THE DUNEDIN AND SUBURBAN SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13449, 24 November 1905, Page 10

THE DUNEDIN AND SUBURBAN SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

The quarterly meeting of the Duuedin and Suburban School Committees Association was held in the Education Board Offices last evening, Mr J. H. Wilkinson (Albany Street School) presiding, and thero being ' also present—Messrs J). Wishart (High Street), E. Cameron, J. Kemnitz {Arthur Street), R. M'Kinlay, J. Dick, P, Aitken (Union Street), 11. Duncan (George Street), W. K. Smith (Albany Street), P. Gray, W. Pryer (Ncr,th-Esist Valley), G. Moir, J. Stark (Kaikora,i), J. Williams (Maeandrew Road), W. G. North (Anderson's Bay), T. Smith (Forbury Road), R. Duncan (St. Clair), and F. G, Cray (Ravensbourne.

The following is a summary of the quailerly report submitted:—

The question of the renovation of the interior of school building 3 and residences, and r proposal that tho whofc cost should be paid by the Education Board, was considered by your executive, and remitted to tho various school committees for deliberation thereon. Bpccis.l School Holidays—Your executive arranged that when extra hol'days of a general nature aro lo be given, the president and "secretary are to act, and will communicate ivith school committees accordingly. Education Act Amendment Act, 1905. —Your Executive has bad considerable correspondence r.'ith the Minister of Education and others •relative to the appointment o( teachers and the election of Education Boards, as provided for in the amendment act which was passed late in the' last session of Parliament. The question of " consultation of school committees," although settled, is not as clear and satisfactory as your executive would wish. However, relying upon the liberal reading of the act by the Education Board, your executive considers that the subject may now be left ir. abeyance, and the new regulations given a fair trial. Your executive desires io acknowledge the advice and assistance rendered to it liv Mr Mark Cohen during the past quarter, especially in connection with the recent legislation bearing on educational matters. The members oi this association liavc every cause for gratification in the passing of " The Education Act Amendment Act, 1905,' in view of tho fact that teachers' superannuation, e'.cctioil oi Education Boards, and appointment of tcachers have all been dealt with, and while the payment of teachers on an average basis is not yet totally removed, tho alterations jnsde give promise of further legislation, which your executive hopes will finally provide for a proper and eauitable system of payment of teachers. Mr W. Pryor was compelled to relinquish for the time being his duties as secretary owins; to pressure on his timo in connection with his canvass of tho Chalmers electorate for the forthcoming general election. Mr P. G. Cray has taken np the work of acling secretary pending other arrangements ljcing made. Your executive urges continued interest in the work of the association, Jjelieving, as it doo3, thai necessary reforms can be materially assisted by an intelligent handling by the representatives of school committees 011 this association.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the icport, mentioned the prominence given to educational waiters this year, and congratulated delegates 011 the genuine progress made in the system of educational government, although the School Committees' Association had not altogether gotquite all it wanted He also congratulated school teachers 011 the better prevision made for them, and ssid that while committees could not complain of their treatment by the Otago Education Board, which though largely appointed by the country districts, strove to advance the interests of town and country alike, they welcomed the reform in connection with boaul elections through tho introduction of tho ward system. They had .to thank the city representatives in' Parliament, (and especially Mr T. K. Sidey) for cooperation with the association for obtaining educational legislation.

Mr G. Moir seconded the motion, and laid stress 011 the fact thai tho Education Board should appoint individuals recommended by the school committees fcr vacancies in tho staffs of schools.

Mr W. Pryor referred to the success attending the efforts made to ge.t the ward 6yslem of representation 011 Education Boards introduced.

Mr F. G. Cray said lie thought that the Minister of Education had been a little disingenuous over tho matter of the payment of school teachers. There was, he thought, something behind the wording of the act, which was loose enough to allow of more than one interpretation. However, lie had an assurance from the Minister 011 the and tho system could be given a trial. What school committees wanted was the right to make selections in accordance with .the will of the people tlicy represented— (" Hear, hear.") The report was adopted. TECHNICAL EDUCATION".

