EDUCATION BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 9

EDUCATION BOARD.

SUBSIDY ON CONTRIBUTION&

FREE RAILWAY PASSES.

Mr. A. Burns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, presided at the usual meeting to-day.'

Mr. W. Simm, Hamilton, asked for an appointment of a teacher at the Hamilton Hospital where there is an average of 25 children. The chairman said, see* ing the good work which is being done at the Auckland Hospital, the board would be very pleased to favourably consider the Hamilton application if particulars were forthcoming. Regarding the payment of a subsidy en voluntary contributions, and the board's request that the Education Department should accept a declaration by the chairman of a school committee that certain moneys had been raised, the Department wrote stating that'it preferred that the present practice should be followed. The Education Department notified the question of transferring Epsom School into an associated normal school in connection with the Training College would receive early consideration. In connection with Training College students taking university courses, the Department has decided that the fee for the same subject at the same stage would not be paid for twice in future. If a student fails to obtain terms, however, the Department would not pay the fee again in order for the student to obtain success; nor would fees be paid where the failure leads to a selection of different subjects in the following year. The Auckland Primary School Committees' Association asked for free railway passes to be granted to candidates attending national scholarship examinations. It was explained that the issue of railway passes was a matter of considerable expense to the Education Department and was a charge against the annual vote for education. It was decided to reply to that effect. Letters were received from Nelson and Hawke's Bay Boards supporting renewed representations made by the board that the Education Act be amended so as td grant education boards discretionary power in the matter of employment of married women teachers. Statistics for the quarter ended March 31, showed that there was a total of 66,152 scholars on the roll, made up of 34,571 boys and 31,581 girls. The average attendance was 59,621. A communication from the Education Department was to the effect that it was considered that teachers' classes of instruction as conducted under former conditions may now be discontinued. The Department proposed, however, to establish classes for the purpose of practieal tests for teachers' certificate examination to be conducted during vacation periods by the staff of the Training College. Candidates would bo Charged £3 3/ for each class C subject, and £2 2/ for each class D subject. The Department asked whether the board was favourable to the proposal. It was decided to approve of it provided the classes are held during January. In addition it was resolved to draw attention to the amount of fees. Communications from Te Papapa and Point Chevalier referred to lighting the schools with electricity." The chairman stated it had been the board's policy to give one light in a room for committee meetings. As this policy was in* volvod it was decided to instruct the architect that in future the lighting of all schools -should be taken-on its merits. The request of the Workers' Educational Association for a donation towards its funds was considered, and £10 granted. Mr. A. Burns was reappointed as the Auckland Education Board's representative on the Auckland University Council.