SOUTH CANTERBURY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3413, 4 September 1885, Page 3

SOUTH CANTERBURY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held yesterday, in the Board room, Government buildings. HKMDEK3 PEE3ENT. SIrS. W. Goldsmith (Chairman), the Rev. George Barclay, Dr Fostor, and Messrs John Talbot, M. Gray, G. G. Russell, and R, A. Barker. L'riAIHMAx'S STATEMENT. After the minutes hud been read aud confirmed, tho Chairman stated Unit since last meeting very little business of importance had been transacted. Mr Woolstein had taken up his appointment at Waitohi; Mr John Watson had been chosen as master for tho Seaviow school, in the meantime Mr Maddiaon having temporary charge ; Mr Munro, of Otaio, had received the pos'. of master at South Orari, and took charge at once, and Mr McClure had now temporary charge at Makikihi until his successor was appointed. NOTICES OF MOTION. The Rev. Mr Barclay moved, in accordance with notice given—" That in the scholarship regulations recently submitted to the Board the sum of £30 be substituted for £25 as the allowance for board, lodging, etc." This was seconded by Mr Talbot and carried. Mr Barclay moved further, after some little discussion — '• That the scholarship examination be held either in December or January following." The mover said ns there were on the Scholarship Committee persons outside of the Board, it would be better not to Cx definitely tho time of the examination. Every effort should, however, bo made by tho Committee to have the report on the examination placed before tho Board at its February n.eoting. j The motion was agreed (o. j AHCHITBCTS' BEPORT. Messrs West and Barber reported that the masters' houses ufc Goraldme JTlut nnil Ornri Bridgo had been finished to their satisfaction, and that favorable progress had been made with buildings at Silveratrcam, and other places. They enclosed tenders for fencing tho Main School, Timaru, and also an estimate of cost of providing Venetian blinds for the school. The full estimate was £«!>, but if the north wing only — that most exposed to tho sun— was provided with these blinds, the cost would be £19 10s. They added, the blinds, especially on the north wing, wero much required. Tenders wcro opened as follows : —Mr G. W. Ellis, £32 ; Messrs Broadfield and Smith, £31 15s ; Messrs Baird and Lewis, £30 ; Mr C. Lockwood and party, £26 9s <id ; Messrs Murley and Dockeroll, £24 5s ; Mr C. Travis, £23 14s. Somo discussion took placo on tho amounts of tho tenders. Mr Barclay said ho noticed the Timaru Committee got' as much as other largo Committees iu the colony for incidental purposes, and they ought to strive to keep the school and its grounds in fair order. Mr Barker said it was hard to tell what tho Committeea did with tho incidental grants. Mr Talbot said they had made grants for fencing to other Committees, and he did not see why Timaru should bo made an exception to tho rule. Tho Chairman said tho fences had, to his knowledge, been (standing somo 12 years, and thcreforo it seemed quite natural that they should now need much repair. On the motion of Mr Talbot, Mr Travis' tender was then accepted. It was further resolved that ordinary blinds bo fitted oa tho windows iu the north wing. INSPECTORS BEI'OBT. Tho Inspector reported favorably on the potition sent in by tho inhabitants of Rangitira Valley asking that a school be established thcro. lie snid an excellent site was offered freo of cost by Mr Wright, mid thai the residents of tho Valley seem quite prepared to conlribulc liberally. There was a total of 45 children, 25 of whom wcro of school ago. He recommended that urrnngomenls be mado for proclaiming it school district and the election of a School Committee. Tho recommondation, later on in the meeting, was adoptod. BEPOBT ON SALARIES, ETC. Tho Rev. Gco. Barclay, on behalf of the Committco appointed to deal with tho salaries of tcachors to aided schools, &e., read tho roport on tho subject and explained lucidly and at length tho various recommendations brought forward. As tho report was not complete, howovcr, it was agreed to adopt thut part of it referring to aidod schools, then to allow tho Committee to finally revise the wholo of it and draw it up in a most completo form, showing comparisons hot ween tho new scalo of salaries, ic, nnd Hie old, and submit the roport to tho Board at its noxt mooting. Tho Board wero assured both by the Committco and the Inspector that they confidently anticipated the now scale would produce excellent results, and, nt tho same time, not put the Board to any additional expense. The taking over of aided school and teachers would bo very much simplified, and tho difficulties that used