EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 14

EDUCATION BOARD.

The meeting of the Education Board on Thursday was attended by Messrs D. Borrie (chairman), A. M'Kerrow, T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., M. Fraer, H. Clark, J. J. Ramsay, J. Green, M.H.R., the Hon. J. MacGregor, M.L.C., and Dr Stenhouse. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were confirmed : Fred. S. Aldred, head teacher, Greytown, Dice Ivens resigned ; James Smith, do, Waihola Gorge, vice Dunbar resigned ; Neil Pollock, do, Lovell's Flat, vice Botting transferred ; J. F. Botting, do. Broad Bay, vice Huie resigned ; Elizabeth M. Harrison, do, Whare Flat, vice Kinder resigned ; James Grant, first assistant, Palmerston, vice Vernon, left the service ; John A. Fitzgerald, do, North-East Valley, vice Macfarlane resigned ; Jessie C. Howat, do, Tapanui, vice M'lntyre resigned. The following pupil teachers were recommended by the inspectors for appointment :— Caversham : Antoinette Renz, Grace Clulee, Clarissa Mitchell, James Moreland. Kensington : Jane Hartley, Dorothea Wilkinson, Lily Sullivan. North-East Valley : Thomas Begg, Mary D. Alexander. George street : Sydney Smith, Marion B. Thomson. Albany street : William Lindsay, Charles MarsdeD, Mary Mathewson. Union street : Katherine Church. Kaikorai : Joseph Hunter, Jane Pilkington. High street : Elizabeth Sauuders. Forbury : Harold Jeffreys, Mary Davidson. Ravens* bourne : Ada Hoffman, Eva Broadway. Port Chalmers : Thomas A. Hunter, Agnes Sinclair. Tokomairiro, Lily O. Taylor. Mr Mackenzie said that some parents had approached him in order to get their children into schools as pupil teachers, and there was a prevalent notion that members of the board could work with the inspectors and head teachers to make such appointments. He had told them that so far as he knew the members of the board could not influence the inspectors in the matter. Mr Fraeu said the positions were advertised, the inspectors saw the applicants at work, they judged of their literary qualifications, consulted with the head master, and then recommended the best qualified applicant. The members of the board had nothing to do in the matter. Mr Mackenzie said he had been told that some of the members of the board took «redit for certain appointments, but all he could say was that he, personally, had no such influence. The Hon. J. MacGbegor said there was a good deal of misapprehension in the minds of people in connection with this subject. He dared say many people imagined that the appointments could be manipulated by the members of the board, and he dared say, too, that those people who made that complaint were the very people who wished that the members could manipulate the appointments. — (Hear, hear.) As a matter of fact, the members of the board had absolutely nothing whatever to do with the appointment of pupil teachers, as far as his knowledge extended. Three or four years ago regulations were made by the board on this subject of the appointment of pupil teachers, and they were designed specially with the object of giving all and sundry an opportunity of applying for vacancies, and of having their qualifications and merits tested by the inspectors. That was, no doubt a very necessary reform, but since then the matter had been left entirely in the hand 3of the inspectors, and it was difficult to see how any other system could be adopted. The appointments were agreed to. RESIGNATIONS. The following resignations were accepted : — F. S. Aldred, head teacher, Alexandra ; J. Smith, do, Pine Hill; H. E. Murray, do, Nenthorn ; Neil Pollock, do, Purekireki ; Jessie C. Howat, do, Lauder; John A. Fitzgerald, first assistant, Oamaru North ; J. Grant, second do, Palmerston; Robert Wilson, third do, Green Island ; Marjory R. McLaren, mistress, Matakanui ; John Pringle, bursary - holder, Danedin Training College. LEE STREAM. Messrs G. Nicol and L. G. Fenwick waited on the board to protest against the proposed removal of the Lee Stream school to Clark's Junotion. The deputation represented that if it was intended to remove the school at all it would be better to remove it towards Hindon ; but the committee thought it would be very unadvisable to remove the school at all. There were now 22 children in the district who were between six and 12 years old, and there were five or six more who were between fivo and six years old. The CiiAinsiAN informed tho deputation that a petition had been presented to the board asking for the removal of the school, but it hid been thought advisable to get a report on the subject before a decision was come to. He had no doubt that the board would give every consideration to what the deputation had said, and they would bo very loth to do an injury to the children if it could be avoided at all. The deputation having withdrawn, Mr Fraer moved that the inspector be requested to inquire into the matter, and that if the statements made by the deputation are found to be correct, a relieving teacher be sent to the school for three months. Dr Stenhouse seconded the motion. Mr Mackenzie proposed as an amendment that the secretary advertise for applications, and that a relieving teacher be not sent. Mr Green seconded the amendment. The Chairman asked Mr Mackenzie if he would object to send a teacher temporarily to the school — until an appointment was made. Mr Mackenzie replied in the affirmative, as he believed there was some hole-and-corner work in the appointment of relieving teachers. Mr Ramsay did not believe in the sending of a relieving teacher for three months, for if, in the event of a permanent appointment being made, the teacher was not appointed at the end of the three months, the school was unsettled by the change ; and, moreover, the teacher who was sent for three months had an opportunity, which other teachers had not, of canvassing the committee. Mr Fraer said the matter would be hung up for a month if a relieving teacher was not appointed. The Hon. J. MacGregor pointed out that if they proceeded in the ordinary way the board would lose two months, and he suggested, therefore, that the committee should authorise

