EDUCATION BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 5 May 1926, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD.

ACCEPTANCE QF INFANTS, NO ALTERATION FAVOURED. GS,2SS PUPILS IX AUCLANJ) DISTRICT. The Auckland Education Board met this morning, the chairman (Mr. A. Burns) presiding. , A memorandum from the Education Department, regarding the period at which children be admitted to infant departments, occupied the attention of the meeting. The Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute forwarded a resolution setting out that while average attendance 'was retained as a basis of staffing and salaries, the branch was opposed to. the prop.osal that beginners should be admitted to infant departments only in February and July. Mr. H. S. W. King said; he was opposed to, the present system of allowing, beginners to commence at any time during the school year. It made for disorganisation of classes. Teachers who had taken the.bulk of their classes a certain distance found it very trying to have Ito begin all over again with each newi comer throughout the course of the term. Mr. Boddie said he was opposed to any new measure that might threaten the existence of a country school, or affect its staffing. For that reason he I could not support Mr. King. A motion by Mr. King that the board approve of a system whereby childrenturning five within ' any half year be permitted to enrol at the beginning of that half year was defeated. On the question of junior national scholarships, the board gave further consideration to a letter from the Nelson Education Board, in which support was. asked for representations made to J the Department, urging amendment in tlie regulations, with a view to restricting the age of pupils to 13. years, and I entrants to pupils from primary schools. The board decided to, support the representations being made. Tha Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute wrote, approving of the proposals, and suggested further that money available for scholarships sliould be used to assist deserving pupils from remote districts, where secondary ' education was not available. The Institute suggested ;that the selection of such pupils, should be made by inspectors on completion of the annual proficiency examination. A statement showing the number of scholars on the rolls of public schools in. the board's district, -and the average ', attendance, wa,s received. It was, •shown that there were 33,879 boys and ■3.1,400 girl,s., on, the rolls, making a total of 65.285. Tire average attendance f.ov boys was 31.274, an<J. for girls ■28,781* making a total o£ 60:055!