HIGH SCHOOLS BOARD OF GOVERNOR'S.

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 17

HIGH SCHOOLS BOARD OF GOVERNOR'S.

A meeting of the High Schools Board of | Governars was held on the 2nd inst. There i were present: Dra Brown (chairman) ami Shand, the Revs. P. B. Fraser and A. , Cameron, and Mr J. R. Sinclair. I Mr Duncan M'Rae wrote asking pernvs- | sion to take 50 cords of firewood yearly from j section 16, block V, Mokoreta district. — I Application to be granted, prodded Mr Russell's (the tenant) permission vis ; obtained. j Messrs John Reid and Sons wrote, on bshalf of Mt James Garrow, asking the board to fix a rent of section 1 of block 11, Oaroaru district, at the fullest value which the comrai=6ioner thought the land to be worth, to prevent the nece^ity of his siFreoidering it, and enabling him to ke-ep faith with the board. They stated that Mr Garrow was paying a rent in excess of its value, and more than it was possible to m»ko cut of it. — Application declined. M-eEsra Reid aird Maearaey wrote asking the board to consent to the assignment cf Mr Angus M'Kny's interest in run 215 a, Rock and Pillar, to Mr E. O'Connell.— Granted on the- usual terms. Mr John Hay, Middle-march, wrote inquir ng if ho could purchase section 21, block X, Arde-n. — It was decided to reply stating that the board would not sell the (section. Kit they were, willing to put the lca-^ of it for 21 years up at the next auction. Mr A. S. Ru«ell, Mokoreta, wrote for-war.hn-g to the board a copy of petition to the Minister of Public Works, now in circulation in the Mokoreta d.stnct, and requesting their co-operatio'.i therewith. •The petition was to the effect that tli« Government should noi come to a final decision re the route of the Seaward EushCatlin's River railway unfit the claim of a superior routa via the Mokoreta district had been taken into corsideration. — It Mas decided to reply stating thit the board recognised that the propo*e'l deviation of the railway would matcra'ly enhance the value of the board's ro=cr\r-. It ww also decided to write to tl-c Minuter of Public Works stating tl>at the board appioved of the proposed route. Miss Ma.rcha.nt, principal of the Girls' Hi~h School, v. rote reporting that the rooms were already very crowded. Sh» also stated that if 20 pupils came they mu«t have a teacher, as the cla^ifes were very large. With re-gord to a cooking class, ehe stated that Mrs Miller was ojkii to engagement at th« rats of 5s per hour. Mi^s Marehant wrote- further stating that she was informed the board could get capitation on their science and drawing cla»sc3, and on the swimming and cooking classes, if established. For the cooking the department would givo half-cobtof th= equipnwmt and materials used, ttud a substantial capitation of 15* per pup.l for one hour a wclc and 7s 6d for haJf an hour. This would cover nearly the whole of the cost of the class, and she urged that she be authorised to begin tbs ccoking class — The Ohvrman r?norr-od that he bad arranged with Miss Ma reliant for Mr, Mto take up the cooking cta=-,03, and his action was appro\od —It wa< doriJcd also to appoint a sewing mi.-tre>=s, avd the chairman ajd Mr Sinclair were empowered to see, M'-s Marchant and mate the appointment. The Education Board wrcfo acknowledging the board's letter of May 8 asking that arrangements be made to examine the town and suburban schoo's before the 2nd of June in order that the Sixth Standard pupil, might bo enabled to proceed at fie beginning of the nc\t term, ai.d stating that it was impossible to hold the examinations in the city sdioo's by the date suggested, and that a conference wou'd b* hf!d between the inspectors and the principals of the Hisjh Schools with a \iew to suggesting a permanent arrangement for tiny trrncference of primary pupi!-, to the His-h Schools — IVooived The following Ictt-er wa<3 reop-ivetl from Mr A. "Wilson, lector of the Boys' Hiffh School: — | I had an infoiinal conference with ths in1 spcetors of schools en Satuiday, 23rd May, and a'cerUi.icl from them that a very lar^e influx oi pupils mii-t necessarily take pace after the . inspection of schools ,i July Mr Go\cn ea'ir.U'tc-^ the pc^s'liV , ,nilj«r at 100 T'Oi.ohlM , for each al^ B, >,' ll i& h School ard the ltirU i J' 1!-''1 !-'' School :, -ue«.ti- ely) I need not t^ay that ye are not in a position to receive ai.ytlnng like this number, a'ld that verj' serious d'fnculties pre ahpp<l of us unless timeiv provis.ou is made lor the added nunibeis. I venture to suggest to the bo aid that it would be r well not to e'.iol tV lie v pupils ui.ti! the begiiinuig of the I'nnl tei >n. 'This wcij'tl htiJl prevent a.iy pupi's fo-.fc tng their nglii o; , aduiisb»cn, which fonVit.ue might take p'nee ; if enio'mi it were deferred till the beginning of the jear. It seems to me that the schoole should r.ot be required to receive these pupilb I in the nuddlo of a u-rra, .whenevLr they h'a\o ' p.>s=ed th° neci>Bs;uy st.indr.rd. It cannot l,e expected tint the v.cri: of the elliools will po en properly if tho tune oi' the priiKipa!s ami r,:affB 13 tokf-n up with t'. is new uiatcria!. If these pew pupils are cr.ro'lcd fr r tie third Lrra, this will jnve sen-e time to ccn-i'ler v. hat prol vision can hi mode for them boh ?s regards I teaching power and c'a*s ronni .ncommodation, both of which lnugt i>e">s=anly be increased if the numbers c.aim n^ adnii-pion to the school aro anything like what :s anticipated by the inspectors. It is cle^r to me that, if these new regulations aie to b? work.be at a'!, it can only ba by having them materially a'tercd m such r. way I a= to pieicnt the or2;anisaUon of H gh Schools from being disturbed cvory three months. As regards this particular inconvenience, tho remedy seems to me to be simple enough if the board can impress it upon the department — namely, to abolish the age qua-hfieation, and to make the time of enrolment the beginning of the school year next after the date of passing the standard. I cannot help feeling very anxiou3 about this matter, and I hope the board will permit me to suggest that it would be well to appoint a, committee, of tho board to advise with the principals of the school as to tho btst means oi meeting 4 hc difficulties which I foicseo v,6 shall ha\ c to deal with before loi g. Tho letter was briefly di=eut-=cd. and the board generally was of tho opinion that this year, at anyrate, primary fthool pupils fhould be allowed to tran-for to the High Schools without de-lay. With regard to the

question of extra teachers for the schools, the. following resolution was, on the motion of Mr Caine-ron, adopted: — "Tha.t, in view of the large number of pupils likely to enter tho sohqole parly this term, a nc-w teacher Ibe appointed to each of the schools." The chairman and tho treasurer were appointed to confer with the rector and lady principal to draw up an advertisement inciting applications for the positions. Mr Cameron also moved, and it was decided: — "That a ccmmit-tee be appened to confer with the heads of the schools as to the necessity for providing a non-cla^icol course of instructions with n tho schools and to make recommendations." Mr Cameron, speaking in favour of the motion, said it was absolutely nocessiry that a new curricxihun should bo arrrnged to run alongside the present one. UnWs it were done tho scheme would r-reik down, for parents would not bo so foohfh as to send their boys to bo put through the one course. Iho Education Board, unless the change were made, would be compelled to set up a rival institution to meet the needs of the community.