BOAED OF EDUCATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2412, 15 June 1882, Page 5

BOAED OF EDUCATION.

The ordinary meeting of the S^uth Canterbury Board of Education' for the month was held on June 7. Members present— Mr H. Belfield (Chairman), Dr Foster, Messrs R. A. Barker, S. W. Goldsmith, 8.8. Walcot and M. J. Gray. Mr Wakefield apologised for non-attendance at this meeting. APPOIHTMBNT O9 TBAOHBBS. ' The minutes of tho previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman stated that since that meeting he had confirmed the appointments of Mr Wood as head master of tho Temuka School j of Miss. Gordon as third teacher at the Waimate School; and of; Miss Martin as sixth teaohor m the Timaru School. Correspondence relating to the appointment of a. 'teacher to Woodbury School was read late, and the question of tho appointment left to the Chairman and Inspector. ■ ' ' ' . A letter was read from the South Orjiri School Committee, containing 1 a recommendation, m terms of which Mr Barker moved— " Ihat m future the Board, m udTerticing for teachers, give .the addresses of the. Chair Won of Committees interested, so that the applications could be sent m direct, to be passed on to the Board after the Committee had selected two ; or three, to be presented m order: of preference, for the . Board's final appnwaJ." At the hist meeting of the Board a resolution was passed that all tho applications should.be sont to the Committees, and he proposed this motion m order to. save the time lost by passing the applications first through the hands of the Board. a Mr Walcot would oppose the motion, becansc if the Committees received the.applications direct, they would lose the benefit of the Inspector's remarks upon the eligibility of the several applicants. ; _ Mr Goldsmith complained that though m accordance with the resolution of last month, all the applications for apost at ths Waimate school had been sent to tho Committee, they were unaccompanied by any comment -what" ever from tho Inspector. The Committtee thereforo concluded that every applicant . was eligible, bnt having made a choico they were informed that the applicant was quite ineligible according to the Act. ■ ; ', The Inspector explained that he found it a very deUcatataak-tomokß-cammcnts on each case. It might be a dangerous thing, m view of the law of libel, to state in r writing the reasons which would influence the Board, m rejecting an- applicant. ' . ■ ' ! ,'■ Dr Foster concurred; an apparently tery slight remark about an applicant' might prodace a costly litigation. • ■ Mr Walcot pointed out that it would' be quite sufficient to endorse •an ■■ application " Ineligible," " The Board' will not approve," or something of the kind, on the applications that Were' not? witible. : ' ' : •.;

The Chairman expressed regret-that it was passed at the last meeting that all the applications should be sent. The Board, and nob the »"ornmitteei>, were responsible for the character of the , teaching of tho schools, and they wore also the paymasters, , The old system had worked very_. well, and had he been present at the meeting he should hate objected very, strongly to the motion. .Mr Goldsmith seconded Mr Barker's motion pro forma, and being put it was lost, only the moTerTotingfor.it. Mr Barker then said lie hoped the resolution^ of the previous meeting, that the Inspector should make comments upon eaoh application, would be, carried out. , •The Seoretory said that he would endeayOr to carry out the wishe.3 of the Board. ! .iHSVRANCB OP SCHOOL BnILDIKOa. i A circular. letter was read, from,the,Education Department, stating that the Gorernmeat had determined to consider school buildings as national buildings, and would rebuild them if destroyed by fire. The Secretary stated that this would result m a saving of ; about £175 a year, now paid for insurance. The buildings were insured by the Board, howevor, m January last, for a year. . • ANNOAL BBEOBT. ' The iraniial general report of the Board far the. year ended December 31st, 1881, was laid on the table, and copies distributed among the : members. A copy had already been forwarded to the Minister of Education. Attached to the genoral report were, a number of tables. Table No. 1 gives details of the expenditure on each school m the district, staff, attendance, &0., showing that during 1831 £7964 16a Id was paid m salaries to teachers and £862 Os 6d for other ordinary expenditure on the schools, and £1326, 9s on buildings, sites, furniture, &c. Tablo No. 2 gives details of the attendance at each school, and shows the number on the