SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14001, 6 September 1907, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION

UNDER-STAFFING OF, SCHOOLS DISCUSSED. THE GIRLS'-HIGH~SCHOOL BUILDinc. MINIATURE RIFLE RANGES FOR ; \ boys. ! The . quarterly mooting of the Dune'din and Supurbaii School Committees' Association .was held in the Education Board ■Ullice last'night, when there was a'good attendance. Tho president (Mr George Moir) occupied tho chair. ■ rr/' rn . QUARTERLY KEPOHT. ■ The Chairman moved the adoption of the quarterly; report, which was published in yesterdays issue. A deputation from •tho association _,had met the Country schools Association'at 1 its'annual meeting m Juno; last, when tho, .town body had received a most cordial welcome.' He regretted, however, that the Country Association- was unable to see eye to eye with them on the question of the amalgamation of the two bodies." No official word.had been received on this point, but judging from the, reports in the press the country organisation had decided to keep separate, A suggestion had been made that deputations from both bodies should meet and confer 011, the matter, and if this was done lie thought in all probability a workable suhemo of amalgamation' would be made with good results as far as both bodies were concerned. Tho .association's action regarding Empire Day had resulted in a good deal; more interest- than usual being takep .in the-.demonstration, which .had, proved fari unqualified' success. It' was almost necessary,' however, that the 'day should bo- a public-, holiday, . and he thought -the best plan would be lo merge ,the Prince, of. Wales's Birthday and Empire •' Day into one ao tho latter. Those gentlemen who had been present on tho 'occasion, of the Technical School being open to the public must'liavo'. boon pleased at the largo attendance and at tho excellent facilities provided there for tho purpose of furthering tho education of the young people who had left the primary schools. Tho management certainly deserved tho fullest thanks of the community for what it had brought, about. The adjustable desks, had been examined, and were thought; eminently desirable. It would be a good thing if those could be installed in tnq Sixth Standard for a 6tart

at all events. : Mr G- v C. Israel seconded tho motion, and daid be thought their, modest attempts in regard to Empire' Day had been anextraordinary success, and in consequence he had asked tho Mayor to call a meeting of citizens to sco what could be done to

ensure even grcator success for next year's function.-: It .was necessary to- call it early, as, unfortunately, the various arbitration awards ignored[ Empire Day.' Inmostof tho awards the Prince of Wales's Birthday was recognised. If the meeting was called as ho hoped, ho was sure tho association would have the backing of the' public. The report was adopted.

THE aiAHKING OF'SCHOOL ROLLS, Mr Jos. Abernethy .(Albany Street) moved — <( That excepted half days be half days on which the attendance for the whole school is lees than two-thirds of (he roll number of the school." The mover added that he'thought it was the association's duty to i have an alteration made wherebv

tho interests of the teachers might nove'v become antagonistic to the whole school. Mr Pinel seconded pro forma. Mr Israel: Is it a regulation or a clause of tho act? 1

Mr Abernethy: A clause of tlio act. While wo bave .no power to legislate, I hope wo do 'iiot_ feel' wo, are' impotent' in'the matter. 'We can make representations to the authorities. ' Mr Scott said that it had recently come under the notice of tho board that certain head masters, to save their 6chools .a.nd salaries, had boon stooping to various methods to keep up the average attendance. The board had instructed its inspectors to go into the matter and report as to' the best and most uniform system. The motion might be a palliative, but it was not' a cure.' The euro'was to wipe out the regulation which fixed teachers' salaries oil tho average attendance.—(Applause.) .That was. a. blot on tlio educational system of the colony, and it would lia.vo to .bo removed sooner or later. Mr. Israel said that what was being dono was grossly unjnst and illegal in' the interest? of the children, i He was sure that whatever the board could do to help teachers .and•committees it would do, but of course it'could not run up against the act in any way.

Tito Hon., T. Fergus said there seemed to be a. consensus of opinion that tliero was a wrong to lie rectified, but lie thought, the remedy would be found if tbacliors were; treated in respect of their salaries as other civil . servants, were, without Ihom ha.ving to keep tho good opinion of the inspector or ,to get him to wink at,what they were doing. The Bev. Mr Murray 6aid ho. thought tho board should .be asked to; approach the Government -in- the way Mr. 'Fergus had and on Mr Abernot.hy consenting to withdraw his motion Mr Murray moved—"That, in the opinion of this conference.'.the present method of marking the rolls: is subvercivo of tho best.interests of education by, in many.casca, eau6ing tho schools to be undujy closed and bringing about reduction in the salaries of teachers, and that the, conforence memorialise tho board to move the Government to alter the act so as to obviato the injustice by which the staff of the schools and salaries of teachers are threatened with reduction by climatic and other causes."

