SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 38

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

The ordinary quarterly meeting of (he Dunedin and Suburban School Committees' Association was held in the Education Board room on the 20th. There was a fair attendance of delegates, and Mr J. B. Waters presided. The Hon. Thos. Fergus and Mr Thos. Mackenzie, M.P., apologised for non-attendance at the meeting, THE HOK. THOS. FEHGX'S. The Chairman *>nid before going on with the business he would like to move that the hearty congratulations of the association to the Hon. Thomas Fergus on the occasion of his being elected as chairman of the Education Board. The honour was exceptionally well deserved. — (Applause.) Mr Fergus wa3 a prominent man in public life, and he thought the association should feel proud that one of their members should have been selected to fill the honourable position of chairman of the Education Board. Mr Moir seconded the motion, and 6aid that ho thought the word unanimous should be used in connection with the motion. — (Applause.) The motion was carried unanimously. CONGBATCLATIONS. Mr Wilkinson -&aij lie liad pleasure in moving — "That this meeting of tho D. and S.S.C. Association desires to convey to the Hon. G. Fowlds. Minister of Education, its sincere thank*" for t/lie splendid service he has rendered the causa of education by the Education Amendment Bill now before Parliament, which it is believed is a genuine attempt to grapple wkih a much-needed reform in educational matters, and it is hoped that, with slight alterations that hare been s-oggested. the bill will receive the support of all members of Parliament, and that it will be placed on the Statute Book this session." If the bill were passed, with certain modifications, it might be looked on as an epoch in educational matters -in the Dominion. The bill would fill a long-felt want. Mr Robertson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. THE JOINT COMMITTEES' RESOLUTIONS. The Chairman said that since the first of these resolutions had been framed some modification of the clau=e had been contemplated, and ne now moved that the clause .read — " That the Minister of Education be asked to modify clause 7. &ection 7, of the Education Amendment Bill, now before Parliament. *o as io secure from ledu^tion the «alary of am teach-er for a wM-icd not eveeerlinjr iwn vmL.ru (whose

school is reduced jn grade) until eud^ teacher has had an opportunity "of "apply* " ing for the receiving transfer to a higheU or equivalent position." Mr G. O. Baker seconded the motion,which, after some discussion, was carried unanimously, and the resolution, as amended, confirmed. It was unanimously resqlved, on. the) motion <>f lie Chairman, seconded by M* M'Kenzie, that the Joint Commifcbee's resolution— " That the Minister of Ednca* tion be asked to classify separately the . position held by male and female assistan*s» and that tihe title of -mistress be given to the first female assistant-," be amended to read — "That the Minister of Education be asked to include the first female assistants " ox head mistresses in a separate classification, and that their salaries should be equal to that of second assistants in the classification scheme.'* With regard to the Joint Committeets* third resolution, the Chairman said that it had been specially put forward by th« Rev. P. B. Eraser, who had, since etoafitmg his resolution, intimated hie desire to alter it to Tead as follows: — "That the Minister of Education be asked to make provision in the bill whereby the staffing of schools Jhaving en attendance of from 31 to 40 con* sist of a head teacher and probationer. "- Mr Murray moved' — "That the amended" resolution 'be confirmed;" and,- "Mr ILeasfc seconding 1 , the -motion "was carried -unani* mouely. * A general discussion followed on fch# question of consulting committees. Even* tually two separate motions were com* bined and carried in the following form: — The board shall, before making- att appointment, consult the eohool committee concerned in the following manner:-^ (1) The board shall 'send to the committee a list of all the applicants. (2) The board . shall also send, along witih -their testi- ■ monials, the names of the teachers, not" exceeding six as a-foerasaid, deemed most' suitable for the appointment. (3) Where one name is sanfc to the committee -the board shall consider any -opinion, expressed by the committee, and where more than one name is sent, the board 1 shall appoint the teacher selected by th« committee. (4) Nothing in the foregoing 1 shall prevent the board, in the event -of - a disagreement with a committee, from advertising or reconsidering an appoint* menfc de novo as for a new -vacancy.— * Appointment, transfer, or exchange ol teachers within certain lower grades o» positions: — In order to fiive the board power to send teachers to the leae desirable localities, .and to transfer them, aftej? a reasonable time, to more desirable posi-» tions as occasion arises, the board shall have power to make the appointment, transfer, or exchange of teachers in all schools with less than an average attend-"-ance of 26. It was resolved — "That the motions ' passed be, where necessary. forwarded to •> the Minister of Education for his information."