rolls at the beginning of tho year to hare been 3248, and at the. end of the year 3531. The strict averago attendance . for the year was 2174.75, and the working averago 25975. Table No. 3 contains a general abstract of receipts and expenditure during the year. The total actual receipts were, £12,727 14s 3d, and the total expenditure £11,326 17s 6d. There was a • balance m band at the beginning of the year of £1091 3s 9d, and at the end of the year of £2492 Oa 6d. The accounts were audited on May sth. by Mr Ollivier, Provincial District Auditor, who appended, the following note: — "I : haTe examined this account, -and certify that it is . a faithful record of tho receipts .and expenditure of tho Board of Education for South Canterbury. I further desire to. state that the audit is a solemn farce, inasmuch as the Auditor has no .satisfactory evidence afforded to him of the expenditure of fully seventy-five per cent of the amount paid to the Board, arising from tho fact that the School Committees, which hare the appropriation of these sums, do not submit their accounts to thopublio Auditor. ., I haTe frequently drawn the attention of the -Government to this most anomalous state of things, and regret that I haro still to complain of its existence. 1 ' The Board, m their general report, endorse the Auditor' 3 remarks on this subject. Table No. 4 gives the ages, standard, classification and numbers taking the 'principal subjects of instruction, of the attendants at the end of the year. The ages as at the end of the year were — 5 years and under 7, 905; 1 .and under 10, 1201 ; 10 and under 13, 1056 s 13 and under 15, 324 1 abore 15, .45. Their standard classification was — Infants, 1059 ; preparing for Standard 1., 592; do for Standard 11., 628; do for Standard 111., 569; do for Standard IV., 426 s do for Standard V., 167; do for Standard VI., 79 ; passed Standard VI., 11. Then follow the Board's regulations for the general management of schools, and these are succeeded by the Inspector's general report on the work of inspection for the year, from. which we make the fallowing extracts; — ' A table showing the general results of the standard examinations m the. several schools, the attendance, tho classification .of the scholars after- examination, and- the percentage of passes, is followed by tables comparing the results of ; the past three i years. Jln 1881, 12.a.per, cent '0{,the.2859 presented far examination passed . m the three higher standards, 49,1 per cent passed m the three lower standards,, , and 38.7 failed to reach Standard I. The report proceeds:— "Viewing these comparisons it will be seen— (l) that the number, of scholarsj present at examiniition, 2859, was ahout the same as latfc year/ (2) that the average standard of- attainment as shown by the classification after eiaraina- ' tion' has slightly, improved, there being: a larger proportiop:of scholars m the higher standards ; (3) that the year's work compares unfarorably with thut of last year, the percentage of scholars who passed their standards being. 73.4 aa. against 85.9 for 1880. This low percentage of passes is undoubtedly; the result of loss of „ time caused by the prevalence ot sickness. . . ' . As mifcht naturally be supposed, the attendance of the younger- children has been most affected by sickness, and the result 'of the examination m the lower . classes bos been most unsatisfactory. ... ••■ After making every allowance for the exceptional difficulties teachers haTe had this year to contend with, it must be admitted .that there are vital defects m the course of instruction when * .' . .88.7 per cent failed to reach Standard: I , m other words, that this large' proportion could not read and spell easy .words of one syllable, write on slate the letters of the alphabet and do very elementary addition. The reason is, howeTer, not far. to seek. The syllabus is so exacting that the Head Master's ability and . energy are fully taxed toooTer the work of. the upper standards, and tho youDger classes are leffcj with Tery little supervision, to the , management of pupil teachers and incompetent assistants. I use the term" incompetent advisedly, for of the, 20 assistant teachers at present m the Board's employ only 9 are certificated, and tho greatest difficulty is experienced m securing the service of assistants with even the tnoßt limited knowledge of school work.. It is. admitted on all hands that the most skilled teaching i< required to do justice to the infant and- junior classes, and all who haTe .tested., the capacity of children must agree that if the instruction, in the