After discussion the motion was put and carried. •

Mr b„ B. Waters moved—"That it be an instruction to our executive to eeouro the co-operation of,kindred associations in bringing this matter before, flic notice of tho education, authorities."—Agreed to. : UNDEK-STAFFING OF SCHOOLS. ' Mr Bat-mat" (Cavcrsham) spoke in support of a protest' from his committee against tho under : staffing of sohools. The question, he said,' was an important one,' and had twico been discussed by l the association, but as tho evil still existed further investigation was quite warranted. In liis own school thoro were classes of 65, 70, and 75 scholars, and such classes, in tho opinion of experts, tho • world over wero really beyond the power of _ the best, toa.cher to cope with. Tho question wa6 not raised exclusively in the interests of tho teachors.' He thought tho lirst consideration was not tho worker, but tho material worked upon. Mr Barnett read a good deal of .'documentary evidence on the matter,' / and ' showed that in tho opinion of. experts a class of from 40 to 50 was as . much as : aiiy teacher might hopo to copo with and; do good work. Tho work of some teaohers ■ nowadays was ■ in a measuTo wasted. , Ho would move—" That the association is dissatMod with, and protests against, the inadequate staffing of our schools by which classes of 65, 70, and 75 soholars require to bo taught by one teaoher." Mr W. B. Steel (Forbury) seconded the motion, and said that in 'tho oase of his sohool he could, show even a worse state of affairs. Working' it out, each pupil received about 40 scoonds of tho tcaobcr's time. An improvement in the existing I stato of 'affairs was purely a matter of money, and .tho association must agitato, until this was spoilt on the real education of the children, instead of on "outside fripperies." • They must convince the Minister that_ they wero in earnest over tho matter, and in addition the tcaChere- must present a united. front .against this and other educational anomalies.' Mr Scott said lie thought tho two most important matters which caino under their notice were tho claims of tcachers and tho under-staffing' of schools. Ho had had prepared a return showing the Dunedin and suburban schools whero a toaehcr instructed 40 pupils or over. ' It made simply amazing reading. It.was as follows: — Anderson's Bay.—Standards 3, 4, 5, and G, one teachcr, GO pupils; Standards 1, 2, and P, one teacher, 88 pupi'.s. Cavcrsham—E, two teachers and two pupil teachers, 220 pupils; Standard 1, one .teacher and pupil teacher, 72 pupils; Standard 2, one teacher and pupil teachcr, 70 pupils; Standard 3, one teacher. 63 pupils; Standard 41 one teacher and pupil teacher, 66 pupils; Standard. 5, one teacher, G3 pupi's. Albany Street.—P, three teachers and' twe pupil teachers, 036 pupils; Standard 1, one teacher and pupil teacher, 73 pupils; Standard % one teacher, 6S pupils; Standard 3, one teacher and pupil teacher, 87 pupils; Standard t, one teacher and pupil teacher, S2 pupils; Standard 5, one teacher, 48 pupils; Standard.G, one teacher, 42 pupils. Arthur Street.—P, one teacher and three pupil teachers,. 152 pupils; Standard 1, one teachcr, 48 pupils;. Standard 2, one teacher, 45 pupils; Standard 3, one teacher, 61 pupils; Standard. 4, one teacher' and' pupil teacher, 74 pupils; Standard,s. one teacher and pupil teacher, .75 pupils; Standards G'and 7. on< teacher, 51 pupils. George Street.—P, one teacher and four pupil teachers,. 191 pupils; Standard 1,. one teacher, OS pupils; Standard 2, one teacher, OS pupils; Standard.3,'one teacher, 74 pupils; Standard 4, one teacher, 63 pupils; Standard 5, one tcacher, G7 pupils; Standard 6, one teacher, 41 pupils. v High Street.—P, one teacher and three pupil teachers,. IGI pupils;. Standard 1, one tea?hsr,._6l pupils; St<usjr<l' 2, one teach®**

GO pupils; Standard 3, one teacher aad pupil teachcr, 70 pupils; Standard 4, oho -teacher, 74 pupils; Standard 5, one toacher, &i pupils, i Union Street.—P, one teacher and three pupil teachers, 200 pupils; Standard 1, one teacher, 63 pupils; Standard 2, one teacher, 6G pupils; Standard 3, one teacher, G2 pupils; Standard 4, one teacher, 57 pupils; Standard 5, ono teacher, 50 pupils. Forbury.—P, hvo teachers and two pupil teachers, 2G2 pupils; Standard 1, ono teacher, 75 pupils; Standard 2, one teacher, 83 pupils; Standard 3. one teacher, 57 pupils; Standard 4, one teacher, 68 pupils; Standard 5, one teacher, 59 pnpils; Standard G, one teacher, 48 pupils.'

