TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 194, 29 August 1901, Page 2

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

The Education Boird met on Wednesday. Pi esent: Mr. McAllum (chairman), Miss Heywood, Messrs Adlam, Wade, Allswottb, Mackay, Kennedy, Fau 1, and Hignett. The Architect reported that he estimated the cost of filling, grading and laying the necessary drains at Stratford at ills.

A. discussion took place as to the relative merits and expense of asphalting and sanding, and tarring. Mr. Allswoitn considered the Archi* tect's estimate involved an expenditure which the Board was not justified in incurring, and urged that tarring and sanding would suffice. At all events the work could not> ba done at this time of the year. Mr. Mackay moved that consideration of the' matter be postponed till the nest meeting of the Boird, He could not see how so much filling in was required. In the interval he proposed to inspect the ground and get all the information be rould.

Mr. Kennedy seconded the motion which was carried.

r he Architect also reported that certain repairs and painting were required at Oikura school, at a cost of £2O.

After a discussion as to ways and means, Mr. Paull moved that the Committee be informed the Board is unable at present to do thb worn: owing to want of funds, but will place the requirements on the list of urgent works. —Carried.

Mr. Faall moved for the reappointment of the Selection Committee. Mr. Allsworth considered all committees should beo'ec'-td annually, It was decided that all standing committees be re-e'eoted annually, aud it was decided that the existing com.ruitees retain offioi for another year. The Town Committee wro f e, stating that owing to insufficient accommodation at the West Ir f tnt and Court*naystreet schoo's it wa» nec-ssary that enlargements should take place.

The Chairman stated that no far as the West Infants School was concerned temporary an angemeuts could be made r»y obtaioirjg the use of the Wesleyan Mission building opposite the school. Mr. Hignett moved that the Chairman with Mr. AUsworth be a committee to inquire into and 'report on the matter. -Curried.

The Rahotu Gommitraa wrote, ap-. proving of a school at K»hui-ro*d, Mr, Adlam mov«d that Mr. Eitock be informed the Board is pnpired to supply apparatus and furniture, and givj the whole of the cipitition tswards the salary o? their te icher on condition that the settlers put up a suitable building on a site for a school, aud atttnd to the matter of e'eaning, firewood, st\tionaiy, e.c, at their own expense. —Carried,

The resignation of Miss Brinns, teacher at Wonley Roa'l, was ace p'ed. The acionof o'osiog the Stra ford Scl'ool owing to measles, aud Durhamload school during repairs, was confirmed.

Owing to illr.»«s, Miss Hogg (S' ratford) was granted leive of absence. The question of appointing a, temporary t'acher was lef 3 in the Chairman's hands.

Miss Amw wrote, asking that she might re afforded an opportuni y of receiving ins'ruction in Kindeigaiten woik. - Referred to Finance Committee.

The Insp'ctor teported recommending free tution at the High Schm.! for Wi!);ara Hart, jgiai Mare, ai.d Walter Mcjntyre,

Mr Kennedy brought up the question of free railway ptssea for children a'tendirg District Hsgh School. He moved, that tfw Secretary be instruc'ed to wrx'eto the Education DepHrtment urging that pupils recnving free tution should have the same railway facilities as those who are atfrnding private schools in the natter of fares.

Mr Ailsworth inquired what pcs'Hon tho Inspector was taken up as to recommendations for these scholarships, as only thive names were submitted, and it seemed as if a larger list should have been sent in if all children eligible had been included in the list.

