BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4559, 7 June 1889, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the Board of. Education was held yestordav. Present— Mr W. 9. Goldsmith (chairman), Hers. G. Barclay and T. Jasper Smyth, Messrs J. Jackson, J. Talbot, B. H. Pearpoinl, W, B. Howell, E. A. Barker. An apology was rece ived from Mr Gray. CHAIRMAN'S STATEIIBKT. The chairman stated that one resignation had been received during tho month, that of Mr Valentine of Pareors. Mr Marshall, D 4, had been recomtnonded by the committee for the post. Other recommendation* had been made, by the Sutherland committee Mr H. A. Stci-art, B 2;Milford, Mr J. Campbell, D 3 ; Orari South, Mist Ida Gardner, as msistant mistress ; Timaru, Mies L. ffasaell as pupil teacher. CATE SCHOOL. A somewhat animated discussion took place respecting the action of tbe chairman m sanctioning an enlargement of the Oare school room. The chairman stated that the committee of the Oarn school had pressed him to liaTo the school room, m course of erection, mode five feet longer. Tho committee had agreed with tho contractor to enlarge the building by five feet, for £80, and the committee would pay half that sum. The chairman consulted the local members Messrs Smyth and Howoll, and they reeommenciod that the offer bo accepted, and he accordingly accepted it. Mr Jackson protested against it ns an improper way of doing business. They might next have himself and Mr Gray recommending the erection of a residence! at tho Timaru Hide school, the chairman approving,. and the board asked to endorso their notion when the building was finished. Mr Howell did not think that that was likely, the Timaru pooplo had not shown any great readiness to pay half the cost of what they wanted. Mr TsAbot said the Board must give, the chairman a cortain amount of latitude, and ss he had consulted two other mombors, ho moved that tho action of the chairman bo endorsed. As tho committee were sure the extra space would be required, and as they paid half the cost, the wisdom of the arrangement could not bo doubted. Mr Barclay doubted it. He was sure it would have boon better to build the room ss first designed and add a class room if more room was over required, In reply to a question tho secretary etatod that there wat no correspondence m the office from the contractor. Mr SniytU said (he contractor told him b« was quite willing to do the extra work for £20, and the building was now well advanced. Mr Jnckson reminded the board that they hud given tho architect " a rap on the knuckles " for stopping tho work to allow the board to consider the committee's request for an enlargement. After a few more remark* Mr TiUbot's motion wan carried. GOVERNMENT BETURN. A oircular from tho Government asked for a return of the payraenU made to teadjer*

under several classes.— The return had bee already supplied. architect's bbport. The architect, Mr D. We-t, reported on tbi repairs done since lust meeting. The prir eipsl was the Tctara school, the roof c wiiicb, it had been reported, was m danger a being blown away. lie found the nails holdin down the roof timber* drawn. Be had ha the whole well braced and nailed down. inspector's bkpoets. A number of reports on the half-yearly m spections of schools were presented by tho In epector, and a few only wero road. The chair man drew attention to two of them. On was on Pleasant Valley School, with some oa peots of whioh the Inspector was dissatisfied The other wa» on the Winchester School and the chairman drew attention to a par ticular remark, that on the 9th and 10th Ma; two Tery wet days, the head teacher had nol marked the register of his classes. The In spector was called m to explain the nature o the complaint, and Mr Qow stated that hi found the master's register unmarked, mdi eating that the school was not open on thosi days, but tho assistant teacher's registers wen posted, showing that it was open, and thi master admitted that there were three or foul children present on the 9th. That being so tho registers ought to haTe been marked though doing so would have told against the teacher, by reducing the average " Not a very grave offence," remarked Mi Pearpoint. " There is ft good deal of sympathy with teachers under such circumstances," said the inspector. " Generally " added Mr Pearpoint, " if there are only two or three present the teachers send them homo and do not open tho school at all. Ib was the mistress who niado the mistake." (Laughter.) Mr Smyth said the board had taken serious steps m two oi threo cases for this thing. On tho suggestioc of Mr Pearpoint it was agreed to ask foi an explanation from the teacher. Mr Barclay considered they ought not to call it a breach of law. They ought to inttku a distinction between the provisions of tbo Kducation Act, and mere Orders-in-Comcil. Mr Smyth eaid the Orders had the force of the law. ' Mi Barclay, knew that, but they were not the same as the law. •APFOI2CTJfK»T3. The recommendations of committees, above stated, wero confirmed. Mr Smyth gave notice to moTe nt next meeting" That m future a teacher holding the position of locum lenens shall be ineligible as a permanent teacher for that particular eohool." Mr Smyth said this rulo had beou adopted by some other boards, high school boards, and the university. Mr Barclay expressed surprise :it tbis remark, but Mr Smyth declared it was true. SCHOOt BOOK 3. A memorandum on the subject of school text books, with a list of thoße considered most suitable for adoption m an attempt to secure uniformity, wss received from the Inspector. Mr Barclay criticised adversely the text book of grammar recommended, and after some discussion of this point and the general question of uniformity m text books, a resolution was carried appointing the Beys Barclay and Smyth and Mr Pearpoint, a committee to consult with the inspector as to the books recommended, and report at next meeting. SALE 0? QJBAIDISB SITE. Ths Geraldino Enabling Bill, drawn up by Mesirs Perry and Perry, was read, and it was ogreed to hand a copy to Mr Barclay with a view to his consulting the locil Members of the Assembly, about getting it passed next session. The Bill provides for the sale of some surplus sections belonging to the boird at Oeratdine.and also the present school site, whioh io inconvenient ; the proceeds to be devoted to the erection of new buildings m another part of the township. PUPIL TEACHBB9' EXAMWATION". The Inspector's request for