EDUCATION BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 1236, 5 September 1878, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Education Board was held yesterday. MEMBERS PRESENT. Messrs H. Bel field (chairman), Tate, In wood, Howell, Postlethwaite, Goldsmith, and the Revs. Barclay uud Gillies. An apology for unavoidable absence was received from Mr Granger. MINTTES. Tho minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. DrSTHIOP HIGH SCHOOL. The following rep >rt of the Sub-committee appointed to consider the basis on which to establish a High School was 'ead ': — " Elucation Office. " Timaru, September 3rd, 1878. " H. Belfield, Esq., " Chiirman, Board of Education. " Sib, -I have the honor to submit tho following report of the Sub-ommiltee appointed to consider and report upon the bans of the establishment of a District High School un ler the Board : — •' The Committee rcc3mmend — " 1. That no icholars be allowed to commence the branches of secondary education until they have passed Standard' IV. io^j^ primary education. " 2. That the fees to be charged should not exceed six guineas per scholar per annum. "3. That the Committee should be prepared to guarantee a minimum of 25 scholars to attend the classes. " 4. That no grant be given out of funds for primary education towards secondary education. "5. That before any teacher can be appointed Head Master of a District High School, he mast satisfy the Board that he is able to te »eh the subjects for matriculation to the New Zealand University. " I have tho honor to bo, " Sir, " Your obedient servant, "Hekbt W. Hahhoitd, "Secretary." The Rev. Mr Barclay was sorry that circumstances prevented him from being present at the sub-Committee meeting. He agreed with the report to a very great extent, but thought some amendments were necessary. He thought the country districts should be considered. In Bnglan 1 the classics were taught m the common parochial schools, and therefore he saw no reason why they should be afraid of extending the meins of education fo all the country. He thought; the word " guarantee " m the 3rd cl-iusa -was too strong, as the Committees could not possibly guarantee anything of the kind. As regarded the qualification for mastership he did not think it would be wise to make any hard and fast rules, as it was expected the present grades would soon be altered. He • would move — "That the Board may recommend to the Minister of Education the conversion of common schools into District High Schools on

the following conditions : — (1) First, thai, euch schools shall number on its register not lees than 25 children, who havo passed the 4th standard, and which nu-nbrr of children the Committee shnll be prepared to etate aro anxious to obtain instruction m seon'lnry education. (2) That the in>>ster, as certified by some competent authority, whether University degree, departmental rertifieite, report of inspector, or otherwise, be qualified to instruct m two «r more of tho Ful>jei;t3 enumoraled m clniiec 50 of the Education Act. (3) That m cmso of converting any common school into High Schools, no clam be mado by Iho Committees nn the ordinary funds of tho Board for expenditure) m the wuy of teaching staff or otherwise, accruing m consequence of such conver-ioi." Mr Po-llethwiiite seconded the motion. The Uev. Mr Gillies thought to bring the discussion to an end was a consummation devoutly to b« wished. Still ho could not agree with the n-Foliilion. Tho mere number of pupils on tlio register fit to enter a High School, was not auffieientguaranteo that tlm school would be supported. The Committee should bo m a position to guarantee a certain number, wl,o would pay for tho maintenance of the school. Muny parents might n.<t like to pay for their children, and tlicntliey would Jiave to pay Iho teacher out of their own pockets or dismiss him. He thought tho number of pupla should be as many as 50, As to the qualifications of teachers, tho lowest that could be expected was that they should H boab!o to pnparo their pupils for matriculation examination of the New Zealand Uni-veri-ity. Ho would move, as an amendment, the adoption of tho report. Mr Tate, m eecon lii-g the amendment, paid he was 'doubtful whether h great maoy parents would be willing to Day the required fce<, and therefore thought it would be necessary for ichool committees to guarantee a certain number that would maintain the school. The Rev Mr Barclay had not. a ttrong objection to the committees having to guarantee a coitiin number of pupils, but he thought they had no power to do so. Tho qualifications required of a master were more than could be expected. Mr Gillies' amendment was carried by a majority of 4 to 3. APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. A letter was read from the Geialdiue School Committee, asking for authority to adrertise for --a mistress for their school. Another letter from t'io Winchester School Committee to the sanio effect was also read. The Secretary stated that tho subject matter of these letters had already been attended to, and that it, was only neces.