Mr Mockay considered the Inspector jshculd proceed on the fre tution ■ recommendations on a definite basis. He thought these scholarships s.Vould ! ou)y brt granted twice a year. j Mr Ailsworth drew attention to the i injustice which was being inflict'don i 1 he childi en at this end of the district 1 through there being no District High School at which they could receive secondary education. If Mr Mackny's plan was adopted, eligible children would have in some cases to wait six mouths before receiving the adyant&ga of secondary education, The Board

should f.-.co the question of the formation of District; High Schools at Opunake and elsewhere, so as to give '• children in different parts of the dia- . trict an opportunity of receiving higher education. | | Mr Allsworth seconded Mr Ken-1 nedy'a motion, which was carried. ! It was decided that the Inspector's '. letter relative to free tution of pupils i be held over pending a reply from the ! Department. i The new regulations drawn up by the Inspector relative to the examination of sewing were then considered. ' Miss Hey wood said that a proposal which bad been made to the board to place sewing on the same footing as pass subjects was ur>fair. When work which was doubtful was examined by the sewing committee it frequently happened that more time was spent over it than would be taken in examining a whole standard in echool work, Mr. Hignett inquired if the effect of the regulations would be that the pupils in sewing would be classed by tbe teachers and not by the sewing mistress. Miss Heywood—The classification would be done by the head teacher. The examiners merely marked the work of a school as a whole good, bad, &s. On clause 2, Mr Alls worth pointed out that the Board would be in this position viz., if the committee omitted to mark any child's work wbich was considered better thin that of another child, then the report would be immediately challenged. Under the old system one school was compared with another, but under the proposed system every child's work must be examined separately on its merits. This he contended was utterly impossible, and if done at all must be taken in hand by the School Committees if they wished to deal with the individual merits of the children. Miss Heywo3d siid that it was not intended that each child's sewing should be examined in that way by the sewing committee. Mr. Alls worth considered that to adopt suoh a course would be conceding every thine; asked for, and that was what all the trouble was about whan the Board was asked to go behind its regulations. Clause 2 was then amended by deleting reference to milking woric of exception .1 m>rit.

On clause 7. Miss Haywood explained tbat it was framed with a view to ensure fresh garments beiog prepared by pupils not promoted at the previous examination. Mr. Hignett said he understood that specimens should take the place of garments, adding that th- Taranaki Board was unique in adhering to the rule requiring germents to ba prepared for examination instead of specimens. Mlbs Heywood was fctroogly in favour of retaining the old system of scholars working garments, not specimen?.

Clause 7 was then amended and tbe regulations passed.

I The Inspector submitted suggestions fqr physical drill at the schools, aUo a scheme by Oaptain Dempsey for constituting cadflt corps. On the motion of Mr. Hignett it was decided to postpone consideration of the matter, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Oaptain Dempsey for the time and pains taken in relation to the subject. Correspondence was read from the Departm nt and the Inspector relative to Mr. Lattey's comp'aint as to the Inspector cot raising his certificate' l marks. A copy of the correspondence is to be sent to the Inspector-General. Tbe Truant Inspector reported the result of his visit* and stated tbat notwithstanding the wet wea her there hud been a marked improvement in attendance. At Opunake thirty child- i ren had been withdrawn from the school an! sent to the Catholic School so as to evade the School Attendance Act Tbe Inspector suggested that the attention of the Minister should bo drawn to the need for supervision of priv4«e schools. He further reported having had to take proceedings against several parents in Waioara. After a discussion as to the smallness of tbe fines and on the question of cost?, the report was adopted. M-. Allsworth mentioned, relative to reserves refemd to the Keserves Committee for inquiry, the committee wbs fa'isfied the Board had power to lease reserves for 21 years, but that tenders would have to be called. No tenders bad yet been received; but probably wbe.n they were the present legates .would receive due consideration. The Teaohers Selection Committee reported that the following names had beenforw-rded to the Toko committee: —J. P. Gloy, D. Grant, J. D. Campbell, B. O'Sraughnesvy, B. Pennington, J. R. Nairn, W. Davi«ney. Mr. E. H. Clark, headmaster at Toko, who had accepted tbe portion of assis ant at Stratford, wrote asking to ba re-in<.tate4 at Toko. He explained that since he "CC'-pteJ the proposed change of posi ion the IVac'ers' Salaries Commission's repart had been published and he found he would, und)r the new scale, lese a considerable sum by th^chinge. Messrs. Mackiy, Kennedy, and Hig. rett supposed the claims of Mr. Clirk for re-instat^raent, finely the Selection Committee's report was withdrawn and reconsidered by the committee, after which it reported again submitting that Mr. Clark be retained at Toko as he requs teJ. The amended repoi t was adopted. 'the Chairman stated that the Spcxptary hnd the, previous day received a l«tter from Mr. Maclno.-h, head teaober at Okato, s'a'ing thnt the emmi'tee refused to ullaw him to app av before the Bawd, and th .t » t«logr*m had b«n s.eut in reply insisting on his,htten,da,ncK tl at day.

