SCHOOL COMMITTEES' CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11797, 28 July 1900, Page 10

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' CONFERENCE.

The annual meeting of the School Committee's Conference was held at i the Normal School.last night. Mr T. K. Sidey, president, occupied the chair, and the following delegates were present:—Messrs G. O. Israel and G.Fleury. (Union street School),'J. diet-win and W. Somerville.(Macandrew road School), A. Rostieaux and W. Dickson (Albany strest School), J. Arthur (North-East "X'alley School), I. Millier and M. Fraer (George street School), C. Watson and Captain Stewart (High street School), Rev. A. Cameron and Mr \V. E. Macadam (Anderson's Bay School), Messrs G. Moir (Edkorai School), G. Reid (Forbury School), J. B. Ford and H. Webb (Mornihgton School), T. J. Walker (St. Clair School), W. Somerville (Macandrew road School), J.-Braithwaite and Cameron (Arthur street School). An apology foi non-attendance was received from the Rev.. J. Clarke, of Palmerston. Messrs Cohen and W. Davidson, being present, were associated with the conference. ANNUAL BErOItT. Tne President, in moving the adoption of the annual report, which has already been published, said in many of the resolutions the conference .carried they required the assistance of members of Parliament to give effect to them. He therefore thought it would be a good thing, if the conference met before the session of Parliament. It would bo interesting and encouraging to note the matters which had been referred to in the report, and which had been discussed since the commencem"nt °[ the conference—'jhoss, at any rate, which had now become accomplished fact*. ±le was-sure that the conference had played 110 small part in securing those reform* — (Applause.) Be thought the conference should reaffirm the desirability of inspectors being placed under the control of the .Education department, and removable periodically from one district to another; and also occasional conferences of inspectors.' As regard* the abolition of the individual standard pass, they had.abolished the individual paw by inspectors, and substituted the individual pass by head masters. In the larger schools the examination by the head master occupied about a fortnight, and then the inspectors took a week in examining the class subjects; so that it took three weeks to examine" a school altogether. He believed that' the schoolchildren would look forward with less dread to the examination ■by the schoolmasters; but there were more, examinations now than before. It would be noticed that the Education department had practically agreed to take over the whole of the cadet corps, but he thought it v.-onkl ba a mistake for the Military department to release themselves absolutely from ihe control of these corps, as it was necassnry that the children should have the benefit of competent military instruction. It was sometimes advocated that a number of the subject". si;eh w carpentry, etc., which wove taught in many pub-, he schools in other places, but which received very little attention here, should ha taken up 1 a little more than thoy were. ''1 his, however, would require specially competent and trained men to impart the necessary instruction, because the teachers in the schools at the present time had not been trained to give such instruction. He was very much surprised on looking through some of the earlier education reports to see how much money was available for Hie school districls in the early days as compared with what there was now. In consecnience of the school committees not

