Southland Education Board

Southland Times, Issue 19553, 6 May 1905, Page 4

Southland Education Board

TUESDAY, MAY Sth. Tho monthly mooting was attended by Messrs J. Cowie (chairman), D. Gilchrist, T. Mac Gibbon, W. B. Scandrett, W. Mac, alister, and I. W- Raymond,' STAFF REPORT'S. Tho usual reports from the stall were received and adopted. The Inspector of Technical Instruction reported all the classes were under way. Tlio teachers’ training classes in botany, conducted by Mr G. M. Thomson, wore well attended. The teachers also attended tho blackboard, cardboard modelling, cookery or woodwork. The syllabus for tho Mataura classes had been prepared, and enrolments were being received. A meeting had been bold relative to establishment ef a technical school in Gore, and a local committee was appointed to keep this end m view. Ho hoped to be able to report shortly that tho classes had been commenced at that centre.—Received.

OTAGO SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. Mr Scandrett moved that Mr T. MacGibbon bo re-appointed the Board’s representative on the Otago School Com- 1 missioners. TWo mover said that Mr Mac Gibbon had served. Iho district very well in the past, and had brought both ability and knowledge to bear on the business dealt with by that body. Mr Gilchrist seconded, stating that Mr Mac Gibbon had given very great attention indeed to the duties, and his knowledge of both cammercial and agricultural subjects was invaluable. He was pleased indeed to see I hat tho Commissioners hati given some relief to tenants by granting leases with valuation for improvements. That had been a very sore point for some time. The Chairman also supported the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Mac Gibbon thanked the Board for again showing their confidence in him. He had always done his .best to perform his duties faithfully, anti though there had at times been a tittle friction over certain matters, ho was satisfied that the desire of the Commissioners was to conserve the interests of the endowments, and do justice to everyone connected with them. Kn ilea had got abroad that the Commissioners had made the alteration in the leases referred to by Mr Gilchrist owing to revelations that were recently made at tho sittings of the Land Commission by the tenants. He now stated publicly that the School Commissioners had had these alterations before them for many months prior to the appointment of the Land Commission and the reason that they were given effect to at the particular time when the Land Commission was in the district was because a great many of the leases fell in at that time, and the alterations had become applicable td the new leases which were sold by auction. The Commissioners had well considered them long before, and is was merely a cJincidence tCfat the proposals came to a head when tho Land Commission was taking evidence, some of which was not favourable to the School 'Commissioners. I T e was satisfied that the Commissioners held the respect of the great .majority cf those who were leasing the Education endowments. Of course there were a few discontented people, wCio even if an angel came dovqn to administer the affairs would find some fault with the administration. (Laughter.) ITe thanked the Board 'for his re-election. OTA CREEK SCHOOL.

D. Parkes, chairman of a public meeting of householders at Ota Creek, forwarded a copy of a resolution carried unanimously by the meeting. Tho householders tendered their sincere thanks to the Education Board for the strenuous efforts they had made to provide Ota Creek with a school. They thanked the Board for the courteous manner in which they had treated the request, and sympathised with the members in the humiliating, position in which they were placed by the Education Department. The householders had now made a direct application to the Minister for Education, and the Board's support was solicited. This step was not taken until they were advised t&fat the .foard had done everything it possibly could, and hud failed.

Mr Mac Gibbon, in moving that the letter be received, said tnat he was sure that the Board would appreciate the courteous tone of this letter. It was very different from many others which had been received, in which the Board was blamed for that which they could not control. The Board had done all it possibly could for the Ota Creek people, and their only regret was that they had been unsuccessful. It wa-s rather humiliating 1o Ihe Board to think that they were not allowed to plant a school where, in their judgment, it was required. In the Southland Times he had noticed a loiter from. sJme person animadverting* on same remarks which he had passed at the Inst meeting, when he said that it was a preposterous proposal to shift the Waikana school to Ota Creek. Tie s’ill said that it was preposterous and absurd to remove that school, seeing that the Government had refused to give any assistance W establish a school at Ota Creek, and, further, that the school vqould have to be carted for 12 miles over mountainous country. Ir. would be far cheaper to erect a now school, and in any case the Board might not decide to close the Waikana school.

Air Gilchrist, in seconding tho motion, said that this question of centralisation should be made u burning eno at the elections. If the Board’s powers were being taken away in this manner there would soon be no necessity for their existence.

The Chairman said that the Department seemed to have cut tho ground from beneath the feet of the Board in these matters. The Board was perfectly able to say where a school was required, far more than the central officers of the Department. Tlhe letter was received. DRAINAGE. The architect reported on lhe proposals made for the drainage of the residence at Gore. The Borough had only lately gone in for an up-to-date drainage scheme. A model set of by-laws had I been adopted, and every property had to be drained in conformity therewith. Drains whicfeJ had been recently laid down had to be replaced by the modern pipe. The present drainage at tho G«/ie school and residence was laid down witih* Southland tiles, and in accordance with the ordinary practice pursued in Invercargill. This is condemned, however, - by IheGore sanitary inspector. The cost of installing the new system from the sewer to the residence, would be übdut £7O. The Board was in the hands of the borough, and he was afraid that the work would have to be done. A formal request vqas made by the Gore Borough Council that the Board should lay the new drains ir*. accordance with tho by-laws. Mr Scandrett moved that the request bo complied with. The workl would be expensive, but the drainage would be efficient.

