EDUCATION REPORT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5849, 25 February 1886, Page 2

EDUCATION REPORT.

The report of the Chairman of the Education Board this year is full and exhaustive! After detailing the results of the elections at the beginning of the year, the report proceeds to mention that a new school has been built at Terrace End (Palmerston North) and one commenced at Paraokaretu, while residences have been erectod at Auhurst and Parewanui, and additions made to the schools at Normanby, Hawera, Waverley, Martou, and Bulls, and minor alterations and additions at other places when funds permitted. School lists had been procured at Paraekaretu and Woodville. and a residence Bite at Pavewftuui. It had been hoped that a school site would have been found at Eltham, but the settlers and the committee had not yet beea able to a^iee aa to where the school should be. Schools. — At the close of the year the Board had 73 schools open, only one small one iKaitoke) having been closed. Of these tchools eight were "aided " and received the actual capitation allowed by Government, with a small quantity of furniture. Attendances. — The roll number after the close of the year 1884 was 5,708, which had increased to 5,899, the working averages being 4,278 and 4,433 respectively. Although this showed an increase of 155 there had actually been a steady decrease from quarter to quarter during the year. The March quarter showed 4,540, Juue 4j480, September 4,446, and December 4,443. It was believed that the eickneas and epidemics prevailing had been, to a great extent, the cause of the uustcady attendances. Teachees and Inspection.— There are 136 teachers in tho Board's employ, of whom 75 are male, b'l females. The Board had desired the Inspector, while proceeding with the annual examinations, to report without delay upon unsatisfactory schools. Upon receiving his reports it carefully investigated all details, enquired into the causes uf failure, where necessary, aud heard any extenuating circumstances that might be advaaced by the Inspector. After full consideration the Board directed letters to be sent to the teachers and committees of those schools where the Government regulations had been neglected, waru^ iug them that a continuation of such neglect would subject teachers to dismissal, and the Board therefore expected the rules to be observed in their entirety In two esses where the results had been very bad the committees concurred in the Board's recommendations to dispense with the teachers, aud thet,e were the only two cases in which teachers had been dismissed. In other cases, however, the Board cautioned the teacherd that better work would be expected in future. In one case of alleged nibobriety enquired into by them, the Board considered there were some extenuating circumstances, and therefore gave the teacher another chance. The Board, however, were of opinion that when caees of inebiiety came under the notice of committees they should at once be reported to the Board, as it wjw manifestly highly injurious to the discipline and moral tone of a school that such a degrading vice should be tolerated, one that cannot fail to exercise a baneful influence upon the children. Hecognising the principle or promoting teachers by seniomty, coupled with efficiency, the Board would advance deserving teachers in its employ as opportunity offered. In February last the Board had decided to appoint probationers to tho l&rge schools, at a nominal salary of £5 per year, and to advance them to permanent situations as they were found suitable and opportunity offered. Three had been so appointed, one in the Wauganui Boya' School, and two in the Wanganui Girls', all of whom had been found useful and had been transferred to country schools, while others would be ap-, pointed in their places. With regard to pupil teachers the Board had directed the Inspector to report upon all cases where they had not shown au aptitude for the profession. The result waa that three young persons resigned. The report proceeds: — "It is to be regretted that many people are so entirely ignorant of the requirements necessary to make a good teacher as to consider that the only qualification is that a person may be be iv want of employment, or in other words, that the profession can be made a refuge for the destitute. No j greater mistake was ever made." Two ! cases of falsification of registers had occurred during the year, but the teachers implicated had both resigned and left when the cases were discovered. j

S'oholakships.— The annual scholarships competitions were held in August. There were two classes, A and B, the former worth £20 and the latter €15, tenable for two years, with an allowance of £20 to scholar* ship holders who were obliged to live away from home. The results of the examinations were as follows :— James E. Bannister, A, Wauganui Collegiate School ; Win. A. Quiun, A, Wanganui Colleeiate Sohool ; David S. Syme, A, Wauganui Collogiate School; J. McFarlane, B, Wangauui State School ; Cyril Dymock, B, Wanganui State School ; Ada Meads. B, Upper Tutaenui : Henry Scrivener, A, Wangauui State School (extra). The Rev. li. W. Harvey, of the Waugauui Collegiate School, offered a scholarship to bo competed for by the boys at the Wanganui State School, which was won by John Williams, who will thus receive free tuition for two years.

School Commhteeh. — " The Board is glad to be able to state that it has worked very harmoniously with the School Committees generally, and can testify to the useful work performed by them. Large sums of money have been collected by them for prize fundH, picnics, improvements, &c, and it can only regret there should have been any exception to the rule."

Finance —During the year £25,399 11s 3d have passed through the Board's hands. On the general account there was now a credit balance of £2334 143 Id, with liabilities amounting to £561) 2s 4d (since paid), were dues to tho committees, and £230 8s belonged to the Reea Bequest interest account, which is held in suspense in accordance with the Board's promise, The building account shows a debit balance of £2209 9s 10d, with liabilities amounting to £1372 12a 2d ; against this the Board shows as an asset the Government grant of £3009 3s 3d now due, leaving a net deficiency of £572 18s 9d. It would thus be seen that though the Board had not yet provided for many necessary works in the district, and had constant demands on it from all parts, it had been obliged to incur liabilities over its assets to a considerable amount. Tho sum now placed at the Board's disposal was totally inadequate to meet the demands made upon it, and, as had been already represented to the department, it would be useless to apply for assistance to local bodies who were themselves in debt, or struggling for an existence. The report concludes with a reference to the Inspector's report, and the following paragraph :—": — " The Board urgently presses upon the notice of the Government the necessity of affording it some information as to tho course to be adopted in future, with regard to providing funds for building purposes,"