DISTRICT SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 225, 19 June 1931, Page 10

DISTRICT SCHOOLS

Married Women Teachers MORE MANUAL TRAINING “It has been felt that in the past education has been too academic,” said the senior inspector of schools, Dr. Mc-Ih-aith, in defending the new time-table recently drawn up by the department for manual training classes, at the monthly meeting of the Wellington Education Board. A protest against the new time-table was received from the Wellington School Committees and Educational Federation on the ground that it would restrict the luncheon hour of both instructors and pupils, and adversely affect the scholars’ health habits. The senior inspector said that the department considered that it would be better to take manual training regularly, and with this object in view had drawn up a time-table providing for two hours’ instruction each week in place of three hours a fortnight as in the past. It was proposed that the classes should, be taken from 11 to 1 and from 2 to 4. This would mean an extra hour for handiwork each week and one hour less for academic work. Only senior pupils would be affected. The chairman, Mr. T. Forsyth, said he had been informed that the new time-' table meant instructors cutting down their luncheon hour to about a quarter of an hour, which was hardly a fair thing. Dr. Mcllraith said that pupils would have a full hour for luncheon. Mr. C. H. Nichols asked if it would not be better for the teacher to accompany the scholars to the manual classes. The Senior Inspector: They generally do. Mr. Nichols: They generally don’t. Mr. J. J. Clark said it seemed that the School Committees and Educational Federation were under some misconception regarding the new timetable. He moved that a reply be sent along the lines of the senior inspector’s explanation. The motion was carried. Married Women Teachers. The chairman said he desired to make the board’s position with regard to married women teachers clear to the public. The board had received legal advice that it had no power to dismiss married women teachers, and this was the reason no action had been taken. Mr. J. J. Clark considered that the board should lay down some definite policy. When applications from married women came before the board, all the facts should be supplied in order that the board could deal with them fairly and rightly. The secretary, Mr. E. S. Hylton, said that he had asked for a direction on the. matter, and the chairman had instructed him to write to applicants for full particulars in order that they could be placed before the Appointments Board. Agricultural Clubs. The department advised that, owing to reduction in the amount of money available for expenditure in connection with boys. and girls’ agricultural clubs this year, it would he impossible for the Department of Agriculture to refund to education boards any expenses incurred by their officers after May 31, 1931. The senior inspector said that the children’s agricultural clubs would be continued, but farmers and perhaps the branches of the Farmers’ Union would have to take an interest in them, and assist in keeping down expense by providing free conveyance to school officers to inspect the work of the boys and girls were doing. Marlborough Ward. In accordance with notice,, Mr. J. J. Clark moved that the Marlborough Ward should, for economy reasons, and in the interests of education in the Marlborough province, be separated from the Wellington education district and linked with Nelson Mr. Clark said there were 61 schools, with 2639 pupils in the Marlborough Ward, but the schools were so scattered that the cost of supervision was unduly heavy. Only £l2OB was received in capitation for. the 61 schools in Marlborough, and the Wellington Board spent about £2216 on maintenance. In his opinion the schools in the Marlborough Ward could be more economically and effectively controlled if transferred to the Nelson district. The motion was defeated by nine votes to four. Other Business. The department notified that no further grant was available for purchase of books for school and clats libraries.

■ Mr. R. McCallum was reappointed as the board's representative on the Marlborough College Board of Governors. Messrs. T. Forsyth and J. J. Clark were reappointed to represent the board on the Wellington Technical College Board of Governors.