EDUCATION BOARD

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 50, 22 November 1928, Page 11

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING REQUIREMENTS IN HUTT VALLEY The Wellington Education Board met yesterday, when Messrs. T. Forsyth, (chairman), A. W. Hutchings. P. Robertson, G. T. London, J. Stouehouse, C. H. Nicholls, A. C. Blake, A. Donald, J. J. Clark, W. D. Pike, R. McCallum, and Senior Inspector Strachan were present. Mrs. Downs, president of the Karitane Sewing Society, is to be permitted to address the headmasters of the city schools, in relation to work for the Karitane Home. The board accepted an iuvitation to attend a “social” of educational bodies, on November 30. Petone Dissatisfied. The Education Department intimated that it had considered the board’s request .for an allowance of £9B 2s. 6d., to cover the difference between the cost of wooden and concrete outbuildings at Petone, and regretted that the decision conveyed must be adhered to. Mr. G. T. London protested against the decision, and asked the board to again press the Minister to reconsider the matter. The present building would soon be condemned by the local authority. The board was getting £13,000 year for the maintenance of 500 buildings, where, if they belonged to private people, it would be necessary to spend twice as much. Buildings were going back, because of the board’s neglect and inability to find sufficient money to maintain them. It was agreed to again approach the Minister on the subject. Gymnasiums. A letter from the Education Department states that it had been decided that where gymnasiums had been provided wholly or partly from contributions raised locally, the Department would include them in the list of buildings on which maintenance grants were paid. Mr. Blake contended that the grant should also include upkeep, and he would like the school committees to be circulated on the matter. The letter was received. Dental Nurses. The Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene wrote that dental nurses would be established at Levin, Petone, and Eketahuna, at the end of March, 1929. Teachers’ Room Wanted. The Da artment wrote that it could not consider the erection of a teachers’ room and cloakroom, in connection with one room, at Upper Hutt, which it recognised should be provided. It requested that a revised sketch plan and estimate of one room and corridor be submitted. Mr. P. Robertson protested that the Department was not doing the correct thing. There were two or three teachers who travelled, .and one who had lunch at school. It was essential that a school of that grading should have a teachers’ room, and he moved that the request be sent back to the Department for a teachers’ room, to be provided. The headmaster’s room was a dog box, 9xB feet, and with a table and cupboard in it, there was no. room for anyone to have lunch there. It was agreed to refer the matter back to the Minister, and Inspector Strachan promised to look into the mat-' ter, and report to the Department. The Railway Department wrote in reference to the conveyance of children from Hutt Central School to Belmont and Haywards, stating that the roads were not suitable for ’bus traffic, and transport could not be arranged. In reference to proposed additions at Hataitai School, the Department intimated that this case would be considered when other cases considered more urgent had been dealt with. The application for a shelter shed at Seatoun would be consider later in the financial year. The Director of the Division of School Hygiene. Dr. Ada Paterson, wrote that the next health camp would be held at the Wereroa Central Development Farm, and asking for information as to the number of children who would attend. A meeting of teachers is to be held next Tuesday, to consider the matter. Moera Requirements. The Education Department wrote, suggesting that the board should erect a three-roomed school for pupils up to Standard 11., on Mandell block. Lower Hutt, to be a side school to Waiwhetu. The secretary said he understood a number of railwaymen were being transferred from Kaiwarra to Lower Hutt, and a number of ’busmen would also be located there. A considerable increase in the number of children would have to be provided for, and the six rooms which the board desired, would be required. It was decided to renew the application to the Department for six rooms. Grants Approved. The Department intimated that grants had been approved for out offices at Springlands; the addition of one room at Trentham, and the establishment of Trentham as a separate school; the acquisition of properties of M. Reid, and Mrs. Buchanan, at Brooklyn; ground improvements at Waiwhetu; main block of secondary department, Eketahuna District High School; manual centre at Featherston ; remodelling at Shannon; septic tank at Flat Creek; enlargement of teachers room, infants’ department, Lyall Bay. Stokes Valley. The finance committee reported that Mr. W. H. George had offered threeeighths of an acre free, and 1J acres at £lOO an acre, and was willing to accept in paymnt the present school and site, at Stokes Valley. The chairman said the offer of Mr. George had been declined, and the future of Stokes Valley depended upon a grant being made towards the new building.