early stages were thoroughly efficient the average age at which the standards .are passed would be considerably reduced and the work m the higher classes would be far, more, intelligently done. ...At present scholars , . pass into the upper standards witfi, the barest rot« knowledge that can , secure . .a pass, and; with their general intelligence- and reasoning powers m no way developed. If tho defect is afterwards remedied, it can only bo at an; altogether. • unnecessary . expenditure of time and labor. :In the majority of cases, howeTer, the natural result is that .the comptohensWe work of the higher standards, [m place of securing the. broad intelligent instruction intended,, degenerates to. roto work and cram. lam satisfied that ; wa, should hear Tory fow complaints of the difficulty ;of meeting ihe requirements of the higher, standards if efficient instrnotion wore secured to the junior classes, r The work m the upper classes is more satisfactory, and shows ; ftur improTement. :• . . • " Beading is generally sufficiently fluent to secure a pass, but devoid of special merit,, there being often a total want of intelligence or expression. Although much of the, fault lies . with > the teacher, I am persuaded that the prime cause of the defect i* the use of ; a single set of reading books. In the lower classes tho lessons are practically knowmby heart and the reading becomes purely mechanical, calling for no effort of the mind i and in*ho higher classes the constant repetition of the same pieces cramps .the, intelligence, leads to a distaste for reading, and is a loss of Talnable time. Two set* of reading books should be m use m OTory school, a|id, where possible, ft scientific, geographical,' or historic reader should be prorwed for the higher standards. • ■ , t • "Spelling is! generally Tery successful where id is examined orally, ; but . it , it, not uncommon to find olasses able., to spell all the, difficult words m A paragraph;, but quite unable to: write the: passage from dictation. The tense ii often obscured, or, entirely de» stroyed, by the misuse and omission of words ,. and a total disregard of the principleof puno* " "Writing is often the best taught, gubjeot m the school; I hart insisted on correct or rather systematic formation . of letters from the earliest stages; and .the books of the higher classes are, as •> rule, thoroughly neat 'and .well written; A lamo portion of tbe examination In Standards 'lll. to VI. is.tokeaonip»p«f, supplemented fey oral question!. While; I

1 have- .jeldom^to cqndemn the. papers on the ; score of neatness, I -hare eon'atanwy to ■ com- »' plain of the' amount proauced m the given 1 time. The labored style of necessity adopted m the copy book is continued for too long a . time, and the writing of the most advanced 1 scholars is generally, far too large for a com--1 meroial hand. '.'Arithmetic it eubjeot to the greatest . variation, and may, perhaps, be taken as the ■ best- test of tbe quality of the instruction and of the; ability of tlie teacher. lam happy to ' tay that m a good proportion of our schools ■ the subject is thoroughly well taught, the . mechanical work is. accurate and the principles well ■ understood! . In other cases the simple : examples are accurately worked, but the scholars are unable to apply tbe principles of the rules to tho solution of such problems as might bo ■ expected to occur m actual experience. ■ " The principles of grammar, as shown by parsing and analysis, are, at a rule, well taught, but it is much to be regretted that m only a few schools ■ is the knowledge thus gained put to its legitimate use m composition. In examining tbe papers one can scaroely credit that the composition is written by thesame scholars who wrote the answers m other subjects. The teaching of composition presents considerable difficulty, especially m. its earlier stages, and the results of the labar expended are not soon apparent. Teachers become disheartened, and the subject is neglected as being beyond the scholars' capacity ; but its importance justiSes its position m the syllabus, and claims for it systematic treatment m every standard. : " History, and geography have very muoh iinprored. ... Science, drawing, singing, and drill have made little progress during the past year. . . . Needlework has been regularly inspected, and I haTe m all cases expected that tho GoTernment requirements should be systematically carried out, I can report Tery favorably on tho work, but m several cases . the subject receives too large a part of the school time." , y The .report then treats of the pupil