receiving sufficient from the board to carry out the necessary repairs in connection with, the schools, they nad to raise subscriptions locally and get a subsidy of pound for pound on the moneys so raised. The means of school committees were small before, but they wore very much less this year, and he thought they should pass a very strong resolution in relation to. the matter. Mr Macadam seconded the motion, which, on being put, was carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. . The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year: —President, Mr W. \E. MacAdam; committee —Messrs G. C. Israel, J. Arthur, and T. K. Sidey; secretary and treasurer, Mr M. Fraer. Mr Sidey then vacated the chair in favour of the newly-elected president, Mr MacAdam. A vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring officers. THE ELECTION OF EDUCATION BOAEDS. On the motion of Mr Cameron, it was resolved —" That this conference heartily supports the bill ■ introduced by the Minister of Education, in respect to the election of Education Boards, and-that the Dunedin and suburban members be requested to give the bill their heartiest support." ' APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. Mr Fraer moved—"That the conference recommend to the Education Board, re making appointments- of teachers, that when a vacancy occurs in any of the schools the board should select the candidate most suitable, and appoint to. the position." Speaking to the resolution, he said that in his own committee he voted against it, and could not say anything in favour of it, because he regarded it as a retrograde step, reverting back to an old state of affairs. He merely moved the motion on behalf of the committee he represented. Mr Millier seconded'the motion. Mr Reid was greatly surprised to see such a motion emanating from the George street School Committee. He had heard complaints that a committee's powers were too limited, but he never heard before of any desire to divest themselves of the powers given them. Further, it was directly contrary to section 45 of the Education Act, which said that 'no teacher shall be appointed, suspended, or dismissed until .the school committee had been first consulted. Captain Stewart could hardly believe a committee to be sober and sane to pass such a resolution. Mr Braithwaite said ho was rather sur : . prised to think that any delegate should be compelled to vote against his convictions, and thought that any delegate ought to be able to use his own judgment.—(Hear, hear.) Mr Fraer explained, that he was confident that the motion would be lost —(laughter),—and, although he did. not believe in it, he would vote for it out of respect to the committee he represented. Mr Millier mentioned that in regard to a vacancy on the George street School staff 45 applications were sent down, and the Education Board sent 10 on to the committee, any one of whom would have been suitable to fill.the'position. It was with very great difficulty that the committee could decide which was the best, and the motion arose out of that particular ease.' Mr Israel pointed out that there were side issues in the selection .of a teacher that the. board could know nothing about. On the Union street Committee, when they wanted a man. they made up their minds as to the standard of man they wanted, and the man who most nearly filled the bill was the one they selected. The motion was then put and' lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it. CADET CORPS FORMED OF EX-PUTILS. Mr Dickson moved—" That it is advisable ' for the conference to urge on the Government to form citizens' rifle corps, consisting of ex-pupils of the schools, into which members of our cadet corps may bo drafted after they leave our schools." ' Speaking to the motion,'Mr Dickson said that the Albany street School Committee ' had come to the conclusion that the reason the cadet drill was not always what it might be was because the boys knew when they left school there would be no more of it; but if they could look forward to a review or something of tfl.it kind they would be encouraged to take more interest in their drill.. Some of the members of the committee waited on Colonel Webb, who suggested that they should endeavour to get an ,act put through. Parliament for the purpose of making it compulsory for boys to continue their drill until such time as they received a certificate from the drill instructor of their The secretary had subsequently /been instructed to writs to the' various _seiiool committees asking if they would support them-oposal or could make any suggestions. Mr Dickson concluded by saying that it.would make the boys better citizens, and encourage a patriotic,spirit. : , Mr Rcstieaux seconded the motion. Mr T. K. Sidey supported (he motion. ' • Mr G. Fleury said that he could not support the motion because he considered imp proposal not full enough, and could not see how things under it. would be any better than they ware at present.. . '■ The Rev. Mr Cameron considered that the motion was extremely vague,, and one scarcely knew what ho was supporting.; He thoroughly agreed with the idea of training their young men to shoot, and to shoot straight. He did not know, however, that he would encourage children in schools to begin shooting, but would rather restrain them. Further, what would they do in Anderson's Bay "with a cadet corps when they had only about a dozen boys to drill ? ■ The scheme could only be carried out where there were numbers. He did not believe in compulsory conscription—(hear, hear), —and as the motion stood he could not support it. Mr Braithwaite said that the Arthur street committee cordially approved of. the idea underlying the resolution. It seemed that the ex-pupils were entirely lost,sight of at present after they left school, and he thought the idea was a step in the right direction. Mr Watson supported the motion. Mr Reid was in favour of the idea of the resolution, but there was something wanting in it. '. '• Mr Israel thought that the motion was one of the most important before the conference. Being- one who had taken part for many years in'various movements for the benefit, of the young, and having seen these institutions fail, he recognised the need for something of the land. Although the idea of compulsory service was repugnant, anything in the shape of option or choice would fail in its purpose. Boys leaving school mustT be disciplined, and to his. mind it would.be a cure for what they . called Inrrikinism.. ■ . Mr Webb and Mr Cameron also spoke. Mr Braithwaite thought they should leave the details to the Government. Mr Reid was of opinion that they should get the Government to provide efficient drill instructors for our schools. After further discussion, the motion was put and carried unanimously. THE IMPERIAL READERS. Mr Webb moved—"That this conference protests against the recent action of the Education Board in introducing the Imperial Readers into the schools against the advice of teacher*." He said some time ago the board asked the Educational Institute to appoint a commiUoe to recommend the use of certain readers in the schools. The committee appointed made a list, and, no doubt, after proper consideration, they placed the Imperial Headers fourth on § the list,., three other readers being considered superior to them. The board, after asking for the appointment of the committee, ignored their suggestions altogether, instead of giving weight to them. The Imperial Readers were quite unsuitable for use in the primary classes, and as regards the Sixth Standard the book wan too difficult, and the exercises given were calculated, to kill a love for reading. There were other readers in existence that were eminently suitable for all classes, and these had been set aside in favour of Whitcombe and Tombs'? Imperial Readers. The board, in doing this, had acted in exceedingly bad taste, and the way. in which they had acted deserved very grave censure. He thought the conference' might very justly pass a strong vote of censure against the board for what they had done. — (Applause.) , Mr Ford seconded the motion. Mr Braithwaite suggested that a subcommittee should be appointed to go into the whole question of school books and report to a future meeting. Ho thought this was a most important matter, and a very far reaching one, and they should not pass the motion without thoroughly considering all the facts of the case. . , Mr Walker seconded the motion. He thought it would be to the advantage of every body concerned if Mr Brnithwaite's suggestion were carried. The Rev. Mr Cameron said the only objection to Mr Braithwaite's suggestion was that time was going on, and as the books were being introduced into the schools, the difficulty would he increased. He thought the conference might appoint a deputation to wait upon the Education Board and ask them to delay the change of books in order to enable (hnm to report. To his mind the Imperial Readers were objectionable almost in every way.-- -(Hear, hear.) Anything that would prevent their introduction into the schools ought to be done speedily. Mr Braithwaite pointed out that it would be impossible In prevent the introduction of the books into the schools, because the board had already decided that they should be introduced. If tfiey stonped their introduction now, there was'no doubt the publishers would have a b.ood around of action against them for Mr G. Moir said if the board had adopted the Imperial Readers there was nothing to prevent Ilmm from adopting alternative reader?', leaving it to teachers to make a

choice. Mr Cohen would Iil« the conference to carefully consider Mr Braithwaite's suggestion. If they wished to make any impression

on the board they would have to show very strong reasons for the faith that was in them. For his,part he thoroughly protested against this continual changing of school books. It was a very serious question for parents with large families. He hoped to see the clay when the school books would be as much a, part of the school property as the desks in them. Mr Webb said he had not the slightest objection to Mr .Braithwaite's suggestion, and would withdraw his motion in favour of it. Mr Israel hoped it would not go fortli that they had passed a hasty vote on the question. Whether the board had acted wisely or not, they had acted on the advice of their inspectors. He thought Mr Braithwaite's suggestion was the best one before them, and personally he would be. glad to see three or four alternative readers. .•„____, After further discussion, Mr Webb, with the consent of his seconder,, agreed to withdraw his motion in favour of an amendment moved by Mr Braithwaite to appoint a committee to consider the whole question, and report to a future meeting. This was put, and carried unanimously. Messrs Cameron.. Israel, M'Aclam, and Webb were appointed a committee to give effect to the motion, and it was then decided to adjourn Until Wednesday, August 22.