-ary to establish the principle ob to whether school committees or tho Board were to advertise for teacher*. Mr Inwood said that tho last time the Winchester School Committee advertised they obtained a higher cla»s master Uwn lh'-y had secured by tho Board advertising for one. The Chairman said he thought the principle ought to be nflirmed whether the committee or the Board ought to have tho power to adrertise for teachers. After some further discussion Mr ITowell proposed — " That the Board hike into (heir hands the advertising for Iho filling of the vacant situations m schools." Mr Inwood seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously. SOUTH OBABI. A petition was read from residents m the South Orari District, requesting the Board to establish a school m that locality. Mr Barclay asked whether] any information had been received regarding the amount the Government were likely to give for school building purposes. The Secretary read a letter from tho Government, m which the Board was advised not to undertake any new works, m anticipation of what they were to receive. The Rev Mr Barclay would be m favor of adopting tho same course as that taken with North Orari, but at the tame time tell the people that the Board had no money at their disposal. Hewould move-" That the Board take all the necessary steps under clause 60 and 61 of the Act to declare the South Orari District an education!)! district, and at the fame timn informed the petitioners that when the Board is m funds, the school premises will be erected." The motion was not seconded. Mr Postlethwnite was doubtful whether it would be advisable to out up the country into so many small districts. Every such district eßtaolished would tend to injure tho other schools m its vicini y. The Chauman said that there were two other applications of ths same nature, and that it would bo well to consider all of them together. The Secretary then read a petition from residents m the Waituna Creek district, enclosing the names of 70 children, and asking for a school to be erected there. The Roy Mr Giliies thought eomo principle should be adopted m reference to sur-h applications. He would suggest that it be a standing instruction to the Secretary to prepare tracingß of the districts for which schools were applied. He would move — "That all applications for new schools be referred to the Inspector to obtain tracings of the proposed district, showing the position of neighboring schools, and report generally on the wants of the district." Mr Poatlethwaite seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. A petition was read from residents m the Wai-iti district, stating that a School Committee had been appointed m the district, nnd recommending the neighborhood of Mr Sealy's houie as the most central position on which to erect a school. The Rev. Mr GUies said that the Committee had not been appointed under the authority of the Board, and the request should be treated a» a | preliminary application. A new Committee should bn elected under the authority of the Board. He would moved — "That the request of the residents m the Wai-iti district be granted, and that the necessary Bteps under clauses 60 and 61 be taken to have a School Committee elected." Mr Tate seconded the motion, and it was carried. APPLICATIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOIS. Letters were read from the Temuka, Geraldine, and Waimate School Committees, requesting the Board to recommend the Minister for Education to proclaim theirjschoolß, .^^Dißtrict High Schools. ™*~The Rev. Mr Barclay thought the only thing that could be done was to tend these Committees the conditions on which tho school" could bo proclaimed, as the Board had adbpted that day. The Rev. Gilies agreed with Mr Barclay. Still, m some schools primary education was not attended to as well as might be desired. He found that by the last report, the number of children on the register of Waimate was 400, while the average attendance was only 250. In Timaru the number of pupils presented for passing the standards was 454, out of which 59 failed ; iv Waimate, 2C3 were presented, 46 of whom failed ; iv Tewuki, 149 were presented, 58 of whom failed j m Geraldinc, 55 were presented, and 22 of them failed. Ou the motion of Mr Barclay, seconded by Mr Howell, it was resolved—" That the Board, m reply to the various applications re High Schools, forward to the various Committees the conditions of conversion of common schools into High Schools, ai agreed upon by the Board, and requesting to be informed whether they are prepared to comply with tho conditions." SCOTBBUHN SCHOOL. A letter was read from the Scotsburn School Commitle, complaining that the school chimney smoked, and requeeting the Board to hare it repaired. The Rev. Mr Barclay moved—" That the Scoteburn School Commit tfe be requested to inform the Board what is the lowest amount that -would suffice for repairing the schoolhouse chimney." The motion was seconded by Mr Inwood, and agreed to. n B.AXABIES OF TBACHBBS. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Gillies

