EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, 25 January 1900, Page 22

EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Education Board was held on the 17th inst., when there were present : Messrs J. J. Ramsay (chairman), Borrie, Harraway, Gallaway, J. MacGregor, Mitchell, Snow, and J. Sim. bepaihs. Small amounts were granted for repairs to school buildings at Island Cliff, Tapanui, Catlins, and Tahakopa. CKOOKSTON. The consideration of the application of the settlers in block 111, Crookston, for the establishment of a school was deferred. TAIEHI. Permission was granted to the Taieri County Council to erect a roadman's hut on a central site at "Deep Stream. CHASLANDS. It was decided to apply to the Government for funds for the erection of a new school at Chaslands. WAIABEKA. The application of ihe Waiareka School Committee for the erection of a bridge wa» v deferred for further consideration. EXCESSIVE STAFFS. Several applications from committees to be allowed to continue the teachers who were in excess of the school staff were received and declined. The Secretary submitted a list of the schools where the members of the teachingstaff exceeded the number that should be allowed ; and it was decided to give notice to all teachers concerned. DISBATING HIGH SCHOOLS. The question of what was deemed the'-pro-posal -to disrate the district high schools was brought before the board by a deputation from Balclutha, and discussed at some length. -The discussion is reported elsewhere in these columns, and the matter was referred to a committee of the whole board to report at the next monthly meeting. The board adjourned at 5 o'clock until 10 o'clock this (Thursday) morning. The meeting of the Otago Education Board was resumed at 10 o'clock on Thursday morning, when there were present — Messrs J. J. Ramsay (chairman), W. Swan, J. M. Gallaway, J. Sim, D. Borrie, J. MacGregor, and H. Harraway. MISCELLANEOUS. Accounts amounting to £5308 were passed for payment. The Rev. W. Hewitson and Mr J. J. Ramsay were appointed the board's representatives on the Otago High Schools "Board. Mr

