provide le?s accommodation than the old one. The "committee had askrd for accommodation for 250 pupils, but tt>e new building would ouly afford accbiimv.ida'ion for 175. He then drew attention to the dimensions !of the old and new buildings. There was, he i said, in the m&in room of the infant departj meat in the old building 920 square f«et floor space, asd iv the two ciassi rooms 792 sqaare t f«pt, a total of 1712 square feet, providing for I 195 pupils. In t.ha new building there was : 105S square feet floor space in the main room, I and in the two class rooms 480 tquave feet, | giving a total of 1538 Bquarc feat, providiug : for 175 pupils. There was thus actually 174 square feet less floor space in the n«w building ! than in tho old. He believed the board iv- ! tended to introduco kindergarten methods in ; the infant departments of the large schools, and if that wero so, it seemed reasonable to provide the necessary floor space wheu buildI ing a new class room. It was thought by ; experts that 18ft from the last form to the wall | would be little euough for kindergarten purj poses, and that was what the committee asked ! for. That would be 6ft more floor space thau • was at present provided. It wouid be more j economical, he urg-:d, for the board to make I the necessary addition now than to wait till tba | kindergarten system was introduced &nd then | alter the building. The new class roonn should^ | be thoroughly up-to-date.

Mr Anderson said that the exte. 6ft of floor space would entail an expenditure of about £50.

The board considered the wafcter in committee.

On resuming in open board the motion carried in committee—" That the present p!au6 be adhered to, Bud the work gone on with " —was put.

Mr Gallavcay opposed the motioa. 16 seemed to him if th«i suggestion thnt ho in the first iiictance made—tf.at the plans should bo submitted to the committee before the tenders were asked for—had been adopted the board would have saved themselves from the ridiculous position in which they now found theaisulves. He was the only member of the board that snggetted that the pkns should be submitted to' the -committee, and it seemed to him nfcterly rid'uulous that tho hoard should spend a large sum of public money on improving the Albauy street School with tbe full knowledge thnt the infant class in that school was increasing, and that the plans, according to the committee, showed a floor space for 20 infants lees t'lan under tho old arrangements. He thought the school, committee were quite justified in finding fftu.lt with this. It would be an easy thing to alter the matter now. The architect admitted that, and nothing had b:«n dene by which any liability would be incurred. The board were trjiug kj inaugurate a kindergarten system, which wouii undoubtedly require a. large floor space, ami for the stka of saving a few paltry pounds thf.y were allowing a large Bum tobs expended which wouid have to bo imnlemented at sn early date. " ■

The Chaieman said the board were now baildiug an infant room which must serve as a model for Dnnedin and its suburbs with the knowledge that, thsy were limiting the floor Bpaeu iv a manner thnt would not bear investigation. For proper kindergarten evolutions plenty of floor spsce—for his nwn part, he would be inclined to insist on fch*;re being quite 18ft between the nearest drsic and the wall— was an absolatu essential. Bvea if the cost of a principal roof had to bs considered, the additions! expenditure should not Kt»mi ia th" way of this additional floor space being provided. True, the cumraitfee tiad exprwsr-d Vrhemselve* couWnt with the alteration MOjfgoMwd by Mr !?omerville, but since it was now admitted that tho new room would not give the space I originally intended the mistake ought Ito he corrected. fa to the us« of gas stoves for heating, fco wan responsible for that suggestion "iw.ing made. He throw it out in ttis hope o? being able to do away with, three fireplaces aud so cave floor space. It had been estimated that the three rooms could be most rffectivgly heated by Fletcher's improved heaters and one of his radiators; and tho cost would only be a few shillings (certainly not more than £1) more thau the fireplaces with their mautelpiecds, and for £5 more the entire building could bo lighted with 1 gas. Gas stoves minimised the risk of fire, i and were for all practical purposes more ccooomicp.l than conl stoves. Aud it was quite absurd to say that gas stoves wer« nuhealthy. Many of the finest school* ia Europe and America wero now artificially heated, and quite j lately in Napier the experiment waa tried with 1 uccess. The chairman of tba Napier School Committee, in reply to his inquiries on the subject, had telegraphed:—" Us«d gas three months. Cost slightly over coal, but Having in attendance and cleaning room. Warmed 10 degrees against coal fire ; less cold draughts to fireplace. Consider impiovennnt." However, as the board were disinclined to make this a thoroughly up-to-date infant room, there was no use preying for this change of Jwating. Mr Phaser said that was absolutely wrong. The floor space in tho proposed new infant room proper wns larger tb>n the old one. Mr Galiaway : That is not the case. The motioa on being'pat was carried, the chairman aud Mr Gallaway dissenting. Tho Hon. J. MacQregor did not vote. The tender of Geurso Franco Tor £478 10s for repairs and additions tj tho Albany street School was accepted. THK KOBStAL SCHOOL. William Mawnou wi\s appointed junior assistant in the Nonnn! School. THE CORPOKAIi FTJNISHMENT BEGOI.ATIONS. Mr Ramsay! moved—'That the corporal pnnisbraent regulations be rescinded, end the