Chairman of the Oka'o Committee (Mr. McCullum) forwarded copy of a resolution passed by that body asking for a copy of the Inquiry Committee's report Mid notifying the Board tha* until the charges preferred agairst the Inspector by the School Committee were decided the gohool would ,be olesed against him (thn Inspector) "qk they consider he in fu-pended " Thitcommunication caused conbiderable amusement.

After the luncheon adjournment Mr. Macintosh waited on the Board to explain his conduot at the reoem it quiry held at Okato.

The Secretary read the report of the Inquiry Commictee.

Mr, Macintosh said tint according to the report his con uct seemed much worse than it was. He had had no idea he was to be called on as a witness, He hoped h's action would not bo looked upon as intending disr«ppect to the Boa-d. Ho wob calli d upon to make a deoision suddenly, and may hare made a wrong deoision. The Board asked him to give evidence, and the Committee as good asrequesed him not Jo: and he did; not kino* where tl« - ■. -. l" ;-7. -- '4? v*

Board ended and that of the Committee commenced. Mr. Macintosh then stated that in response to his ipplication to ton committee for leave to attend the Board meeting he reseived a letter refusing to grant leave. In answer to Mr. Faull, the secrotar/ md he had not informed the chairman of the committee that Mr. Macintosh was required to attend the Bjard meeting. In reply to Mr. McAUum, Mr. Macintosh said he acquainted the chairman of the committee of the fact that the Board had requested his attendance. After consideration in cemmittee, the Board decided that though the Board thought Mr. Macintosh s conduct worthy of ce. sure, it accept* hit explanations, and expressions cf regret for his conduct at the Okato Sbhool inquiry. During the sitting of the Board the following telegram arrived fiom Mr. McCullum, and was received with much laughter:—" Mr. Mcintosh absent from school withou* permission. Committee intend suspending him." Mr. Macintosh was instructed by the Board to keep the school open, and if impeded by the committee to at one* inform the Board. The Inspector's suggestions for alterations to the p'ipil teach*.*' regulations, rare considered, and held over, pending the result of Pa liamentary consideration of the Teachers' Salaries Commission's report. Accounts amounting to X 97 4 4s 44 were parsed for payment. Mr. Hignett's notice of motion dealing with the Inspector's report (aa already published) was brought up, and xftr discussion the question of the inability of the Inspector to inspect all the schools, through lack of timi>, was refer ed to the Finance Committee. The matter of arranging for a seeond assistant teacher for the S:ratford District High Sohool was left to the chairman. Mr Hignett brought forward the fallowing notice of motion-.—That the Taranaki Education Board strongly protests agaiast the contemplated legislation in the "Inspectors of Schools Bill" to place the Inspectors under that control of the department in Wettingtoo, by which means the administration of Education Boards throughout the colony would he considerably weakened, and diieo'B that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Messrs Stsm* and McGuire, in the absenee of tha representative of New Plymouth. Mr Faull seceded, and after a brief discu»s : on, the motion was carried. Mr Kynn"dy's notice of'motion n free tution pupils was held overtilL next meeting. The Board then adjourned. AN INBPBOTOK RHHEWX PEE PRESS ASSOOUTIOK. ■ Wkujxotov, August 28. At a ma. ting of the Education Boird this afternoon it was decidi d thav aa two Inspectors were sufficient for the woik of the Board, Mr. Lee, Chief Inspeotor, should retire at the end oj the year. Mr. Lee has been twentyeight years in the service of 4 .e Board.