EDUCATION BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8109, 7 September 1904, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

The North Canterbury Education Board met this. morning; present — Messrs T. W. Axiams (chairman) H: W. Peryman, M. Dalaiel, C. H. A.*T. Opie, J. Bight and J. Beanie, and Dr Chilton." I The Board went into committee to consider a question of appointments. | The Buildings Committee reported that the restriction placed upon the Board as | regarded the expenditure of the ordinary building grant had been considered. It had been agreed to point out to the Education Committee of the House of Representatives thai its recommendation in regard to the grant was apparently based on incorrect information, «s the practice of applying for special votes had reference only to cases of schools for newly-settled dietricte. It had been further resolved to recommend the Board to enter an' emphatic protest in the matter. A letter had been received from the Department regretting that no grant could be made for a school at Kincaid Downs, and expressing the opinion that the case Engirt well be dealt •ritli by means of a conveyance. . It had been considered that a school was still necessary, and that the Board should not abandon tbe position previously taken up. It had, been decided to inform the Kincaid Dowiw resident^ of the Department's decision and of the allowance available tinder the. provision made fox conveying children to school. The report was adopted. The Appointments Committee reported that the matter of th* examination of tfos Roman Catholic schools not yet visited had been again discussed, a proposal to appoint one of the headmasters to do the work on Saturdays being negatived. Dr Anderson had reported that he purposed visiting the Lyttelton School on September 20, a day set down for a school that had since been closed, when he woj?ld be able to examine those children who wished to preeent themselves for examination for certificates of competency or proficiency. The report was adopWtf. The Normal School and Technical Committee reported that it had been agreed to offer the School Committees' Association the use of a class-room at a nominal charge of 2s 6d per meeting. The offer of Mr E. W. Seager to deliver an illustrated lecture ! on "Old Canterbury and itsjFounders" to 1 the children of the Normal School had been accepted. The report was adopted. Mr Opie moved — "That this Board desires to point out that the recent regulation which requires that the Board shall make separate application for new buildings or additions, was intended to apply to newly - I settled districts only, and 1 its application to the ordinary requirements of the Board for addition* and new buildings is most embarrassing and unnecessary ; the Board therefore emphatically protests against this centralising tendency, and asks that the power be restored to the Board to decide what additions and new* buildings are required in their education district." The motion was seconded by Mr D&lziel, and carried. The Minister of Education, wrote stating that; he had under consideration the question of providing a remedy for the loss occasioned to district high, schools through: the irregular attendance of pupils. He ■■ asked the Board to state what steps, if any, it had taken to protect itself against the loss referred to, and whether it considered that the matter should be dealt with by regulation or otherwise. It was suggested that, together- with this question, the amount of fee chargeable in the district: under 'authority of the rogudations should be taken into consideration. The chairman said that something would have to be done if all the schools were to be kept open. The secretary said that there wei» other points mom serious than irregular attendance. The Lyttelton School, foiv instance, had been examined in ihe middle of a quarter, and a number of children moved up. Tho Board could not claim any grant for those children until the new quarter. Then no provision was made in the regulations for oases of illness. The matter was referred to the Appointments Committee. • The Wanganui Education Board wrote asking for co-operation in bringing under the notice of the Minister the questions of increasing the salaries of male teachers, and. securing a more equitable system of computing salaries generally than the existing one of computing them on attendance. .''..'• The matter was referred to the Appointments Committee. The supplementary .'; report of the Appointments Committee was considered in committee and adopted, and the Board then rose.