EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1240, 4 September 1875, Page 11

EDUCATION BOARD.

The adjourned meeting of the Education Board took place on the 27th ult. Present— H;a Honour the Deputy-Superintendent (in the chair)> Messrs J. I)avie, J. L. Gillies, J. Green, Pi Mackellar, snd J. Hislop (Secretary).

L'ASDIUAT&S FOR APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made: — Head-master of the Practising School, Normal Institution, Mr Alexander Montgomery, headmaster Albany street School; seven candidates. Matron of the Otago Normal Institution, Miss Ia A, Fitzgerald, head mistress Oamaru Grammar School; six candidates. Sub-Inspector of Schools, Mr William Taylor, head-master Kensington School, aud formerly employed as Hub-Inspector of Schools in this Province ; ten candidates. Male assistant drawing teacher, Mr Alexander Anderson, teacher at Clinton, and formerly student Uunedin School of Arts ; two candidates. Female assistant drawing teacher, Ml*» Agnes Wright, student Dunedin School of Arts ; five candidates.

Mr Gillie* a*id that many of the outsi'le public thought these appointments were made ohnply on the recommendation of the Secretarj'. tt should be kumvu that each member of the Board had read tbe applications, aud was competent to give an Individual' opinion on tbe recommendations made by the Inspector. As a member of the Board, he fully endorsed the recommendations of the Insjiector in all the appointments ijroiweied by him. There could be no two opinions about the Kclectionn made in the Inspector's recommendations for the mastership of the Jsormal School, the drawingmaster, and the axsutaut drawiujf-mi»tre*i. With regard to the mistress of the Normal .School, he believed that at least two other applicant* held as good certificates aa the one that had been selected. From the perusal of the certificates, ami from personal knowledge, that Miss Fitzgerald was the sister of Mr Fitzgerald, the head mastar. he gave preference to her appointment, and she might reasonably be expected to give greater satisfaction and greater success in the mnnagement of the Normal School than would lie obtained if su entire stranger to the head manter were selected. They had been employed together for a length of time, and were therefore likely to produce better results thau If a stranger ware appointed. He (llr Gillies) Mcogniaed that Miss Fitzgerald's certificates Were as valuable as those he had referred to. Hiu HoKot'tt thought it was undesirable to state on what grounds the appointments were ttadft Mr GILLIM Uttid they were there as the servants of the public, aud tbe public had a right to know on what grounds tho appointments wen made. Mr MACKELT.AK thought that as members of the Kducation Board they should have sufficient dignity to stand upon, With respect to the public they might «ay what they pleased. Mr Gu,MW ; lam not quite so ego v wtic&l a?