Kaikorai.—P, one teacher and four pupil teachers, ICG pupils; Standard 1, one teacher, 76 pupils; Standard 2, ono teacher, 62 pupils; Standard 4 (part), ono teacher, 49 pupils; Standard 5, one teacher, GO pupils; Standard 6, one teacher, 52 .pupils. Kensington.—P, ono teacher, 83 pupils. Maori Hill—P, one teacher, -59 pupils; Standard 1 and 2, one teacher, 72 pupils; Standards 3 and •!, one teacher, 4D pupils; Standards 5, G, and 7, one teachcr, 45 pupils. Jlornington.—-P, one teacher and two pupil teachers, 139 pupils; Standard 1, one teacher, 54 pupils; Standard 2, ono teachcr, 55 pupils; .Standard 3, one teacher. 53 pupils; Standard 4, one teacher, 57 pupils; Standard 5, one teacher, 4G pupils \ Standard 6, one teacher, 40 pupils.

, J\orth-East Valley.—P, two teachers and two pupil teachers, 108 pupils; Standard 1 one teacher, 52 pupils; Standard 2, one teacher, 77 pupils; Standard 3, one teacher, 72 -pupils; Standard 4, one teacher, G4 pupils; Standard 5, ono teacher, 59 pnpils. ■ St. Clair.—P and Standard 1, one teacher. 56 pupik '

■' Sawyers' Bay.-P and Standards 1 and 2, ono teacher and pupil teacher, 157 pupils- ' Standards 3, 4, 5, and G ono teacher, 49 pupils. '

Ifaoandrew -Road.-P, one teachcr and t.wc pupil teachors, 154 pnpils; Standard 1, one teacher, 49 pupils; Standard 2, one teacher, 48 pupils; Standard 3, one teacher, 75 pupils; Standard 4, one teacher. 53 pupils; Standards 5 and 0, two teachors, 68, pupils. ■ Musselburgh.—P, one teacher, 89 pupils; 'Standards 1, and 2, one teacher, 47 pupils; Standard 3. one teacher, 51 pupils; Standards 4, 5, 6, aud 7. one teacher, 5G pupils. Ravensbourne—P, ono teacher, G1 pupils; Standards 1 and 2, one teacher, 45 pupils; Standards 3 4ind 4, one teaoher, 44 pupils. Green Island.—P, two teachers, 132 pupils; Standard ,'i, ono teacher, 4S pupils; Standards. f> and G, one teacher, 66 pupils. Wakari.—P and Standards 1 and 2, one teacher, 5G pnpils; Standards 3, 4, 5, and G one teacher, 4G pupils. '

The Rov. Mr Ward: Is there a prospective supply of tcodhers? Mr-Scott:-'Thoy'are not to be obtained. Mr Mowat Q-slcod if there was not & reflation nunVber, 1

■ Mr. Israel said this was according to the made of the school. At North-East .Valley tho school was only staffed for 420, and there were 470 pnpils. Ten more would mean u.nother toaoher. . .

Tile Eev. Mr Ward said that apparently thoy wore back again at tho question of attendance. Tho schools wore graded not on the number on tho roll, but on the average attendance. • Tho Chairman: I do not know whether the hoard has made a.nj' -representation to the Government.

Mr I'orgus: Yes. many a time, and the conference in Wellington, too. After further disoussion, and Mr Barnctt having replied, the motion was.carried.