Mr Raymdnd seconded pro forma. He thought that if the drainage was in accordance with the Invercargill by-laws it should bo good enough IJr 'lore. The mover must know that if public bodies did everything which they "ere asked to do by borough inspectors the ratepayers would find themselves mulcted in 4 very considerablt sum. He thought the Board should ask the architect to interview the Mayor and borough inspector at Gore, asking that the pipes on the Board’s property bo made use of, and pointing out that, if this is acceded to it would nieetn a large raving of money, in the interests of the whole community. The Board should make nil attempt to come to reasonable terms witli the borough. Mr Mac Gibbon moved that representations be made to the Gore .Council on the lines suggested by Mr Raymond. Ho thought that the efficiency of the drainage scheme which the Board had so recently adopted nt tfie Gore school should secure *nn exemption being trade tu their case.

Mr Raymond added that the Board would bo bifund to regard tho money spent on drainage as a debit against the Gore school, rand for want of funds, other necessary works might not bo undertaken. Mr MacGibbon' said that the expenditure, if forced on tho Board, would militate against grants (or tho Goro schotfh ‘ If this were properly represented to the Council they might see their wpy open to exempt tho Board from tihe operation of tho bylaw.

Mr Gilchrist seconded the amendment. A great deal of money had been spent at tho Goro school, and money was needed for other schools. If tho present pipes wojdd serve for a few years it would *bo a great help to tho Board. Tho Gore school was on a slope, in a good position for drainage, and the present arrangement should be sufficiently effiective in the meantime. Mr Macalister said that ho was not prepared to support the amendment. It was not right for tho Board to takeup tho attitude that if the Goro Corporation insisted on the work being done certain grants to the Gore school would be refused.—(No, no.) L’hat was exactly the position Mr Mac Gibbon had taken I up.—(Mr MacGjibbon : No.) That was the only reasonable interpretation that ho could put on that member’s words. Ho believed that tho pipes now in were put there in accordance with previous by-laws, and if they were not insanitary, it would be a most unreasonable thing to ask the Board to take them up and put in fresh ones under a new by-law. He did not think that by-laws could give a Council power to order that. If the Corporation could compel the Board to do this, he did not think they ‘should ask to be let pff—it would not be a very dignified action, and if the by-laws were being uniformly enforced the Beard should comply witto them. He gave notice of further amendment to refer the question to the Executive for further information.

(After further discussion Mr Mac Gibbon’s amendment was carried as against Mr Scandrett’s motion, and became the motion. Mr Macalister then moved his further amendment, which \qas carried.) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT. The Executive Committee reported that the following appointments had been made.:—F. G. Melhop, third assistant, Middle ; Eliza M t Wild, n.t., Waikawa; Andrew Hall f.lst year) and Isabella Barron (2nd year), p.t's, South ; Elizabeth Salmond, p.t. (Ist year), North Inververcargill ,* Margaret McNaughton (2nd year), p.t., Tisbury ; John McLead (Ist year), p.t., Orepuki. The following recommendations were made South Forest Hill : the terms for payment of purchase money for school site and buildings be one-fourth cash, the balance by equal instalments in one, two, and three years, hearing ’nterest at 5 per’ cent. Park : The mistress to be granted one month’s additional leave of absence, present.arrangement to continue. Tisbury : The mistress to be granted one month’s leave, Miss E. MacGibbon to act as substitute. Ellendale : The mistress granted one month’s leave. Queenstown : The matter of appointing, a temporary mistress be left in the hands of the chairman of the Board. Grove Bush : The committee t<> be informed that the Board cannot interfere in the matter referred ;o. Niagara : The complainants and school committee to be supplied with copies of trie truant officer’s reply to complaints- preferred relative to a too stringent enforcement of the Schools Attendance Act. The Committee reported that the following resolutions had been adopted :— Winton : The special assistant teacher granted one wpek’s extension of leave. Grove Bush : The committee asked to recommend a sewing mistress. Bi versa ale : Committee to be supplied with inspector’s report re complaint made. Waikaka Valley : That a parent’s complaint re non-promotion ai his boy be referred to the inspector with power to act. Gore : Application by p.t. for exemption from the forthcoming exam, be referred td the inspector! for report. Ota Creek: A request for authority to elect a school committee received, and secretary’s reply thereto . approved. Inspectors’ reports : That the attention of several country school teachers be referred to various defects and suggestions pointed out by the inspectors.

