EDICATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 953, 25 April 1889, Page 15

EDICATION BOARD.

The morithly. meeting of the Education Board was heldon the 15th, Present—Messrs, 0 Olark (chairman), M. Fraer, J. M'Kenzie; ' M 'H,R.,J. Fulton, M.H.R., J. G. Green, J. W. jago, Dr Hislop, and the Hon. T. Dick. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIEMAN. It being the annual meeting of the board, Mr M'Kbnmb said he had great pleasure in proposing Mr Clark as chairman for the ensuing year. During' thie time he had occupied the. chair Mr Clark had performed the duties very satisfactorily, an d they could not do better than M k him to take the position for the next 12 months. Mr Clark had accepted the office with diffidence when Dr Brown resigned, but he hod performed the duties to everyone's satisfaction, and be (Mr M'Kenzie) was sure there would be n o dissension among the members, but ,thab Mr Clark would be returned unopposed. Mr Feabe seconded the motion, agreeing that; Sir Clark had been one of the most consistent workers on 'the board. ' j After some farther' remarks the motion was ; put and carried unanimously. j Mr Olabk, in acknowledging his election 1 , j said be had agreed to temporarily fill the office | with unwillingness, and had hoped to be relieved ; from the position 'at' that meeting. He > had agreed to aci, however, on pressure from those j whose opinions he valued very highly, and should endeavour to give satisfaction in the office.' FINANCE COMMITTBB. The Finance Committee reported as ' follows :— ' Tour committee having considered the various matten referred to it begs to' make the following recommendation^ :— ' ' ! , ; Forb'ury.— That ' the recommendations of the areniteot with; reference to the 'filling up of. the groiin'd" and' putting the premises In" a' satisfactory afcsteW givep effect tp. ' Balclutha'.— That the committees application for Bdditidnal'accimmodatloh be referred to the Inspector to report/ on his next visit. Kyeburn.— That the application for the teacher s rent allowance be declined. Blue' Spur .-^That the' application of the lata teacher to be recouped the cost of range be declined, but that heb e allowed to removed the same. Walton.— That the architect be requested to report on the application of the committee for additional outhduse's. ;' ' School of Art!— That an assistant be appointed at & salary of £120 per annum, and a pupil teacher at £30 per annum. Tokaraki.— That the sum of £15 be granted for the oompletion'of building's. Tenders.— That ' the following be accepted;— Ahurirl: Additions to residence, George Farrant, £135. U»lon street • Sheds, &c, F. W. Lyders, £221.' Falmerston; painting, Thomaß Caddie, £6 10s. The report was adopted after a short discussion as to the School of Art appointments.

RESIGNATIONS. The following resignations were accepted :— Henry Henderson, head master, Kelso ; George Davidson, head master, Tokaraki; Charles H. Colville, head } master; Kari Bash; Jane" D. Hooper, 'mistress; , Sawyers' Bay'; Selina Jane Dale, mistress, JWaitahuna ; Hannah T. Murray, mißtress, Pukeuri; James E. M. Garrow, third assistant, Kensington ; D. S. I 'Mason, third assistant, North-Bast Valley; Thomas A. Finlay, third assist'antrPo^t'ph^lnaers; Robert Church, fourth' assjsianjii.Unjo'n.'street; liily Park, pupil teacher, Carorflham. : - The < I appointments were made: — William 'Phillips,' head 'teacher, Evans' Flat, vice Mr xTindall,' 'promoted; Margaret B. K. Taylor, ',Kekd u tea'cher,"Whare Plat,' vice Mr Sutherland; letfc 1 the 1 service ; Emma J,. Chappie, head teacher, Lauder, new. appointment ; Jane D. Hooper, mistressj vice Mis 3 Kinvig, lef fcjfche service ; Selina 3. Dale, mistress, Outram, vice Miss Scott, transferred ; David S. Mason, first assistant, North-East Valley, vice Mr Braik,left the Bervioe ; James E. M. Garrdw, first assistant, Glreen Island, vice Mr'Darfcon transferred; Thomas A. Finlay, fourth assistant, Arthur street, vice Mr Cowan, transferred; Hannah B. Murray, third assistant, Port Chalmers, vice Miss Alves, promoted; Euphemia Yorston, pupil teacher, George street, vice Miss Urquhart, resigned ; Isabella M*Leod, pupil teacher, High street, new appointment ; George Crawshaw, pupil teacher, Oamara North, new appointment ; Thomas D. ' Hamilton, pupil teacher, Kensington, vice, Miss Hannah, apprenticeship expired.

