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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 46

Education Board Management in Westland

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Education Board Management in Westland,

The sub-committee appointed by the Hokitika Local School Committee, to reply to the Board's circular letter asking the Committee to state the duties of teachers, and to make recommendations for curtailing the Board's expenditure, have brought up the appended report, which is to be transmitted to the Central Board. The Committee consisted of Messrs H. R. Rae (chairman) Hudson, Jack, and the Rev. W. Douglas. The following is the

Report of the Committee.

We have the honor to report that we have considered the letter from the Central Board, referred to us for report, asking the Hokitika Local Committee (1) to inform the Board what the duties performed by teachers were, and (2) to make recommendations for curtailing the Boards expenditure.

In reference to the first request, we recommend that the Board be informed that the duties of teachers of schools are those prescribed by the Board's regulations, and consist, mainly, in instructing the pupils committed to their care. Should the Board require more detailed information on the subject, application, we think, might be made to the Inspector.

The invitation to the Committee to make recommendations for curtailing the Board's expenditure is one not so easily responded to. Such serious reductions in the staffs of schools, in the payments to teachers, and in the grants to Committees for school purposes, have already been made by the Westland Board, and such difficulty has been experienced, of late, in getting the most trifling repairs executed in school buildings, that we have taken some pains to endeavor to ascertain whether Westland is exceptionally treated by the Government in the matter of grants for Educational purposes, and whether the same financial difficulty and parsimony in the administration of the Education Act is common to the whole, or any other part of, this Colony. Your Committee find that the Government do not treat Westland illiberally in the matter of Education, and that no such financial difficulty as our schools now labor under, is experienced in any other part of New Zealand, or indeed page 2 in any colony to whose reports we have access.

The Report of the Minister of Education for last year shows that the Westland Board received, for that financial year from Government, the sum of £15,879 7s 1d, of which sum, £9,675 7s 1d, was for the maintenance of schools, and £6,200 for school buildings. There were 3,143 scholars on the Westland rolls for that year, so that this maintenance vote of £9,679, 7s 1d, amounted to £3 1s 7d per scholar, on the roll. The following table shows that, as compared with other districts, Westland has received its due proportion of this maintenance vote:—

Distribution of Maintenance Vote.

Educational District No. of scholars on roll. Amount given to each district. Rate per scholar.
£ s. d.
Auckland 14,939 46,543 62
Taranaki 1559 3962 50
Wanganui 4394 12,779 58 2
Wellington 6082 19,334 63
Hawke's Bay 3058 8525 55 3
Marlborough 1212 3556 58
Nelson 3950 11,989 60
N. Canterbury 16,437 43,535 52 11½
S. Canterbury 3506 8944 51
Westland 3143 9679 61 7
Otago 19,203 59,366 61
Southland 4891 13,337 54

The proportion allotted to Westland, of the vote for school buildings was absolutely greater than that allotted to any other district except four, and was relatively greater than the proportion allotted to any district whatever. The Government has treated Westland with more liberality than any other part of New Zealand with regard to the vote for school buildings, as is shown by the table appended:

Distribution of Building Vote.

District. No. of scholars on roll. Amount of: building vote.
£
Auckland 14.939 28,825
Taranaki 1559 3800
Wanganui 4394 5500
Wellington 6082 13,200
Hawke's Bay 3085 5770
Marlborough 1212 1250
Nelson 3905 5470
North Canterbury 16,437 14,500
South Canterbury 3506 3000
Westland 3143 6200
Otago 19,203 12,720
Southland 4891 4200

Putting both of these votes together and adding receipts of the Board not derived from Government, we find that Westland, with 3,143 scholars, received £18,329 for educational purposes during the year, while South Canterbury with 3,506 scholars received only £15,800, Wanganui with 4994 scholars, received only £19,403, and Southland, with 4000 scholars received but £22,012. The Government cannot, therefore, fairly be blamed for the present deplorable condition of Educational finances in Westland.

Coming to the teaching staff in the Hokitika schools, we find that so far from there being any lavish extravagance in the number, or salaries of, teachers, the staff is less than that of any other State School of similar size in Victoria or Now Zealand, while the teachers are no better paid than they would be if employed elsewhere in the colony, and are not so well paid as they would be if employed in many of the other school districts of either of these Islands. Omitting pupil teachers (who are not employed in some of the school districts in New Zealand, who are employed, but not paid in others, and half of whom are paid and the remaining half unpaid, in Victoria, and who in all cases everywhere receive but a very small remuneration for their services) the following are found to constitute the staffs of adult teachers in schools similar in size page 3 to the Hokitika School, in Victoria and New Zealand respectively:—

Staffs of Head and Assistant Teachers.

