Southland Education Board

Southland Times, Issue 19167, 3 October 1903, Page 4

Southland Education Board

FRIDAY, 2nd OCTOBER

At Ihe monthly meeting there werO present Messrs T. Mac Gibbon (chairman), Jus. Gilchrist, G. McLcod, 1. W. Raymond, \V. B. Scandrett, Jno. Cowic and \V. Macalister. till: late mk n. l. mathesun. The Chairman said before proceeding with the business ho wished to move a resolution exprossive of the Board's regret at the death of their late colleague, iklr Matheson. In doing so, Mr MacGibbon spoke very highly oi the estimable qualities of tno deceased, and oi tho irni friendship it had been for so many years his privilege to share. Mr Mathoson's death waa a loss not only to the Board, but to the community. Ho moved : That tho Board place on record its high appreciation of the character and services of their late colleague, Mr D. L. Matheson, whilst acting in the capacity of chairman and member for so many years ; its acute sense of tho loss sustained by the cause of education generally and tho district and town by lus lamented death, and its sympathy with the family in their bereavement.— Iho Other members present having mloeo I their tribute of respect mid esteem, the< motion was carried, and a copy was ordered to be sent to the relatives of the deceased gentleman. COMMISSIONERS AITOI NTKM. The following districts having twieu failed to elect schooL committees, commissioners were appointed :— Pyramid Siding Mr Macalister ; Limestone, MiBrown ; Ilolmsdale. Messrs Watt »nd j Savage. THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE. Tho secretary of the Education Depiwtment intimated that tho present sjMem would be continued until 3 tut October. Among the correspondence on the subject wore letters from Messrs llaiiiin and McNab M's.H.H., who said they were I not in favour of continuing the present system, but would prefer the .setting j apart of a certain sum per annum for postage. —Mr Mcl^od asked whether other departments wore being treated in the same way to which the secretary replied that the Education Department alone was chosen.— Among the correspondents who deprecated the innovation were tho Hon. A. Baldey, the Otugo Education Board, the South Canterbury Board and tho Board of North Canterbury.—Mr Raymond said if the Government, as soonied to be the intention, intended to remove the whole of the franking privilege, it could be understood but if not, tho Kduculion nopart ment whs tho la.st which should be deprived of it.— Mr Maculister was inclined to agiree with Messrs McNiib mid Manan that the present system was a Vicious one, and must have been abused. There was absolutely no check.— Mr Scandrett said the charge looked like an insinuation that the Boards had l.cen doing wrong. In tlie event it would only have boon just to have singled out the offenders and not punish the imiocent for the guilty. The Education Department was as much entitled to the privilege us the Railway Department. Ii the desire was to show a better n-.tern from the post oflici-. thUs could 1.0 f-titii-ed by estimating the cost and debiting the 'departments concerned with the amount.— Ewntfially the correspondence was received. TROVBLE AT GKOVE lU\SU. A deputation consisting of Messrs .Ins. : Adamson and John Mclntyre, who were accompanied by two ladies, waited upon the Board in connection with school ( matters at Grove Bush. The stated that they were not satisfied with , the way in which their petition for tho removal en" the teacher had iiocn re- j ceivi-d It had been termed frivolous, j hut th<\v thought their complaint anything but that They were not satisfied with the ability of the teacher, nor with the progress oi t^oir children. Some o« them had shifted their children, and •wore sending them five miles to mother which considering the indifferent rends, the Board would ndinit was a MMious matter— The Chairman asked if they had not had the inspector and if they had not seen tliis report ?— The reply was that the malcontents were still ,-irt pared to substantiate their grievances— Mr Macalister : Is the teacher certificated ? —The Chairman : No ; she is reported to be trying hard to qualify herself fcr the Fifth Standard— To the deputation : Is is not the case that there is some feeling in the district ?— The spokesman : No ; we are all agreed on the subject — Mr Macalister : Is the teaching all you complain about ?— Mr Raymond suggested that the whole of the inspector's report be now read for the satisfaction of the deputation.— This was done, and the report went exhaustively Into a number of allegations against the teacher us to her conduct both in and o\>t of school. She was charged with giving unauthorised holidays, with appearing in school with a shawl round her head, with not washing her face bolore coming to school, with permitting and taking part in card playing in her residence, and with allowing the residence to become a rende?iVous for visitors from tho neighbouring flax mills. The inspector had enquired into the charges and found that the Board had authorised the teacher to let portion of the residence ; that she was making eflorts to improve her education, that the holidays were authorised by the committee, and that the wearing of the shawl was admitted and was due to illness. The inspector concluded, and reported, that the preater part of the charges were frivolous and vexatious, but that with respect to the card-playing he advised the Board io icconimend the teacher to avoid the appearance of evil. The inspector's report on tho detail work of the school was also read, and it was characterised by members as a fair but not Mattering one. — Tho deputation pointed out that the tcachor was selected out of six applicants by a committee which had been elected by her friends who were chiefly bachelors. Of the committee the chairman was the only (member who had any children at school. — Mr Macalistc-r thought the complaints c|uite consistent with the report. The evidence of the teacher's diligence was very slight —The depUtatior. then retired, and after a short discussion it was agreed that a. commls. sion, consisting of the chairman und Mr Gilchrist visit the district and make further enquiries with the view of reporting to the Boai'd. RELIGION IN SCHOOLS. The secretary of the Department wrote asking for a return of the number of schools in which religious instruction was imparted and for particulars of same— Received. GORE. Tho Department wrote intimating that no further grant could be made for buildings at Gore school. — Referred to Executive Committee. TUTURAU AND THE I'OLICE. The Tuturuu Committee complained of the action of the police in questioning children, after taking them out oi school, without the sanction of thuir parents. — It was decided that the Board hus no jurisdiction. THE O KEEN VALE FIRE. The architect reported on an enquiry ho had made into tne tire which destroyed the school house. —The enquiry throw no light on the circumstances, nor did they give ground for suspicion, OPIO. The Opin settlers asked for assistance in conveying their children to school. It was resolved, that as the settlers are Government tenants they bu referred to Wellington. THE TECHNICAL SCHOOLS' SITE The correspondence with respect to the encroachment of a building to the extent of lft. and lift, on tno site of tho proposed schools was referred to a subcoiiunittee consisting of Messrs fcjeundrett,^Macalister and Cowie, to report to tho Executive Committeei TENDERS. The following- were accepted :— Mataura Island, addition to school, £l7u, F. M. dtrang : Longridge, repairs and painting, £24, J. IC. Aldrcd ; Motu Kiinu, erection of outhouses, £30, \\ . Mm ; Kimu, repairs und painting, £51 7s fid, j . E. Aldred ; Longbush, repairs and Uaiuting, £52, J. E. Aldred. APPOINTMENTS, ,vc. Klderslio : Alexander Clark I. cad teaCher j luvemirgill Middle : Lucy Jbrown pupil teacher. Uore— lfi. McKay, pupil teacher, granted one month's additional :cave • Miss hi. Perkins to act. Misa E. Wilson grunted one month's leave ; Miss l'n.uam to act. Caroline — Teacher in-anted thiee xronths' leave. Waimatuku— Head teacher grouted one month's leave; Miss 'lnoruton to assist during his absence. Invercargiu .Uiodlc— The r isignation of Mr Irwin, third assistant, was accepted ; Mr G. Hardie to bo appointed teir.icrar«4uarry Hills— Teacher's inipo.su to re- j sign and appoint substitute declined. Wendon Valley— Truant officer's reply to complaint against him accepted as satisfactory. Wairekiki— lnyercargill Middle—Appointment oi relieving teachers to be in the hands of tho chairman. North Invercargill— Pupil teacher (T. liiggleton) to be granted extension of leave. Wendon Valley— lnspector's* -report on complaint of committee agttlßtft teacher to bo adopted and a copy sen^ to oach. Feldwick— Teacher and committee to bo advised to exercise more mutual forbearance than hitherto. Seaward Moas-rKiverton— Head teacher of former and . assistant of latter to be granted holidays necessary to enable ,°, m i to attend University examinations. Oraki— readier to be advised to pay arrears of rant to late head teacher, the provemlnts" ul -' c es s ary repairs and iiuTho following applications woro grau- &^ UV S rsl i l , P F k ;U; I*H cost of fW4 t i r" 1 totul CoM - £*0 (2) half ha ~F» f -s grant, Brav«ili,n, .■r r u IIISB -J aXftlf exL ™ cost repays a r^rtvcin"' Wyndhuiu-Hnlf £!£ Volll »B. ** (id. 'Otakaio-Half C o a t ?[' aVeJ1 '"g. XI. tenders to bo called %. ° residL> nco, Th<> following 'imi]i/.' »■