BANNOCKBTJBN.

Mr J. Ray wrote' complaining that a first-class attendance certificate had not been given to his Bon Robert, and asked for an^ inquiry "in order that justice be done." The teacher also sent a communication in which he mentioned that the boy had really been absent three days during the year, and was therefore not entitled to the certificate. He (the teacher) calculated the year from the resumption of school duties until the- Christmas holidays, whereas Mr Ray based his claim on the supposition that the year counted from one annual inspection to the other. Mr Grpmbie, also of Bannockburn, addressed a letter to the board on the same subject.

It was at first proposed that Mr Ray should be informed of the tenor of the teaoherfs letter, and that attention should be called to the provisions of the act in regard to the matter, but The Chairman thought it would be sufficient to simply receive the letters, and a minute was made to that effect.

MOBBAKI.

Mr M'Kenzib moved—" That the secretary be instructed to communicate with the Minister of Education with a view of the Government giving assistance to the board in erecting and establishing a school at Moeraki suited both fora European and Native school." ' At present, he said, the European children went to Hillgrdve, which was called a Maori school also, but was too far away from the Native reserve for the Maori children to attend. A central sohool should, he thought, be got to coyer the whole ground, and the Government should be called upon to assist,

Dr Hislop thought it was very necessary and proper that there should be a school there for the accommodation of both races. The motion was carried. , t QLBNIjBDI. ii ' > '

The Chairman, who had been asked to report opou Qlenledi School; said the school had been dospd for some 'time, the' number of children having fallen so low as not to justify the Government in keeping it open. There were a number °f children there, however, who could not attend any other school, and Miss Paul had stated she was willing to take the school "as Hj stood any salary the board might be able to fix. The school would by taking this course be kept on without any expense to 'the board save what they were able to pay per pupil. The suggestion was adopted, Dr Hislop remarking that the same course might be taken ttith other outlying districts. ACCOTTNTS. Accounts amounting to £6490 16s <5d were passed for payment.

> •,■ KAITASfGATA, " '•• i.ne Kaitangata School' Committee wrote drawing attention to the ntimber of pupils in the Higher '^t&ndards who .we're leaving tftfrschoo} an^tenaing"ihe StirUbg I)istri'ot Sohool, and Mfced that the board would inquire into the matter. Jfhe Chairman wid he thought it would be as