Mr T. Smith said that in connection with the present system of technical education there were complaints of inconveniencc ii.nd loss of time, but- it would be impracticable to have a technical school attached to each public school. There might, however, lie thought, lxi foui' schools for the Duncdin district. The drawbacks were that the present staff could no.t. cope with the work if the Government restricted ihc size cf each class to 26 pupils. At present pupils in wood-work cLisscs, for instcnco. were drawn entirely from the Sixth Standard, lie hud interviewed Inspector Goyc'.i and Mr S. M. Pflrk f.tlic achng-?ccrotary of the Education Board), and the former jrentlem.m had advised him to put his ideas into concrete form, but said that lie would b unable to sunport a scheme because of its impracticability. financially considered. The Government would have to givo {.'rants, and .'he building would cost about £1500. The expense was the only barrier to the 'scheme. He moved—"That the nmter be referred to the executive." Mr 0. Moir seconded the motion. ( Mr A\. T'ryor said .that a letter from Mr Gray, of A\aneanui. showed that technical instruction on the lines suggested had been carried nut in Wanganui under conditions not so favourable as those existing here. The scheme was, he thought, quite leasable. Further discission followed, in the eou'-se of_ Which Mr P. Gray said . ? hnt his comiiKrtlce had instructed him to oppose any fulfil?!' increase in the we'vk of tcachers. The matter was then referred to the executive to consider and report to next Meeting. SCIIOLMtSniFS. , Mr F. Cray mentioned that, he had or.tevviewed Mr P. G. Prycle as to the reason for the disparity between town and country scholarships. The junier scholarships iii town were £4 per annum each, as acjinst £40 in the country, and senior scholarships were £6 in the trwn. as against £40 i:i the country. lie moved—"That a small deputation wait unon the Education Board io discuss with it the question of scholarships, an<l obtain further information. and report." Mr W. K. Smith seronded the motion, saving lie thought Mr Cray had put the ease pla ink-before members. Mr D. Wishart thought the lioard must liave had some idea that tho children were on a too sparing allowance. Personally lie thought it was fax too low. Hq presumed the board, when it passed the rule, considered tho country children had some rights m the way of travelling expenses, but he thought it had altogether neglected their duty in respect of tho .town children. The motion was carried. The Cliaruan, Mr Stctl. and the mover of the motion were appointed a. deputation to wait on tho hoard. prrprx, teachkrs. Mr W. R. Smith said he had been deputed to lay before the association a resolution passed by his committee (.Albnjiy Street! rogrettinj; ihc recent regulation passed re pupil teachers—thtt .the term of apprenticeship should be now reduosd from four to two years. The committee believed that s'leh a. change would not be beneficial. It would be recognised, lie said, that a pupil teacher in his first year was not, perhaps, as much good as a monitor, but in the fourth year was equal to cope with the work of an assistant. At times pupil teachers were studying for their examinations. a good deal of their time being taken tip, and they gave so much .time to their study that it interfered with their teaching. He iva s sure the meeting would recognise the fact that it would be detrimental to the best interests of schools that constant changes should take place. Mr T. Smith suggested .that the matter bo referred to the executive to report to next meeting, and this course was agreed upon. CONSULTING COMMITTEES. Mr W. Pry or said he had understood that Miss Waugh's trouble was at an end; but that was not so, and they had to go into the matter. Most of the members of the association understood the position, which was that in October, 1903, Miss Whinam, their (North-East Valley) fourth assistant, had resigned, and the committee had thought that Miss Waugh was to be appointed to the vacancy; but they found in the latter part of this year thai she had jiot been appointed fourth assistant, but fifth assistant, their junior assistant being slipped into Miss Whinam's place. A wrong had been done Miss Waugh, and the committee had been ignored in the matter. He read the correspondence that had passed between the committee and the board, and said that, although both positions were worth £30 then, the school was rapidly rising in grade, and the position now was that £100 was paid to the fourth assistant and £80 to the fifth assistant, so that Miss •JViugh was suffering to the extent of £20. Jhe guswm jyas a wider- one than a

question between tlie Norlh-East Valley Committee and the board. The committee felt it had in Miss Waugli a teacher whose services if. would not like to lose, and thero was a feeling that unless her position ra improved thero was a danger of losing them. Tho committee felt it should bo consulted in any appointment to the teaching staff of the school. He moved—" Tlwt a deputation from the association wait upon tho board to go thoroughly into this matter; , the deputation to .consist •of .t.he chairman,-Mr.F. G. Cray, and the mover." Mr P. Grav seconded the motion.

Mr F. G. Cray said even if the board's contention that it was an inadvertence, and that it was not intentionally done, was right, 110 did not agree with the board that it. was tco lato to reopen the question, because Miss Waugli had 110 right to suffer a deficit of £20 in her salary. He thought the association should back up the committee and see that Miss Waugli was placed in a fair position, which was not the case at the present time.

After further discussion the motion was carried unanimously.

SA.N'nntouxT scjiool. Mr W. Pryor said a matter regarding Sandymount. School had been brought, under his notice which he considered a great hardship and wrong to the children of tlie district, It appeared from what ,ho had heard that the teacher there had re=igucd some time ago. The Education Board had sent down the names of two female teachers, and the committee, under the impression that the school had the right to a, male, had written and asked why the name of a certain gentleman had not teen forwarded. Tho matter had hung fire, and for four weeks the school had been closed and the children deprived of the' education th"v were entitled to. He considered it would only bo right for the association to take up the cudgels against the board in tho matter.—Tho matter was referred to the executive, to net with promptitude. It was resolved to make election day a whole school holiday.