The committee recommended that the following applications be granted :—Dine Bush, tenders to be invited fdr repairs and painting to school buildings. Mataura, to be offered half cost <jf providing shelving and specimen case. Croydon Siding, half cost erection of fuel shed. Nightcaps, half cost additional shelter shed committee to carry.out the work. Oreti Plains, half cost of gravelling. Waireld!<i, to be offered half cost of clearing grounds and erection of gates. Fernhills, repairs to fireplace. Gore, half* cost of fuel and shelter sheds. Kennington. half.’cost of drainage of glebe. Orciti Plains, tenders to be invited for an addition to teacher's residence. Middle, half cost of levelling, gravelling. and asphalting school grounds, total cost not to exceed £BO. The architect was instructed : to report on an application for erection of a chimney to school building ; to prepare plans and specifications for erection of an addition to thd Lumsden and Round Hill schools, cost not to exceed the amounts of special grants promised by the Department ; to supply vindowblinds and soil-pans for Awarua Plains ; supply Fairfax with lignite grate ; to arrange for drainage of East Gore residence ; report on Glenham's proposals for constructing an approach to the school.

The inspector was instructed to report: on application for additional aecommodationl at South school ; on application for alteration to school furniture in Waihopai and Limehills schools ; on application to re-open the school in South Wyndham. The report made the following recommendations : That four stereoscopes and one school-room travel series of siereographs be procured, to be kept at the Board’s office for the inspection of teachers ; that draft Pupil-teachers’ Regulations, prepared by the inspectors, be submitted for the Board’s approval ; that a circular be issued advising teachers that it is the Board’s desire that all should fall in with the proposed new arrangement for the examination of p.t.’s ; that tlm Gore School Committee’s application for an office' for the headmaster, and for painting of school, be declined in the meantime ; that application for repairs to Wendonside residence, and supply of filter, bei declined, ar.d committee advised to arrange for regular cleaning of the school tank and spouting ; that Mr Bannerman, Chatton Road, be informed that the Board proposes to use a shelter-shed ho desires to purchase ; that un application of a South school p.t. for payment of lodging allomnce, together with a statement of the circumstances, be forwarded to the Depart-' rnent ; that application be made to ttio Department for, a special grant, for the erection of a technical school (woodwork and cookery rooms) in the Riverton district ; that a school be established at' Burke’s Hifl (Mimihau), on condition that a suitable building is j rovided, ttat capitation grant in aid of teacher's salary at the rate of £0 per pupil per annum in average attendance be paid, and that Mrs Munro be appointed as teacher of the school ; that letters from Upper Fledgehope and Glencoe be received and held over pending a report from the arclr ftect as to the feasibility of removing the school building from Upper Hedgehope to Glencoe ; that the revised draft of scholarship regulations, as submitted by the inspectors, be approved and for warded to the Department. AN AMENDMENT.

The Chairman removed that the last clause of ('ib report be amended, making an alteration in the regulations, to enable junior scholarship holders to attend a district high school during the currency of their scholarships, if they chose to do so, in preference! to coming to the tnvercargill High School. lie stated thtit many parents objected to tf-eir children making the Journey into town to attend school, as it meant leaving early and getting homo late. The district high schools also gave nn efficient education. A saving would bo effected

whore tho pupils attended tho district ■ schools, as tho grant duo to thorn would bo reduced from £BO to £5.

Mr Scandrett, in seconding tho motion, said that parents would bo doing a very unwise tiling if they sent their children to tho district high schools instead of tho Southland Higfa School, but he saw no reason why they should not have the op. tion of doing it. He would not follow that course himself.

Mr Macalister agreed that it was unwise to allow tho option, and the Board should not amend its regulations to allow parents to do an unwise thing. Tho question was not what tho parents Jjrould ilo, but what was the best thing, in tho interests of education. He felt strongly

that it was tho best thing for tho children to have them attending the Southland High School, where they got tho best secondary education ; and no option should be given.

Mr Gilchrist supported the motion. Ho did not think that it would bo i.i tho interests of the cWildren to be sent to district high schools in preference to tho Southland High School. Some children, however, were better if kept under homo supervision, and parents should have tho option.

Mr Raymond said that the <ligh School Hoard of Governors had spent a largo amount in bringing the High School up to a state of efficiency, and it was the duty of tho Board to do everything in its power to seo that it was well maintained as far as scholars were concerned. It was in tho interests of every child to attend the High School in preference to a district high school, an'd no Option should be allowed the parents. Mr Mac Gibbon took up <no same view.

At tho High School tho children were getting tho very best article, but* at the district high schools secondary education was to a large extent übsidiary. Tho latter were really created to lit pupils for the secondary course in tho high schools.

The Chairman, in reply, said that ho recognised the efficiency of tho High School, but thought-that n district high school was quite enough lor a junior scholarship holder, for two years. They had had instances of children resigning scholarships altogether because their parents would not alldw them to come

to Invercargill. Tho motion was carried, on the casting vote of tho chairman. It. was mentioned that tho Department had to consider the question, and that the amendment was merely a recommendation. 'Hile report was adopted. SCHOLARSHIP EXAMS.

On the motion of Mr Macalister, tho Board resolved to consider at their Executive meeting whether it was desirable that scholarship exams, should be conducted by the Government in conjunction with the National Scholarships and Civil Service examinations. Mr Macalister said that this seemed to promise relief to the Board and its inspectors cf a vast amount of work, and provide an efficient and satisfactory examination. ACCOUNTS.

Accounts amounting to £3468 6s Id were passed for payment, and tho Board rose.