special examiners m music and sowing to be appointed for the pupils teachers' examination was acceded to. The board then ndjonrred for lunch. ELECTIONS. The results of elections of school committees for Bel field. Bangitata Island, Sutherland*, Mount Gay, and Claremont were read and also the appointments of commissioners for Otaio. A» for the South Rangitata school the board appointed Messrs I>. Taylor, W. McXeod and J. Bobertson as commissioners. With respect to tho Cave school it appeared that a committee had been elected, but on the wrong evening. COTIBEBPO3DKJIC3. Th» Adair Commitee wrote asking for a grant of £5 for fencing and planting. — £2 10s voted on condition that not less than £5 be spent. The Fairlie Creek committee wrote explaining on what grounds they had let the schoolroom forrinkiDg purposes. — Members wero of opinion that some misunderstanding bad arisen respecting the circular sent out by the Board re letting the schools, but on tho circular being read its terms were clear enough. Copies had been sent to all committees. After discussion the Board decided that they could not let their schools for linking purposes. Mr BarcUy suggested that the school committees should send m a list of their wishes on thi« subject; what they wished the schools to be used for. The chairman said that applications were continually cropping up, and be thought it would be wise to let things stand as they were — the committees to apply to the Board Btatiog to what uses they wiihed to put their schools. The Geraldine School Committee wrote requesting the board to raise the status of their school to that of a district high school. Mr Barclay said that they had had this question before them pretty often for the last seven or eight yean. He was of opinion that the time had now come when the board should secede to the request. Members toast bear m mind that their decision was not final, but for the future of education he thought that the board should grant the request, for if education wa» good for anything the higher the education they could possibly give the better. In the next place it would remove a great disability under which a Dumber of persons m the Geraldine district now laboured, for members knew that the children of that district had been very successful as scholarship winners. Be thought alio that it would be economical for the board to raise the status of the school, as they would save money o« the scholarships. Instead of giving £30 or £40 for a scholarship as at present, tho cost, if the status were raised, would b» only a very few pounds. Ho had also made enquiries v to what change of staff would be needed, and wo* assured that an additional pupil teacher or an assistant, at a coat of £60 a year, wonld be all that would be required. The board would save this sum m two scholarships, and on the whole he thought it would be courteous on thoir part to accede to the r«ju«t. He then moved — " That this board cordially transmit to the Minister of Education the request of the Geraldino committoo and resident t to have the school raised to the status of a District High School." Mr Ho well had pleasure m seconding the motion, pleading for the poorer class of people, who could not a/ford to nond thoir children to the Timaru High School. Mr Pearooint endorsed the remarks by Messrs Barclay and Howell, and cordially approved of the step. Sir Talbot, though not parlicularly objecting to the motion, said it was » falkcy for Mr Barclay to lay that they would save money on the scholarships if tke request were acceded to, for the scholarship money was act apart for a specified purpose. Howover, without discustinp it at length, he thought that a full board should have an opportunity of discussing the motion — it would only be courteous tv postpone the matter until they bad done so. Mr. Smyth was perfectly sitisQed that the Ge?aldin« school wan, from it« locality and surroundings, quito entitled to have its status raised, sad Mr Jackson, though not opposing it, wished to know the cost they were likely to incur m making the chango, how raoey ehildran were to take advantage of it, andsn »hal manner it woyld a#e«fc the board* fundi. At this stage, Mr BarcUy explained m reply to Mr T albol, that what ha meant by a taring on scholarshipa was that by the change they wonld be able to distribute the ioho\M' ship moneys attong a. much large number of children. The sum they now ipent on on* 1 , would if the Geraldine request were acceded to, pay for four or five Bcholarahip», for the iiolderi m that district could (?o if) tho Geroldin* school, not toTcwukaor to Timaru •4 at present, M«Mrs Barclay vni Howoll th?p elating

that they had no objection to the qufstioi being postponed, the motion was tabled as i notice for next meeting. The Glenavy Committee wrote asking fo £5 to build shelter abed.— Board will giv< half cost on being handed a description of tin shed. . The Hilton Committee wrote asking if, a! one of their number had resigned, they coulc olect a person resident outside their district tt tho vacant seat. — No ; they cannot. The Milford Committee wrote asking if Mi Hamilton could remain at the school until the Cavo school is ready.— Yes j he can. The Pleasant Valley Committee requested to be allowed to use the schoolroom for a dance m aid of the prizo fund.— Agreed to. The Pareoru Committee enclosed a list of repairs that were needed to tho master's house which waa m » very bad state.—Mr John Jackson is to accompany tho architect to inspect it, and on their report the chairman is authorieed to expend a sum not exceeding £15. St. Andrews committee asked for £6 10s for fencing.— £3 5s granteJ. The Timaru committee enclosed estimate for fencing, repairs, and painting at their schools — Mr Jackson to report. A letter was read respecting an addition to the site of the Washd.vke school and the board agreed to give half cost (£10) on condition that the comraitteo pay the other half. A request from the Waihao committee for £4 for fencing was left to the inspector to report on. The Scotsburn committee wrote asking if they would be allowed to grant the school for meetings of Good Templars. — The board have no objection to meetings of Good Templars being held m the schoolrooma of South Canterbury. The Waitobi Fla,t committeo asked for certain repiirs, consideration of which was postponed for reception of an estima'o. Tho Kingsdown committee wrote asking for £8 for repairs— £4 granted. Ihe board then, 3 30 p.m., rose.