the board to make the appointment of a teacher without submitting the names of applicants to the committee. Mr Green suggested that the names of all the applicants should be sent down to the committee without beiDg submitted to the board. The Hon. J. MacGregor thought it would be better that, with tho consent of tho committee, the board should deal with the matter. The motion was withdrawn, and Mr Mackenzie's proposal carried. ciiasland's mistake. A memorial was received from settlers at Chasland's Mistake requesting tho establishment of a school. The Secretary said he had ascertained from Mr Farnie that most of the people who had signed the petition were unemployed sent down from Cbristchurch. Mr Mackenzie said that personally he had no recent acquaintance with the locality. If the petitioners had taken up sections, and wero erecting huts, and if there was a likelihood at all of their becoming permanent settlers, a school should certainly be erected. Ha would suggest that information .in this connection should be obtained from someone in the locality, or that a reliable person should be sent to inquire and report. The memorial was referred to the secretary for further information. THE GRANT FOR SCHOOL nUILDINGS. The North Canterbury Education Board for-, warded a circular bringing under the notice of the board the unsatisfactory position of the various education boards with respect to expenditure on school buildings. They suggested that action should be taken by all the boards in the colony urging Parliament to pass a vote sufficient to enable the various boards to deal fairly with the numerous requests they received for buildings in their respective districts. Mr Mackenzie said he did not think the board received sufficient money, but at the same time he thought the Government gave as much as they could reasonably allocate. The Chairman concurred with Mr Mackenzie's remark. Dr Stenhouse said they could do with a little more money, but there did not seem to be a great deal of urgency in the matter. On the motion of the Hon. J. MacGregor, it was resolved— " That this board adopt the suggestion of the North Canterbury Board with regard to the grant for school buildings, and join with them in representing to the Minister that while recognising the fact that the Minister has endeavoured to meet the requirements for buildings by obtaining from Parliament a somewhat larger grant, the grant is still insufficient to enable the boards to meet the necessities for school accommodation in districts in which settlement is rapidly extending." WAIABKKA. The Secretary mentioned that the School Commissioners bad some time ago granted a school site at Waiareka, but the Minister for Education had stepped in with the result that the site had not been obtained. It was, however, urgently needed. On. the motion of Mr Grhen, it was resolved — "That this board, being desirous of extending the area of the school site at Waiareka, and the only available land for such purpose being a part »f the Waitaki High School estate, the secretary be instructed to write and ask the Board of Governors of the Waitaki High School if they will sell the board four acres of section 2 of 23, block VI, Oamara survey district, and at what price." NOTICE OF MOTION. The Hon. J. MacGregor gave notice to move — "That a committee be appointed to devise and report upon a scheme for a central school for preparation for commercial and industrial pursuits of pupils who have passed the Sixth Standard ; that it be an instruction to the committee to invite the High Schools Board to appoint a committee to confer with the board's committee ; and that the committee consist of Messrs Mackenzie, Green, Stenhouse, and the mover ; Mr MacGregor convener." MISCELLANEOUS. A memorial was reoeived from settlers in the Little Awakino Valley asking for the establishment of a subsidised school in the locality, and stating that there was a comfortable room ready for the purpose if a teacher was sent. — The matter was referred to the inspector to report. On the recommendation of the head master it was agreed to appoint three pupil teachers to the Kensington School instead of an assistant and pupil teacher. — Mr Moore wrote informing the board that, after a week's trial of the new departure, he preferred the three pupil teaohers. The Kaikorai School Committee advanced reasons why the vacancy caused by the resignation of the fifth assistant should be filled up. — Mr Fraer thought that the vacancy should be advertised at once, as the school was one of the most important ones in the district. He proposed that the request be granted, and that a relieving male assistant be sent to the school in the meantime. — The motion was carried. A large quantity of correspondence was submitted with reference to the Ngapara School site. — Mr Mackenzie said that if the school were not nearly finished he would have moved that members of the board visit the district and inspect the site. — Dr Stenhouse was of the same opinion, and reminded the board that they had acted not only in accordance with the advice of their own architect, but also on the recommendation of the school committee. — The board agreed not to reopen the matter. Mr Wade, of Blaokstone Hill, again wrote in connection with an exemption certificate for his children, and asked the board to reconsider the matter. — The letter was received, and the board declined to reopen the matter. An application was received from settlers at Drybread asking for the establishment of a school.— The Chairman mentioned that an inspector would be in the district within the next fortnight, and suggested that the parties interested should meet him — Mr Ramsay and the Hon. J. MacGregor both thought that the board had acted precipitately in the matter, and on the motion of the former gentleman it was resolved to request the inspector to report. A petition was read from settlers in the lower end of Waikoikoi district requesting the establishment of a school between Glenkenich and Waikoikoi, and offering assistance in the matter. — Mr Mackenzie expressed the opinion that something ought to be done to help the settlers there. — It was decided to obtain a report from the inspectors. The entrance examination in connection with the Normal School was fixed for the 28th inst. The following tenders were accepted :— Ashley Downs, school buildings, £253 12s lOd, D. A. M'Lauchlan ; Hyde, additions, £155, W. Ball and Son. Accounts amounting to £6073 11s 3d were passed for payment. It was agreed to purchase three sections at Waiwera and to effect necessary repairs to the school at Blacks. The board went into committee to deal with some matters affecting the conduct of one of their country teachers.

Mr F. Le Cren has been promoted to manage the N.Z.L. and M.A. Company's branch at Temuka.