} Gallaway and Mr MacGregor declined .nomi- | nation. ( Mr Borrie -was- reappointed to represent the board on the Waitaki High Schools Board. • SCHOLAHSHIPS. The Secretary reported the resxilts of the scholarship examinations, which appear elsewhere. On the motion of Mr MacGregor, seconded by Mr liarraway, the board decided to grant 12 senior and 10 junior scholarships. Mi Harraway said the High Schools Boardl had decided that no one should gain a scholarship upon less than 60 per cent, of the marka | obtainable. It seemed to him that the children would be deprived of the opportunity of this education through the action of the High School Board. , The Secretary read the following memorandum: — "Under the regulations formerly in forde 33 junior scholarship candidates having' ! gained at least 50 per cent, of attainable murks would have been entitled to free education for two years at the Uunedin High Schools. Under the new regulations 10 can- . dictates are entitled to this concession. There are, therefore, 23 candidates excluded by the operation of the 'new regulation." Mr Harraway was oppossd to Ihis decision by the High Schools Board of Governors. Mr MacGregor pointed out that there was ! no motion before them, and it was out of order I to discuss the matter. j Tlie Board then passed on to the next business. i APPOINTMENTS. I The following appointments were made: — Catherine White, head teacher, Arthurton ' School, vice Oarringlon, -promoted ; t George F. Booth, first assistant North > East Valley School, vice Fitzgerald, promoted ; A.lex. M'Lean, fourth assistant Union ' street School, vice Reid, promoted. 'j BESIGNATIOXS. I The following resigaiions were received: — Geo. F. Booth, second assistant, North -East j Valley ; Mary S. Pretsch, head teacher, Moa ! Flat : Jessie J. Allan, mistress, Maungatua ; , Elizabalh S. Johnston, mistress, Teaneraki ; I Mary Trainor, head teacher, Luggate, and James Christie, pupil teacher, Roxburgh. j ' WETKERSTONES. Mr Sim moved— "That the resolution of , the board clooing the school at Wetherstones be rescinded. " He had since the resolution was ! passed visited the district, and was satisfied ; the school ought not to be closed. It the i school was closed an injustice would be done. For one thing the children must be at least eight years of age before they could attend the Lawrence School, and that would debar them from any chance of coming up for a. ! "eho'arship. ' There would be nothing gamed !by closing the school,, and the board must , see the injustice of the proposal to close it. When he visited the school there were 23 P TIr S MSregor it though fc they ought not to be continually rescinding the they had passed, and was against the piesent i m The*' Chairman said the matter had been ! fully considered before the resolution was 1 paJed. The statement had been made that Wetherstones was three miles from Lawrence, ; but on actual measurement it had been found t to be just one mile and three-quarters from Xc one school ta the oilier, and there was a 1 good footpath all the way. It was rea Uy in the~tntere3td of the country schools that the Wetherstones school had been closed. Upon being put the motion to rescind tha former resolution of the board was negatived. YLLOWANCE TO COMMITTEES. Mr Mitchell moved— " That the resolutionof'the board of the 15th of November, reducing the allowance to committees be re- . ■ semded." It was, he said, with some trepidation that he moved this resolution, but as he had given notice of it he would proceed with it. He was not going to make any ' lengthened remarks upon the question, because he was satisfied the members would recognise the justice of the present proposaL He could not conceive it possible that the board had deliberately determined to make I a reduction which would effect the taking ' away of -60 per cent, from some schools, and . of only 4 per cent, from others, and was i prepared to accept it that at the time mcmi bers were acting under a misapprehension 1 as to the effect of the resolution. At any i rate, he would give them credit for that. He did not know that there was any particular necessity to discuss the merits of the case, but if there was he was prepared to discuss it. Mr Snow seconded the motion. lma seemed to him to be an example of hurried ' legislation. He was sure it had never been i the intention of the board to make such reductions as would be effected by the resolution. Mr Harraway would like to know what it was proposed to substitute for the motion it was proposed to rescind. The Chairman thought that most members of the board would agree that a mistake had " been made. For his own part, he had been ; under the impression that they were going back to what obtained prior to 1889. Mr Harraway said that wa3 his impression: that they were going back to the position the . board Occupied previous lo the additional - grants being made to the committees. What ought to be done was to consider the whole finances of the board with a view of curtailing the expenditure. The motion to rescind the previous resolution of the board was adopted, Mr MacGregor dissenting, and on the motion of Mr Harraway the question of the allowances to committees was referred to a committee consisting of the whole board to report to the next meeting of the board. lIACANDREW BOAD SCHOOL. _A deputation, consisting of Mr J. Chefcwin and Mr E. Hogg, waited upon the board from the Macandrew Road School Committee to ask for a subsidy towards the erection of I a school gymnasium. Mr Chetwin said that in 1897 the Macandrew Road School Committee had written to the board suggesting that a gymnasium should be set up for the whole of the schools of the Flat. The board concurred with the idea, but subsidies were granted to other schools, and then the board intimated that after a. certain, date no more subsidies could, be given for this purpose. The committee took steps to raise funds towards a gymnasium, but did not send in a formal application until ihe time mentioned had expired; they considered that virtually their application had been before the board. They had now a sum of £160 ready for this purpose, ' i arid desired to get a subsidy upon it, for_ ■ without it tho money was simply lying idle i and useless, and they were in danger of. . i losing pupils from the school, as some parents' " had stated that if no gymnasium was built they would send their children to other schools, which they could do without much inconvenience, as the schools on the Flat were very close together. Mr Hogg said he thought the mistake of the committee had arisen from the fact of there being too many Scotchmen upon it. Instead, of applying for a subsidy, as others

had done, and taking their chance of raising tho money afterwards, they liad been over cautious and had determined to raise the rc>cnc-y first, with the result that the time foi such applications had expired before theirs was sent in. They had now tlie suir of £160 in the bank, and unless a subsidy •was granted to them they could do nothing With it. The Chairman promised that the matter tehould receive consideration, and the deputation retired. The 'Chairman and Mr Gallaway expressed a very strong opinion that the deputation had made out a good case, and that the application merited the most favourable consideration; but the board decided that in the meantime it must be refused, and it was decided to, refer the whole question of the working of school gymnasiums to Mr Hanna for report. This concluded the business, but before rising the board decided that the March meeting shouiu be held on the 14th and 15th of that month.