to crop up in former times would ho entirely awepl iiwuy. A proper classification of teachers into three groups — certificated teaehors, uncertificated masters and uncertifloated mistresses — had been drawn up, and special euro had been taken to thoroughly analyse and work out tho recent regulation dividing subjects into threo groups, "pass, oluss, and additional subjects " so that, one iu particular might not receive moro attention on tho part of teachers than tho others. To induco touchers lo specially devoto tbomsrlves to this work tho giving of a bonus was rccommonded ; a. partial adoption of tho English system of paying by results was in fact rocommomlod. Special attention both on tho part of the Couimitteo aud Inspector bad been

directed to the work done in larger schools, and a good plan had been elaborated by which , the subordinate teachers would bo given equally as much encouragement to produce good results as their superiors, in the ratio of their respective salaries. The above are a few of the salient features of the new schemo which will be published in full at next meeting. It was then resolved — " That the office at once take steps to bring all schools concerned into accord with tho new regulations, which schools have an average attendance of under 24 children." This resolution applies to such schools as Upper Waitohi, etc. BErOBT OK PRIZES. Tiie Committee appointed to deal with this subject handed in tho following :—" That with the view of stimulating the energies both of teachers and pupils, aud also of accustoming the latter to competitive examination, a system of moderate prizes be instituted, embodying the following principles :— (1) The prizes to bo open to the 4th, sth and 6th Standards. (2) The questions lo be based on the requirements for these Standards respectively. (3) The examinations to be held locally, i.e., within tho respective school districts in which competitors may come forward. (4) The number of prizes in any class to be/say, from three to five. (5) The awards to bo "made in books, maps, instruments, &<•.., or other accessories of education, (fi) Tho whole sum to be expended not to exceed, say, £50. (7) Further details of time, papers, supervision, ic, to be afterwards determined upon." Mr Barclay said the suggestions were well worthy of some consideration. The prizes were offered as a solatium to thoße children who had been entirely thrown out by tho new scholarship regulations — who in former years used to compete in scholarship classes A and C. He was sure the prizes would help to prepare pupils wonderfully for future examinations. He moved that tho report be adopted. Mr Talbot seconded tho motion. He thought the suggestions good ones, and provocative of healthy competition. Ho strongly urged the Board to try tho system for one year at least. Mr liarker was entirely against the proposal. The principlo of giving prizes by the Board was n very bad one, and likely to cause much jealousy. Mr Russell agreed with Mr Barker, and thought it was a great mistake to give prizes. They had just increased the scholarship money, and as demands on the Board's funds were heavy, he thought they should wait a little and seo how their engagements worked out. Both Dr Foster and Mr Talbot condemned the syslcm of prize-giving by Committees, and after Mr Barclay had shortly replied, Ihe motion was put, the voting being— For: The Rev. Mr Barclay, Dr Foster and Mr Talbot; against: Messrs Russell, Barker and Gray. The Chairman gave bis vote against tl c motion, which was accordingly lost. IHE MEMBEIt FOB GLADSTONE AND TUB BOABD. The Rev. Gco. Barclay then moved, in accordance with notice given at the opening of the meeting — " That several misslatements in reference to the conduct of this Board having been publicly roucle before the House of Representatives and Minister of Education by Mr J. 11. Svitter, this Board give such statements an emphatic denial." The mover said ho had noticed in reading tho last number (No. 19) of Kansard that Mr Sutler had said " that the Board of Education iu his district had too much money, und, instead of supplying schools for primary education, it was spending money in erecting district high schools, and in giving scholarships where they were not wanted. One district high school was erected within twelve miles of the central High School ; and they were simply starving the primary schools." Theso, Mr Barclay contended, were very grave misjtatoments, and ought therefore to be entirely contradicted by the Board. There was not a word of truth in any of the statements. The Board had never spent a single shilling in building district high schools, and had nevor " starved " the primary schools in the