teachers* ooui-se, and the need of a further training m a normal school to enable the young teacher to become thoroughly qualified. The suggestion is made that, as the Board can- ■ not at present establish a training school, two scholarships of, say, £ 50 a year each should be given annually, to be. competed for by the teachers completing their course; and to be tonablo at' the normal schools 'of Christohnrch and Dunedin. Reference is made. to tbe liberal supplios of farniture and apparatus to the schools, and regret expressed that m some cases due care is not exercised m keeping it m good order. The report concludes with a reference to the Texed question of the powers and duties lof School Committees as affecting teachers, as follows:— "I have no desire to underrate the -value of the work performed, and the inQuence exercised, by Committees generally. In many- districts their labors are invaluable, their influence strengthens the hands of the teacher, and creates an active interest m the causa of education which m their absence would be often entirely wanting ; but many cases come under ray notice of nnduo interference with the teacher's work. Cdmmittees seldom comprehend the requirements and technicalities of tho ' Government syllabus, and often fail to see that the toaoher it riot responsible for tho : oonrse of instruction pursued. . They often exercise considerable control OTer the 'discipline and organisation .o f the school which may not b« injurious, but any interferenca with the course of instruction must seriously prejudice the teacher's work." BUILDINQ '. ESTIMATES. An estimate of the probable requirements of the Board for buildings during tho year, prepared m - reply to a circular from the Education Department, was laid on the table, prerious to being sent to Wellington. Tlie statement showed a balance m hand available 1 for school buildings on the Ist January, 1882, of £1640 17s 2d 5 unpaid balance of grant from special Tote for' school buildings of lost session, £2050 j estimated returns from solo of school sites, Waimate and Temuka, £2300. The expenditure considered necessary was : — General' repairs and contingencies, £500 j enlarging and • completing existing- schools, £645 ; new buildings and sites m districts alrtady formed; £14,075 ; do m proposed new districts, £1500 ; plans and supervision, &c, £250 ; — total, £16,970. Ihis shows a balance needed" to complete requirements of £10,979 2slodi ; •••'• •-.-..■ '■ SUPPLY OF SCHOOL BOOE3. The ■ Secretary stated that the first ship--1 rhent of school books sent for direct from tho publishers, had been received. Ho stated that the cOst, including 'carriage, was about 27 per cent below the published price. •' It was 'resolved," on the motion of Mr Barker, seconded by Mr Walcot— " That all books, apparatns;etc., imported by the Board bo supplied, os .ordered by • the Chairmen of Committees, at 15, ,per cpnt under published price m England', the Board deducting tho amount as ordered from the incidental allowance ; and that a circular be tout from time to time trj theXJommittees, setting forth the .nafcureTof the books, etc., m stock." : ' "': ' , ; SCHOLABSHIPS. The report of the Committee appointed to draw up , an amended ' series of scholarship regulations was presented, arid one ot two Terbar amendments' made on the motion of Mi- Barker. •' Mr Waleot moTed the adoption of the regulations, and said he had mnch pleasure m doing. so as they embodied two principles he had always advocated, namely, that the competition should be limited to attendants at tha publio schools, and that the higher scholarships should be tenable for two years. 1 ' . . Mr Gray dissented from the recommendation to make the higher scholarshipsjjtenable for two years. The examiners at the last examination coniplained that there was Tory little competition, that tha work done scarcely merited tho reward of a scholarship, and yet 1 it was proposed to lessen tho competition and to double the reward. 1 The Chairman Staled that Mr Wakefleld ■ (who was not present), one of the Committee 1 appointed to draft the regulatiqns, also disr 1 seated from the clause referring to length of , tenure of the scholarships. He stated that ' the reason for recommending that the higher 'scholarsn'ipa be tenable for two years, was to 1 enable scholars to remain two year's m a high 1 school, because : there) was' no chance of a boy obtaining a second scholarship if he • attended a high school without first attending • a'.pubHc schoolfpruyear to re-qualify him--1 self to compete. If the scholarships were : made .tenable. /or two years, the examiners : would probably be more strict m requiring • good work from the candidates. 