I. peoon led by Mr Goldsmith, it wa* re-olved — ; t" That a euh-Commitiee be appointed to draf i he scilc. of staff ad slaries to be allowed int i the school* under thia Bjar.l, tlie Committee > to con-it of the Chairman and Messrs Tate ' and Gillies." [ SCIIOLAIiSIIIPS. On the motion of Mr Howell, seconded by , tlie Ilev. Mr Gillies, it was resolved—" That Messrs Barclay, Post let hwaite and Inwood be i it sub C mmittef to draw up a dralt. of the i regul tions necessary for the institution cf ■ scholarships. " NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS. Letters wero mad from the North Orari i district and thjWailioa district, stating that i S.hool Co nmittees had been electnd m these districts m conformity with the provisions of th- Act. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Barclay, seconded by Mr Howell, it was resolved — " That the boundaries of the north Orari school district suggested by thfl Committee be approved by the Board, and notified aecordingh, and that the Insnector be requested to report on the site of tho school prjposed by the Committee" Respecting tho Waihoi district school, it was resolved on tho motion of the Rev. Mr G.Hies, seconded by Mr Howell— " That the proposed bound iries of tho Waihoa dis'riot be agreed to, and the necessary steps taken to proclaim the same." TOTARA VALLEY PROPOSED SCHOOL Two letters were received from this district. One from the Chairman, stating that while the settlers vvtro willing to pay for their childron £1 per head to assist m supporting a school, they ut tho same titno thought that m strict jus! ire som* of tho zeal and interest displayed m respect of th» infant school and high scho I for Timaru. might be directed m giving children who had no meatiß of education some assistance m obtaining it. The other letter was from Mr John Johnston, statins; that the residents m his own district would guarantee £15 a year towards supporting a school, and approving of tho report of the Inspector. On the motion of Mr Howe!l, seconded by the Rev Mr Gillies, it was resolved — " That the reply of tho Totara Valley school residents re aid towards maintenance of two schools being satisfactory, the Secretary be instructed to take the necessary stops to have the Totara Valey district divided into two districts, and to have committees elected. WAITtFNA CBBEK. On tho motion of Mr Goldsmith, seconded by Mi- Howell, it was resolved— " That the nocessarj Bteps be taken to proclaim the Waituna Creek an educational district." MILTOED SCHOOL. A letter was read from tho Chairmau of the above school, forwarding his resignation m consequonco of the action of some members of the committee. The R-v Mr Gilliea pointed out that Mr Christmas had only resigned as chairman, and that tho Hoard had nothing to do with] that. No further action was taken m tho matter . TENDEIIS. Tenders were opened for additions r.» the Timaru Infant School :-G. Filmer, £692 9s (accepted) : C. W. Cowburn, £720 (informal) ; Wcrry, Richards, and Cooper, £734 j W. McGill, £767 11s ; Breadly aud Berry, £817 (informal). There was but one tender received for repairs to the Rangitata school. It was referred to the Architect, with power to act. The Architect reported that, with regard to the tenders for Winchester school, referred to him, one of them was not excessive. It was arranged that the Architect's specißtion bo referred to the School Committee of Winchester. GERALDINK SCHOOL. A number of npplical ions for the situation of mistress of the Geraldine school were recnived, and on tho motion of Mr Goldsmith, seconded by tho Hey. Mr Gillies, they were nrderod to be forwarded to the Committee of that, school, and the Chairman of the Board was authorised to appoint the mistress selected by the Committee. PLEASANT POINT SCHOOL. On the motion of Mr Goldsmith, seconded by the Rev. nlr Gillies, it was resolved— "That fresh applications for tho master and mistress of the Pleisant Point school bo called for by the Secretary." MONET OVERPAID. A letter from the Secretary to the North Canterbury Education Board, stated that owing to tlie attendance m Canterbury schools having been over estimated, a sum of £1237 3s 2d m excess of what was due, had been paid to Canterbury, aud that the Government hud since deducted thai amount from the grant to the Northern Board. A part of this had been given to South Canterbury, when the two Bourds were dividing funds. In dividing funds, one-sixth was given to the Southern Board, and now a claim was made on it to refund one sixth of the amount deducted, viz., £206 3s lOd. Tho Rev. Mr Gillies protested strongly against doing anything of the kind, on the ground that the Southern Board never received it 3 fair share. The Chairman said they were bound m honor to pay it, and after some diseussUm, on the motion of Mr Tate, seconded by Mr Goldsmith, it was resolved—" That the claim of £206 3s lOd be paid to the North Canterbury Board. KAKAHU SCHOOL. A le'ter waß read from tho Kakahu School Committee, asking for a sum of £5 for planting and £6 10s for fencing the school grounds. The application was granted. OLAHKMONT SCHOOL. A letter was re:id from tho above school Committee, ashing for a sum of £30 for levelling and planting the school grounds. On the motinn of Mr Gillies, seconded by Mr Tat c, it who resolved — " '£• at this Board has not at present the funds to grant the amount asked lor by the Cla>emont School Committee, and can only give_ a promise that m the event of the Board being m funds, the necessary sum for planting, which may be expended by the Committee, will be paid." TBHT7XA yCHOOIi. A letter was read from the Temuka School Committee, enclosing a schedule of school requisites. The matter was left m the hands of the Inspector.