whole matter be reconsidered by_ the board." j In speaking to tbe motion, he said that when J tbe regulations were adopted he pointed out that they were thoroughly. unworkable, and that it would be impossible to enforce them. It wai said when the-regulations were cnoidered that they were prac&ioally the same ;<s the teachers had submitted to the committee appointed by the board to draft regulations; and that the teachers aud inspectors were the parties who were to a large extent responsible for the ■ regulations submitted to tho board.1 He was not going to say that that affected him in the slightest degree in forming an opinion on the matter. He looked at the regulations from ! a commonsense point of view, and they seemed to him to be absurd and "old-womaniah." It now turned oat that the teachers denied that they in any way agreed to the regulations aa adopted by the board; and he supposed the members had seen in the Daily Times a draft of. the punishment regulations which the teachers contended were the regulations that ' they agreed to. He had consulted serernl of . the board's very best teachers since last meet- j ing, and they said that under the present 1 j regulations it was absolutely impossible to keep : ; discipline in school, and if they were fco be I maintained by the board the rusult would be that the~board would drive all the best teachers oub of the service.—l Laughter.) One of the best teachers'had told him that if tbe regula- { tions were continued in force he wonld get out of the board's service as soon as he got a chance. • ... ■ ••• Mr CtAßKrose to a point of order, submitting that the matter could not be disensaed, as i notics of intention to meve a motion on the i eubj?ct had not. been given at a previous meeting of the hoard. The Chairman upheld Mr Clark's contention, and ruled the matter out of order. Blr Kamsat then gave notice of motion on the subject for next meeting of the board. A SOHKDTJLE OP CORB3SPONDENCE, ! Mr Baicsat moved—" That a schedule bo prepared and read aC meetings of the board of all correspondence not dealt with by the board."—Carried. KELIEVING TEAOHEKS. Mr Ramsay moved—"That the chairman report to each meeting of the board the number of relieving teachers employed daring the | monfcb, the names of snch teachers, and tha school* in which they were employed." Mr MacQregob seconded the motion, which was lost. INSPECTOR OF -WORKS. The board considered tha question of appoint- j ing an inspector of works in committee. On j resuming in open board, The Chairman said that the selection of candidates for the position of clerk of works had besn thrust upon him. He said that he had taken a course somewhat different to thst usually followed. He consulted the architect, aud left the matter entirely in his hands. On hid felection h« (Mr Cohen) would give his casting vote in favour of Mr Niehol. 28r Phaser said that this appointment, so far as the working class of the community was concerne<!,"~w&s one of the most important appointments that could bo made by the board. He did not hes:t»to to »ay that to his knowledge at least a dozen or 18 of the applications were from picked tradesmen of the city Ths applicants wcro told, »n.-l it »« agreed to at the board's table, that a knowledge of driughtf manship would have considerable weight with the board in making the appointment. Tha candidates w(>r« fcild so. Sir Ramsay : By whom ? Mr Fraseb : The, board discussed it at the bciani's table. They invited applicaMoas for the position, and thay had before them 4-1 spnlicattens from tradesmen, the majority of whom scut full credentials as to character and as to competency. Many of them gave illustrations of their capacity as draughtsmen by forwarding cxamplog of their work. Many of the yo;icgi;r mea were tuou who had taken degrees o? pa?seil in the technical schools that were made so much of by the board.—(Heir, hear.) What was the result? An absolutely unknown m»n, so for ss he (Mr Fraser) was concerned and so fur ]as re any of tbe trade were concerned—a man i with™!: n single certificate as to competency or j as to character—got a solid vote all through, j Mr Ramsay : Untrue. I Sir FitASER repeated thit Mr Niohol had go!; » solid vote all the way through. Th»t vots> he (Mr Fraser) could not account fur otherwise thsn on the supposition that there was some understanding amongst the members of tho board. Tha Chairman : I must ask you to withdraw that. Mr Frasbb : So far as I know The Chairman : It's a most unwarrantable ststfßinnt,

Sic Fraser said he would withdraw it, then. At the. meeting last night he (Mr Fraser) bad not put Mr Clark on the selection committee because he had a relative who was an applicant, but he believed that Mr Clark under any circumstances would have done his duty aa an honest man. He (Mr Fraaer) considered that this appointment waa a put up job by the mcj'.'rity of the board. 16 was a deliberate fraud on raauy respectable tradesmen who applied. Ho (Mr Frannr) came there with a perfectly clean bresss. He came there with no preference, but with the intention of considering the question on its merits, and making a bona fide aopointmerit, but he was disappointed. M r Ramsay : Wn believe thxt.