MINIATURE RIFLE RANGES. _A deputation, consisting of Messrs C. G. White and E. R. Smith, representing' the National Dcfcneo League, waited upon the association with a view of ventilating tho subject of miniature rifle ranges. Mr Whito said they considered the subject of the utmost importance. It was receiving attention in the Old Country and in the Australian colonies. The deputation wished bring under the notice of the association the encouragement of rifle shooting in tho schools and to enlist tho association's sympathy in the matter. It was considered'that rifle shooting should' form part of the school curriculum, but they must havo the assistance of School Committees to bring that about, because if they were hostile any efforts on the part of the league would be futile. It was suggested that School Committees should assist individually and collectively in eonncotioti with tlie ( matter and should approach Parliament. i v ln regard to approaching Parliament, lie did/pot. think there would bo much difficulty in obtaining the support of the Hon. Mr "M'Nab, tho Minister for Dofcnce, as lie .had said lie was in sympathy with the Object. Ho had also said ho would oonsidcr the advisableness of subsidising any expenditure on the object. The Hon. Mr Fowlds, Minister for Education, had expressed himself in simliar terms. If boys at. tho schools were trained to bo good rifle shots they; wore'.being perpared to : take their place in' the'firing line , if . they . were at any time called upon to defend ; ■ the colony, and rt they 'wished lo mako a ' person proficient in anything .the best plan was to start-..when he was young. If .they started the boys in rifle shooting, and got thorn interested in it,, they would come to., regard it as a pastime on an equal footing I with football and cricket. Lord: Robetrs was attempting to bring this about in England, With regard to exoenses tho

greatest troublo would bo buildings, an&for

those, 55ft by 30tt, tho cost would bo about £65. But there wore several schools when}they would not be necessary, becauso thero wero largo clay banks into which tho boys could shoot with perfect safety. The rest of the equipment did not cost muoh. Repeating rifles were £2 15s each, and the single shot rifle 17s 6d; Then tJie ordinary target cost' about £1, and 1 ammunition was 12s 6d a thousand. A 30ft tunnel, if such was used, would'cost about £3. Mr E. JR. Smith endorsed what Mr "White had said. . .

Mr G;' C. Israel said the difficulty, thoy were faced with woe the position of the cadets. Wero 'they under tho Defence Department or the Education Board'? (Mr Scott: The Education Board.) Until lately, contended 1 Mr Israel, no single member of tho Education Board or School Committee knew how tliey stood with regard to the cadets. The Hon. Mr Fowlds had been urged to hand them over to tho Defence Department, but had objected. If they wore handed over they would bo better looked after and worked up to a more effective 'stage' than thoy were likely to be at present, They were more likely to get assistance from tho Defenco Department than from the Education Department. Tho deputation might rest assured there was not a member of the association that was not. wholly in sympathy with it- If they were'assured tho cadets wore wholly linder their eare school committees would Jiot be wanting in encouraging tho movement to the utmost extent.

Mr Waters said a difficulty that aroso was an instructor. Perhaps 'members of tho Pormanent. Force might bo spared to give such instruction as -might bo necessary. 110 moved;.that -the meeting thank tho members of. tho National League for sending the . deputation, . and assure tho league of its hearty 'sympathy in tho matter. » : Tho Rev, Mr Murray seconded tho motion. Mr -Scott would like to sco .the'matter referred to tho executive of the association with'.a view to its taking into consideration tho whole cadet movement. They wanted to decido now, for they wore going, to carry the training of the cadets.'. Mr G. Caldpr (North-East Valley) thought it was impossible for -the Education Department to give proper instructions in shooting, ete.,\ so woll as the Defence Department. ■The motion was carried usanimously, with'the addition that the wholo question I of tho cadet movement be remitted to tho! oxecutivo for consideration., to report to next meeting of the association, THE (Tunis' HIGH SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Mr "Israel moved—"That in view of tho adverse reports of the Health Department and other competent' authorities on tho lamentablo oondition .of the Otago Girls' High School buildings,'.'.the Minister of Education •'be •■respectfully urged -by this mooting to tak'o immediate steps to improve tho insanitary and uncomfortablo classrooms or, preferably, to securo a vote from Parliament to, rebuild-the whole structure at an early date." This, ho said, was a matter that concerned the association; tho school being- almost -wholly filled with primary school' children. Tho time was coming when these secondary schools' would be Landed' over to the' Board of Education. Mr Chadwick seconded the motion.

The Hon. I*. Fergus said his sympathies were with the motion'. Ho had been work-' ing'in'tho direction, indicated by Mr Israel' ' for. a. groat' many' ycaw. Tho school should coiiie under the 'control of the educational authorities 'here. The Government had been approaohod for a grant to, put. tho buildings in a sanitary condition, and had replied thafc'jt had not funds to do it with —practically that. They should make the most urgent representations through their members''to Parliament that an adequate vote should bo given to get a suitable building. They would not'find such a disgraceful structure from Auckland to the Bluff. They would not havo had to go with' hat in hand for assistance had thev been left what they were legitimately ontitlcdto. . .Tho motion \vas carried unanimously, with'tho addition that copies of it bo sent' to . members for the district with a request that they would support tho motion. A voto of thanks to tho chair and to tho exoeutivo 'for tlio work it had done during tho past quarter closed tho meeting.