slightest degree. Members knew as well as he (Mr Barclay) that the Board had paid as great attention to primary subjects as any Board in tho whole of New Zealand, and had managed their linauces so admirably that they had not to do ns some Boards had — go to Government and ask for an additional grant. They were charged with destroying primary schools by giving contribution's to district high schools j but what was the truth ? The Board received some £13,000 annually for educational purposes, and of this £100 would cover all that was actually spent on secondary education. Tho reason of this small expenditure was the fact that thoßo children who were receiving secondary education paid for it. In the face of these facts, he held Mr Sutler was not at all justified iu making the grave misstatements he had before the House of Representatives, and the Hon. tho Minister of Kdueation. Mr Barker snid Captain Slitter's statements must be taken cum grano sah's ; there was not much in them, and they wero not much thought of. Mr Talbot said ho had carefully read Mr Sutter's remarks, and among them he noticed one of more importance than those quoted ; one where the Board were really charged with cheating tho Government. Speaking in the House on tho item "special capitation," Mr Suiter had eaid " In Timaru, at the large school there, a grout number of tho children were not four years of age." Mr Talbot said if such wero really tho case, it should be enqiiired into immediately. He was sorry to see so many South Canterbury Members opposed to the odueation system. Messrs Sutler and Turnbull bad done their best to cripplo tho system. Ho was rather astonished : at the action of the Member for Timaru, who being professedly a Liberal had yet said the system was "for tho rich and not for the poor." Ho was sure Mr Turnbull would not hnvo said such a. thing if bo had watched current oventa. Tho system now was essentially national, and each boy and girl got an education that far surpassed that of a fow years back. Mr Barclay said ho had not overlooked the statement mentioned by Mr Talbot. Ho had enquired of tho Inspector and Secretary nnd found that there was not a single child on tho school registers four years of ago. This statement was, therefore, like tho others uttered by Mr Suitor, totally untrue. "As the members agreed with Messrs Barclay and Talbot it was not deemed necessary to place the resolution on tho hooks of tho Board, and accordingly it was withdrawn, it being understood that tho Hon. the M inister of Education should he made acquainted with the real position of affair?. connEsroh'DKKOii. Lottora woro dealt with as follows : — From tho Redcliff School Committee, asking that a house bo built for tho master. — Application deferred. From Pleasant Valley, asking for £3 to expend in getting a curtain stretched across tho school t) divido tho classes. — Granted. From Woudbury, with refercneo to a leak in tho school ceiliug. — Letter referred back to Committee to enclose estimate and again forward. From tho Manager of tho N.M and A. Company, Silverstream, stating the Company had decided to grant a site for a school free, provided tho Board erected a boundary fence. — Application received with thanks ; Board to do necessary fencing. From the Geraldino Flat Committee, requesting that some- fencing be dono ; estimated cost £12.— £10 was granted by the Board, money to be spent in fencing only. From tho Commissioner of Constabulary, notifying that the polico quarters at Albury— occupied by tho schoolmaster as a sesidenco — were to bo shifted to Fairlio Creek. — It was decided lo renew tho offer for these buildings, £150 to be the sum for them and land. From tho Orari Bridge School Committee, stating they could not do anything with tho £2 granted' them, and that they had laid tho Inspector's report before the schoolmaster. From tho Head Master, Temuka School, containing Eome recommendation:! re pupil teachers.— Consideration of tho matter deferred (ill pupil leachors interested communicate with tho Board. From the residents of Raiigitata Pouth asking that a school bo established in their district.— lnspector to take usual steps and report. Kroin tho Chairman of tho Pleasant Point Committee forwarding pricef of eectiona

bought for the purpose of enlarging the school ground. — The Chairman of the Board said ho had virtually closed with the offers ; the Board confirmed bis action. From the Washdyke Committee enclosing an estimate for repairs of £66 10s.— Resolved that the most urgent repairs be seen to at once. From the Waimataitai School Committee asking for a grant for laying off, sowing, and planting the school ground.— £5 was granted. The Board then (3.20 p.m.) adjourned.