well to. defer this matter until after the Botibol, committee's , election npxt. week. Mr Fulton .moved— " That the letter be referred 1 to the incoming committed, asking' whether they had any recommendation to make' in the matter." " , .' , . - .'>.'', > The motion was carried. „ THE MACANDBEW BOA.D SCHOOLi 1 ' The following letter was read from the head, master of this school :— ;'; ' '•<• iS „ •„ - "April'3, lßß9.' The Secretary; Ofcago Board of Education. -■• i.'.v <> Sir,—! believe it to be <my duty to acquaint the. Education Board .with the fact that our school haa been reduced one grade in average attendance iby the 1 obatlnacy ofithe committee, who were> conversant . with the results of their action, i Unfcil.the Cup day i •we had about 607. average - for the 'quarter.* , I and informed that every school in Dunedin and suburbs ■was closed on that day, except our own, it being a public holiday. We . had In comequence- 180. > absent in> the morning i and 280 ■in '.the, afternoon* , Again, ,on - Anniversary Day •1 • our i sohool ■ was j not permitted > .to .' close, though,, as I am told, erery other sohool' in Dunedlm and suburbßwas cloßed.and welOßt about 312 children, both morning and afternoon. This loss of attendances, above our general absentees, reduced the sohool one grade, the salaries of three teachers, the committee's Income, and has deferred the obtaining another assistant possibly another year.— l am, so., , 1 ■ WiiiiAM.BBNNBTT,, Head-master. v Mr M'Kenzie : I. move that the letter be referred to^the cpmmittee, that they may give some reason for their obstinacy. „,.,'' Carried without discussion. •'-',"'.,■ The committee appointed to inquireiegarding the report of the head master of this school on Miss Hilgendorf's conduct as a pupil teacher brought up the following report :— We have' made full inquiry into this matter, and have examined at length Mr B.ennett, Miss Hllgendorf, Miss Porsyth (head mistress), and Mr Spencer (assistant master;. , From the evidence taken, by hs we have arrived at the conclusion that Mr,,Bennett has failed to shdw that Miss Hilgendorf's conduct, as a pupil teaoher at,Macandrew road School was such as to warrant the, report, furpiahed by him ; and more particularly we, consider the phraseology made use of by him to. be improper and misleading, and 'ought riot to havp been employed. Wa do not think it advisable, after what has occurred, to replace her in her former' position at Macandrew road Sohool, 'and recommend that her name be entered on the board's register as;an eligible candidate: for appointment as a pupil teacher, and that in the meantime 'she be at liberty to attend the Normal Sohool free, of charge.— We are, &c., HENB7 CLAEK. John Hislop. ; John W. Jago. Mr Dick moved — " That the report of the committee be adopted ; that a copy of the report be forwarded to Mr, .Bennett, and that he be informed that the board feel it their duty to censure him for having made charges so ' improper and misleading ' and having a tendency to lead the board into a gross act, of injustice." { Mr Fulton seconded the motion. i Mr M'Kenzie ■ thought tha< when the board got reports from their teachers those^ reports should be such as could be relied on. In this 'case it ■ had been discovered by mere' accident that the board had been, misled by on,e of their own teachers. This had been discovered, as he had said, by mere accident. The story had got '^bout town that" there 'was such a report, and ithe- girl's father had made' inquiries into the matter and^asked for a copy of the report. That request should) have been complied with. The master had been found out in misleading the board, and he (Mr M'Kenzie) thought he should be made a public example of. The board had heard of this kind, of thing before, and now they had found out a man misleading the board— leading them to do an injustice to this girl, and it was time to take actions ' The committee bad examined the matter, and fouh'd that the board had acted" rashly ; and he (Mr M'Kenzie) thought they 'should now dismiss Mr Bennett from the Bervice. The motion did not

go far enough. That was his, opinion. Mr Fulton, did hot think Mr M'Kenrie was justified iv finding fault .with the, board for not Supplying a copy of the report to Mr Hilgendorf. It would be a wroqg thing for the board to supply reports made confidentially' by, their teachers.' , '. Mr Geebn oould not support the motion heartily, although he could not think of any amendment which would 1 be' at all likely to be carried. Butjbis ideas, took a different course to those of Mr' M'Kenzie, and he did not think that report was ever treated as* confidential. He thought the . action taken now would have an opposite effect to what reports from teachers should have. ' While' he agreed that the master's report was not couched in proper language, he did not think the board were less to blame than the teacher. It was the board's head officer who reported to the board, and their action was taken on the report of that officer.' 'If their head inspector furnished a report simply en hearsay and not on h?s own judgment, that was not a right course for 'him to pursue. The board's officer could not be, expected to be infallible, but when he made ,a' report it phouid be based on his deliberate' judgment. He \Mr, Green) was clearly of opinion that, notwithstanding the good intentions of' the board, it had simply added, not another shovelful, but a scuttle of coals to the fire, and that the remarks made would' make the' fire larger than it was. The position of affairs 'yds this : that one of their pupil teachers had been dismissed in consequence of a report, which was couched in what might be called unguarded language, and they were now going to give 1 her a chance of proving whether she was 6r was not fit for the' position. But iHhe board now said that, the young lady was all that, was desirable and the teacher all that was wrong, they would be going too far in the other direction. ' He thought they ought to place Miss Hilgendorf In" a position where she, would get a trial' unde>r ; another master. The board would not be.doirig right to throw all the blame on the teacher for the use of improper language. Of course he (Mr Green) admitted that the language; was improper, but that was not really the 1 oause-of the girl's dismissal from 'the' service. Their inspector had reported: "I think, Miss E/Hil:, gendorf should receive three, months' notice of the termination of her engagement." . , The, motion was then put and carried, Mr M'Kenzie desiring that his dissent; be