Mr Fkasee : The appointment had beau made. They knew how it was made. It had not heen made on its own merits. Ho weni on to say that when Mr Riach. the former inspector of works, left the service of the board a letter was written to him to tho following pffect:—"l &m dirneUid by the Education Board to inform you that, in view of the ctssfttioa of the beard's building operetipns, ibs board has been uios'i. reluctantly compelled to givi; yon notice that your services &« ctaik of work;, would cot be required aftar three months from this date. I am sorry to say rhat the board £!v«s you the option of retiring at otics or of continuing on for three months, and in the evtmt of your electing the former connst! three months' salary will bs puid to you at ones. I sijsll be glud to know at your eju'li-?oi; convenience which coarse you wish to adopt. In intimating the above dscision. to yen, I am directed to oxpraas the r«giwt of every tnemlwr of the board at being compelled to adopt tibia course, and to say ihst you will have tba first chance of employment when occasion requires." Tfint man, Mr Frzsec went on to *»y. w*» equal in point of years to that unknown man, Mr Niehol, bnt the b*arfi gave the prefi>r«nce to the latter. The gentlemen who perpetrated that iniquity Mr Ramsay ro3e to a point of ordor. He objected to the words, " perpetrated an iniquity." Tbe Chairman wan understood to saty that it •van highly improper, but he hsd giveu up all hopes of trting to keep Mr Fraser ia order. Mr Ramsay insisted that Mr FrasM should .withdraw th* remark.

Mr Phaser: I withdraw the expression, " p^rp*; rated thin iniquity." It is not parliamentary, although it lulmirably expresses it. %r Ramsay raids straw furthw reference to Mr Fras«r's remark, when itlr Sraskh said: "Let the galled jade winco. My wtther.l are nn wrung." ffirßirasay evHeutly fe'.t his remarks. If he (Mr Frager) hstd bud his way he, weald have appoiatsd a yi-'Un^cr maii. He dtffi^d any. merabsr of fche bowil to B«,y that he had opened his lips to anyone on this* matter. He cams to the board as a public man ab3Olntuly unbiassed on the question. Mr Ramsay : Don't protest too much. Mr Fhaskk proceeded fc> ssy suaie men wero strangers to the feslii'ga of common honesty; hut h-a wanted to muke his defence to tha tradesmen who applied for r.be position in the miivatau belief that thay wrrald receive fair and hcucurable treatment. He wonld move— " That the appointment of Mr Niehol be not confirmed, and that the appointment be made upon the merits vf the esud'dstes." "The Chairman : I could not receive that. It ia b reflection up«n the board. Mr Ramsay s»id he wouid move—" That this board expresses its regret that Mr Fraser should attempt to make political capital out of this raattsr." —(Laughter.) IMr Fbaser : I am quite willing to agree to th*t. I will challenge the board's vote. Mr Boreie : I move—" That the board now adjourn f r a month." jMr Ramsay thought he should bo allowed to speak. The board had allowed Mr Fraser to make a speech of half au hour's duration. Mr Gallaway : Wbat's the use of wasting I time o»ar rot like this ? At this stage Messrs Borrie and M'Kerrow rose to l^ave the table, whpn Mr Ramsay remarked: This is a moat eztra- | ordinary thing. Mr Fbaseb : You cannot deuy it.—(Laughter.) I am standing on firm ground on this matter. Mr Gaixaway : What is the next business ? Mr JJacGrkgor : I have a report to make to [ this bocrd. Mr "raskr :On Mr Niehol ? Mr MacGregok: I am perfectly satisfied with this appointment, Mi-mbers will remember I that Mr .iJackenzis aud rnysdf Mr Fraser aii rhia stige rose to leave the table, when Mr MaeGregor m»(ie some remark to him. Mr Fraror thereupon turned round and observed with . some warmth : " Don't address me personally, Mr MucGregor, for I have an absolute co;it«miit for you." KINDEHOARTES WOItK. The Hon. Mr MacGregor reported that along with Mr Mackowsia be had mado inquiries in Wellington about a kindergarten instructor. They were not able to recommend that an instructor should be procured from Wellington, but Mr BUir, the chairman of ths Education Board tacve, who was known as a man competent to sxpress an opiuion on the subject, had suggested that the best plan wonld bs to select a suitable teacher—a young woman

for preference,—and send her to gain experience for some months in kindergarten instruction at the Wellington schools. The Chaikman remarked that that was the auggeetion he made some time ago. The Hon. Mr MacGrhgor said that this teacher, after gaining tha necessary experience, conld go round to the different schools in Otago instructing the teachers as to tha methods of th« system. .' It was decided to consider the matter at the next meeting of the board. '