1; ,: Mr Steward pointed ooMhat as attending a high school disqualified a pupil from com- - peting a second year, it., appeared that giving • scholarships for two years could not lessen > tho competitions. , :■ ' ■ ■ MV Barker! seconded the motion to adopt • tho regulations, and it was carried. . The Bpard then adjourned f?r an hour, ' and, on resuming . there were present — The •, Chairman, Dr Fostrr, .Messrs Gray, Gold- • smith, Barker, and Steward. ■ ■ , WAIMATE BOnpoi, BUILDINGS. i 'Mr Stflward brought forward the matte* of new. school .buildings for Waimate, m accord- > ance with, notico , given at , the last meeting. „ He reminded the Board that they had 1 affirmed their intention to proqoed with tho • erection of the new school, provided the work i. could be done for less than £3000, and by > modifying the plans, m one or two particulars, ' without affeoting tbo efficiency of the > build- ' ings, the cest had- been brought within that 1 sum, and s> tender was now m the hands of the Board. He moTed, aad Dr Foster teconded— '.'That tlie tender of Mr Phillip, m the sum of £2994 Bs, for the erection of Waimate school, be accepted, subject to the : snreties being' approTed by tho Chairman." 1 :, Mr Barker, lnored bs an anje.ndmcnt— 1 •< That the, original rnotian f « Waimato school (that none of the tenders for Waimate school : be acoepted). be conflrrned." Ho could see no reaton, for pushing on the. work' at) present, einoe the existing building wat m good order i, and ,woß,,lar|e, enough for present jrcquire* mOntS... ';' 1 •; ,- - • '- .Mr Gray-. Mcohded the,, amendment. He thought. iU4rould-b«-out.oi place to Tote £1000 that they had not towards a ' building' 'ytff littlb larg'eV than' the' present one. J.'U'L'-" .;■(' 'i. "■ . i '"* Mr Steward again urged that the building should be gone on, .witlu.-; The Board were m HID good a position Ito .proceed with it as they were likely to be i a good sura. had been bb.tainedby tbe sale of the old school rejerrc, whioh could be applied to noi other purnpifti, and; it .had Jong, been the. iptehtioa of, th« ftoard to wot nvf buildings at,Wai«ft ? ,

.The amendment was put . and lost, the merer and seconder voting for It, and Messrs Steward and Goldsmith and Dr Foster against it. ■-'" The Chairman said he would not Tote. On the one hand he scarcely approved of building^ a now school then at sucn a great expense ; but on the other hand the ' Board had gone too far to withdraw. Mr Steward's motion was then, put and carried. TiiUßrj scnooi. The architect' reported that the skylight , bTer the infant room at the Timaru School was m a very leaky state ; that it would cost from £20 to £25 to put it m order, and that i it would require attention every three months, j afterwards. He suggested that it should bo done away with and half a dozen windows placed m one of the walls, the cost of which alteration he estimated at £50 to £60. The Secretary recommended that the alteration should bo made rather than the repairs effected, and. on the motion of Mr Barker, seconded by Mr Goldsmith, it was resolved ■■ " That the alteration adrised by the arohitect to the Timaru School be carried out by tender." KI8CEIX&ITIOF8. : Applications for repairs to the G-ersldirie School and to the Master's house, Temuka, were deferred till next meeting. Grants for repairs were made' to the Wai* iti School Committee £5, and Waitohi School Committee £8. . Some repairs asked for by the Pareora Committee it was resolved to haTe carried out by tke architect. Mr Smith, Assistant Master at Temuka, was granted half salary during his absence on account of illness for the month prior to the 4th June. Accounts. to the amount of £63 Is Od were passed for payment. Leiwe of absence was granted to Mr Steward for the remainder of the session of Parliament. Mr Steward informed the Board that he had introduced a Bill into tho House of Representatives to alter the mode of electing School Committees, copies of which he preaonted to the Board, abolishing cumulative voting, requiring candidates to be nominated, and their names published prior to the day of flection 5 altering the time of the election so as to cause it to be held just before instead of during harvest ; and pro Tiding for the preveDtion of such deadlocks as had occurred . at Temuka recently. The Chairman, speaking for the Board, expressed their concurrence with the provi sion of the Bill, and authorised Mr Steward to make usp of such expression of approval. The meeting then terminated.