Head Teacher: Male. Head; Teacher: Female Male Assist. Teachers Female Assist. Teachers Total. Scholars in average attendance. Victoria: Emerald Hill ... 1 1 1 2 5 398 Footscray ... 1—2 2 5 368 Maryborough ... 1 1 2 2 6 390 Hawthorne ... 1—2 2 8 367 Beechworth ... 1 1 3 3 409 Ballarat No. 720 1 1 1 2 396 New Zealand: Ponsonby ... 1 1 1 8 11 389 Newton ... 1 1 1 8 11 371 Kanaeranga ... 1 1 3 7 12 379 Thorodon ... 1—2 3 6 380 Invercargill ... 1—2 2 5 384 Hokitika ... 1—1 2 4 384

We observe that, while the Board asks our advice as to possible reduction of expense in the schools under cur charge, a sub-committee of the Board has prepared a report on the same subject, recommending still more sweeping reductions in the payments and staffs of schools, than those which have already been effected, in order to reduce a deficiency of £1793 in the Board's finances. This they propose partly to effect by the wholesale dismissal of the trained assistant teachers now employed, and the substitution of what are called "junior as istants"—or in other words, of pupil teachers whose term has lately expired. As an example of the operation of this scheme, we find, from the schedule of the staffs and salaries as now proposed to be engaged and paid, that the Hokitika School, having a present average attendance of 375 is to be officered by two adult teachers (the head teacher and another) with four of these so called juniors, or elder pupil teachers, and four younger pupil teachers. The proposal therefore amounts to this—that one sixth (namely 375 scholars attending the Hokitika school) of all the scholars under the Hoard, are to be taught by two adults, with the help of eight young people who very recently were scholars themselves, and whose average age is not 16 years.

The two trained teachers who are to be thus dismissed are to be generously offered the refusal of the posts of junior assistants, at an average salary of £75 per annum, instead of their present pay of £130. These ladies were both invited from Victoria, years ago, with a stipulated salary of £140

The Hokitika School is now earning for the Board, from the Government, (at £3 15s for every scholar in average attendance) the sum of £1398; of this sum the Board propose to pay back, in salaries to the teachers, only £834

The present total daily average attendance in Westland is 2007 scholars. These will each earn for the Board, from the Government, £3 15s; or a total of £7526. The amount proposed to be paid out of this in salaries, for the teaching of these 2007 scholars is only £5722. The difference is the considerable sum of £1804. Where is this £1804 to go to? Why is it to be taken from the schools and teachers who have earned the money?

We compared also, this schedule of proposed staffs of teachers, with that actually in force in North Canterbury at the present timo, The North Canterbury Board state that they have adopted the very lowest possible staffs, consistent with efficiency.

This reduced and lowest possible scale is as follows:—
100 scholars—2 adult teachers.
200 scholars—3 adult teachers.
300 scholars—4 adult teachers.
380 scholars—5 adult teachers.
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But the Westland Board propose to give the Hokitika School two adult teachers for 373 scholars.

We find it difficult, without using undesirable expressions, to convey our opinion of these propositions. The scheme in one aspect, seems like the boyish effort of some junior clerk employed in the Board's office. In another aspect it looks still worse. Such proposals cannot be seriously discussed. To assent to them would be a betrayal of the trust reposed in us. As trustees for the public we believe we should better consult their interests by closing the schools altogether. If the exigencies of the Board require such sacrifices, it is clear that the Westland scheme of education has collapsed, through the shameful misuse of public funds which has taken place.

Coming next to the grants paid by the Board to School Committees, we have to state that the amount paid is far less than the amount paid to Committees in any other part of New Zealand, and is less by more than one half, in several cases. It is proposed to give the School Committees in Westland, with 3143 scholars, the total sum, amongst them, of £537 10s. The following table shows the sums the other Education Board's distributed amongst their School Committees during the year:—

Grants by Boards to School Committees.

District. No. of scholars on roll. Grannts to Committees. Rate per scholar.
£ s. d.
Auckland 14,939 4231 5
Taranaki 1559 547 7
Wanganui 4394 960 4
Wellington 6082 1903 6 3
Hawke's Bay 3085 989 6
Marlborough 1212 317 5
Nelson 3950 918 4
N. Canterbury 16.437 5856 7
S. Canterbury 3506 1119 6
Otago 19,203 6120 6
Southland 4891 1487 6 1
Westland (to get) 3143 537 3 5

It is evident from these statistics, that the ample revenue of the Board is in no way wasted, either in the salaries of teachers, the maintenance of schools, or in the grants made to the School Committees. On the contrary, the figures demonstrate that in all these particulars the Westland Board treat their teachers and the Committees with the most wretched parsimony and niggardliness as compared with any other educational district whatever, and not only curtail and reduce the staffs of schools, and the payments of teachers, but give the Committees funds totally insufficient to enable them to decently provide for absolute wants of the schools under their charge. In what direction then, does the mismanagement of the Board's income take place? We do not profess to be able here to thoroughly answer that question. We will however, endeavor to indicate, so far as facts are-available, the direction in which the misuse of the Board's funds takes place. We find the following figures in the reports already referred to, and we quote them for the information of the Board and the public.

