ASHBURTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17452, 12 May 1922, Page 11

ASHBURTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL

. 'At "a meeting of tlio Ashburton Technical School Board yesterday afternoon, the Director (Mr H. J. 'Jhorapson) reported that Sir R. A. Collins had presented! the school with a large framed picture of part of the ruins of Pompeii. The Director stated that he was firmly of "opinion that the regulation cancelling the compulsory attendance at school of children over 14 years of ago was a serious mistake, and that many parents thought likewise. It was pleasing to record that q-uite a number cf the students were remaining at the. school under the permission clause. After several disappointments definite permission had now "lieen received to carry - on the classes for dressmaking and millinery in the country centres. 2*he treasurer reported a bank .balance of ' £1153 r ßs fcd. It was decided to increase the amount on deposit up to £SOO. Correspondence relating ta subsidies on voluntary contributions was received from the Director of Kdueatioii. The letter stated that in continuation of the Department's memorandum referring to the Board's claim for £259 4s 9d, subsidy the Board could not regard contributions totalling £195 18s as one oii which subsidy might properly be paid in view of the fact that the Board of Managers undertook to shoulder the cost of the erection of the workshops, over and above the £4OOO granted by the Department. In regard to the Expenditure of £7O for alterations to the wood work storeroom, and £153 18s Gd for cleaning and plastering the corridor and rooms, referred to as being purposes for which the subsidy was to ba utilised, the Director considered that that expenditure had been regarded as a charge against maintenance, and a grant of £149 2s (two-thirds actual co3t) had been approved and would be paid shortly. Regarding holiday pay for teachers during and following sick leave, the Department stated that if a teacher were on sick leave both prior and subsequent to any school vacation, he must be regarded, as on sick leave during the vacation and paid salary accordingly. If, however, -a teacher were on sick leave when a school broke up for a vacation and returned to work immediately, the school reopened, salary was payable only from the time of recommencing duties, unless ha submittod a medical certificate, approved by tho Board, showing that he was fit to resume work at an earlier data than the opening of the school The Minister of Education, in a lengthy loiter, etated that it was not the intention of tha Department to refuse recognition of fcny class of real educational value for which a: sufficient demand existed in any locality. The discontinuance of evening classes for compulsory pupils was neither reactionary nor opposed to the most advanced modern educational policy. It was clear -that the compulsory attendance at evening classea was not. the solid basis on which an efficient system of education oould be fyuilt. In regard to technical elates in country districts the Department would recognise any classes in whin. the work was of real educational value, and in which the numbers offering warranted continuation of the classes. > Messrs J. "Watson and F. W. Watt were appointed » visiting committee for the juonth.