recorded. ; " "r" r ' ' " , „, ' „ , | It was, alsq.re&ojve'd' on motion* of Mr Dick, "seconded byDr Hislop—" That a copy, of the report be forwarded, to Mr Hilgendorf, and that he be informed that the board having 4oue' what theycbnsider, fuU justice in, ( the matter must decline to give him, a, copy of Mr Bennett's report." ■ ' • ■ KUEI BUSH.. ' •■ , ' Inspector Goyen reported that the residence was in ''a very unsatisfactory' ( condition, arid it was ( resolved s ' that 'necessary repairs be effected.; /',. : _ „' .*. .. . APPOINTMENtfiOE 1 COMMIT*BBS. , Mr Fbaeb' said that this being the annual meeting lie woidd move that f the usual, committees'of the boardbe constitated of the .whole of the members. ,j s .• . -, # •. . , | Mr Fulton did 1 not see any advantage in that : arrangement; He thought it would 1 be simpler if they met as' the board and went into committee when .necessary, ( There ' was , r'eallyi no jreaspn.for/appointiqg a Qommittee.at ( a]j,'unles3 a small:one: -fxif^'ip-j ■ i.'.> ; i.u-j i:n yin -. '.? <■«".- The Chairman : A very good idea. Mr Gbeen moved that the board in future meet every third^ Wednesday and the following day in every month,

' This, was carjipd. „ ... „,oii,; t■ <> It was also resolved to meet on the 25th inst. to consider applications for, .appointments, and tha^, Pr' Hislop and Messrs Dic^ and, Jago be appointed a Visiting Committee for, the Normal f 5ch001.,,. v i. ' ....... SCHOLA^SHIIJ HOLDEHS.AT.THB. HIGH SCHOOL., J Th§SECEETAEY intimated .that there was.aletter from Dr Belcher in regard to the scholar^ , ship holders. „.,-• ■ - • .. v • <-' Mr M'Kenzie moved that the whole -correspondence, be read, so as to refresh members' memories. He found that.Dr Belcher did a very foolish thing after .the last, meeting pi the board : he had rushed into print and accused some of the members of want of intelligence — — > ' | tMr Qebbn :, That is not new. , . .... ■ Mr M'Kisnzib : And.me in particular.. I fchink that Dr. Belcher wishes tp fix upon this, board the blame which, properly speakiDg, attaches to, himself only, and if this correspondence be "read the public will know who is responsible. It is very important, , at any<rate, that the report brought up by" the committe*, which led tc the discussion, should be read ; and I move in that direction.." - ■» ■ ' ■> '■ ''» 'Mr that the letter came before the board* in- an irregular manner. It should have come throughrthe High' SBhools Board. =Mr M^Ebnzie thought that if the correspondence 1 were read and published ''it' 1 would be a' completS'ariswerto Dr Belcher's letter, in the Tjlmes „bf" ihe 22iid March,) last, iii' which Dr Belcher wished to throw on the board the onus of punishing a number of the b'oysi 1 It was; agreed that the correspondence should be read, which wasdonei ( "'-' „'/.' ,' '■ After the, reading, of the' .corresppudence \b was , resolved, !on the motion of Dr Hislop, seebnded by Mr Feabe— "That the Education Board express satisfacti6n at learning thaii th 6 board's scholarship holders, are '.withput^xcep: tidn * working to the , entire satisfaction of the tectori' and that the HSgh School B'pard of. iQovernorshave directed the rector to furnish to Sfchiß' office in future. 1 through the secretary of tMfe pigh Bcnbol'Bofii*d,quarfcierly, confidential repqris on the Education Board's scholarship holders in attendance at the Boys' iHigh School, as provided for by the Education Board's Regulations of 1884." ' '