The "office management" of the Education Department in Victoria, coats 8¼d per scholar. In Auckland the cost is 3s 9d per scholar. The cost of the Board per scholar in some other districts, is as follows:—
Wellington 2s 4d per scholar,
N. Canterbury 2s 4d per scholar,
S. Canterbury 3s 11d per scholar,
Marlborough 3s 9d per scholar,
Nelson 2s 11d per scholar,
Otago 1s 11d per scholar,
Westland 7s 4d per scholar,

And if to this 7s 4d per scholar be added the amount spent in the purchase of buildings at Greymouth and trips, to Wellington, it then becomes clear that recent Board management in Westland has cost the Country at the rate of 14s 10d per scholar.

Inspection, and the office expenses of the Board, together, cost Westland 8s 11d per scholar. Auckland does better, and more perfect work, of the same kind, for 4s 11 1/3 per scholar; Wellington, for 3s 7d per scholar; page 5 Hawke's Bay, for 7s 2d per scholar; Nelson, for 5s 10d per scholar, North Canterbury, for 3s 3½d; per scholar, Otago, for 8s 1d per scholar; and Southland, for 4s 9d. Inspection and office work cost more in Westland than in any other district in the whole colony. A very considerable sum misspent in maintaining a book depot, causes a very heavy annual loss to the Board's funds, It is illegally a source of profit to the present Chairman of the Board, and the son of the Chairman has been employed in connection with this stock, in addition to the Secretary, the Inspector, and the son of the inspector, all of whom have spent considerable time in the care and custody of these goods. All of these same persons appear from time to time to be employed in office work, and it would appear that the Inspector spends most of his working hours, in doing the work of the Secretary. For many months past, the correspondence, circulars, vouchers, cheques &c., of the Board coming to this committee, have been all in the handwriting of the Inspector, or of some boy, or boys employed in the office. As almost the whole work of the Board consists in circulars, correspondence, and payments, we think the boys should he discharged immediately, and the office of Inspector and Secretary amalgamated. In 1880 (when the work was more cheaply and more satisfactorily performed than it is now) these two offices cost £1410; their cost at present is considerably more. In Nelson, with 1000 more scholars, the same work costs only £953. In Wellington with twice the number of scholars, the inspection and office work costs only £1100. No reason whatever exists why the plan followed at Nelson should not be adopted here, and the two offices combined. If these suggestions were acted on, and the book depot abolished, a waste and perversion of a very considerable sum of money could be effected. In connection with the book depot, a single illustration will show the desirability of sweeping it away. Dr Richardson's Text Book on Temperance is being now retailed, through the Board for 3s 6d per copy. The same book exactly can be had though the Post for 1s 9d per copy. Very numerous other matters in connection with this business might be mentioned to show the urgency of at once doing away with this book depot.

"Sundries," in the management of the Board is an item which appears to be capable of great reduction, It consists of miscellaneous expenditure, such as the travelling expenses from Greymouth to Paroa of a daugter of the Chairman of the Board, who is a pupil teacher at the Paroa School, but lives in Greymouth. In Westland these "sundries" cost £184. Auckland with nearly five times as many scholars, spends £57 in "sundries," Taranaki, £2; Wanganui, £5; and many other districts nil. Your Committee hare good reason to know that—surprising as these figures of the Board's cost are—the expenditure in Board management and "sundries" in Westland will be found to be still greater when the correct figures for the following year are available.

We are not able under any circumstances, to suggest any reduction in the staff, (already too small and too badly paid) of the Hokitika School district. With the foregoing figures before us, we are firmly of opinion that, with judicious Board management the additional assistant teacher to which the Hokitika School is entitled, could readily be paid. As for reducing the grant of the Hokitika School Committee, it is futile to imagine that the Committee can carry on its functions with the present ridiculous grant of £50 per year. With the most rigid and strict economy, it takes at least £175 per annum to defray the bare necessaries of the schools. We would gladly recommend an appeal to the public to subscribe funds to maintain the schools in our district in a creditable state, and there is no doubt that the public would come to the aid of the Board, if they thought for a moment that the Board's distress was deserving of relief. But there are two insuperable objections to an appeal to the public for aid to carry on the schools. In the first place, the Government provide the Board with ample funds page 6 for Education in Westland, and no real necessity exists, or ever did exist, for the deplorable state into which education finances in Westland have drifted—a condition utterly unknown or unheard of in any other part of this prosperous and wealthy colony. Secondly, as the Government liberally maintain a system of free education from the taxation of the people, the people cannot, with any show of right or reason, be asked to subsidise that free system by subscriptions or donations.

Richardson Rae,

Chairman. Hokitika, L. S. C.,

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