Th» architect was instructed to r#port as follows :•— uuarry Hill : Repairs and painting. Niagara : .Repairs and pointing, half-cost removing out-building. Jbuendale — West Plains : Jfaintiug and repairs. North Invercargill : Condition of range. Otautau ; Alterations to outhouses. Tho architect was instructed to curry out work of formation of approach to residence ; to supply plans at Apariuui and to supply tt desk, at Kunpdalu if found necessary. He was also instructed to report on sketch of proposed school building at Invercargill South. GENERAL. Holmsdnle — Mr Watt tt) bo informed that the Board ennnot erect a building at present, and that if a suitable room cannot be found the closing of the school will be con .side red. Morton Alums — The application to the Department for a grant to cover the cost of erecting n new school to he renewed. Alalaura island — Tho Department's letter intimating that a grant would bo made for additions to school to be received. *\itfhlcaps— Mrs Uuestcd's offer to dispose of sections 1!', _'i). ii i 22, block 12, for £lt*O to be accepted. Riverton — Committee to be referred to their previous letter of 18th February, and to be asked if ihpy wish to repudiate payment of promised grant of halfcost of picket fence. Henzios Ferry — An application for a. new school was referred to the inspector. It was stated that there were 25 children between the ugos of 10 and 15, and 1<) under 10. Arco'ints amounting to £3197 ."is 5d VTDro passed for payment, iae ouard then adjourned