EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 11815, 19 February 1903, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

The following oonjjudes nur report of yesterday’s proceedings of the ; Education Board;— Dr Ogston’s letters of the 15th and 23rd of December, _ which were discussed at the previous meeting of the Board, were further considered. The Health Officer gave figures ■none of his letters showing that in certain schools were vigilance was exercised in insisting on children remaining at’ homo when there was scarlet fever in-the family that had had the effect of reducing' the attendance. Hie results were obtained from various returns of. seven Government schools and four Roman Catholic schools in and about Dunedin. In certain schools the low average attendance was attributable to: (1) The nrompt dismissal of a child in whom symptoms of incipient sickness were observed; (2) strict cautions .t° the children to remain at home should there bo any illness in the family, or, rather, home; ‘ (3) increased vigilance re Cleanliness of children, apparel, etc.; (4-) free use of disinfectants about the school premises. En passant, this applies chiefly to schools the teachers of which are not paid by the average attendance. Mr Mackenzie moved—“ That the Education Board will be glad to give the district Health Officer everv assistance in carrying out his difficult and onerous duties.”—Mr Mitchell: What’s the use of moving “flam” like that.—(Laughter.) —Mr R. Beattie seconded the motion, which was put and carried.—The Rev. Mr Fraser moved—“ That the attention of the Health Officer be called to his sentence, ‘ En passant this applies chiefly to schools the teachers of which are not paid by the average attendance,’ and that he be informed that the sentence seems to convey an insinuation regarding the teachers of the public schools, all of whom are paid on the average attendance, and that such a sentence ought not to find a place in a communication from a public officer addressed from his department to this Board.” Mr W. Nicolson seconded the motion, which was carried, Mr Mackenzie dissenting. Applications from Ellen M'Kenzie and A. Scott asking that_ the matriculation examination be recognised for entrance to the Training College were, declined. The Special Committee appointed to visit the Ida Valley School reported as follows: We visited Ida Valley on the 16th inst., and made full inquiries with regard to the necessity of erecting a school there. We found that there were only seven children whose parents were not connected with the railway who would attend the school for any lengthy of time, while, perhaps, five children belonging to parents in no way permanent residents would do so for so uncertain a time as to make it unwise to include them as a factor in considering the matter. The whole of these children live in close proximity to the Ida Valley railway station, aqd most of them at the beginning of this year attended the Rough Ridge School, going and returning by tram, and receiving two and a-half hours’ education daily, being thus in similar circumstances to many of our childrenwho attend the Sutton School. We are of opinion that they should still continue to attend Rough Ridge, as we cannot advise the Board to go to the expense of building a school when there is so little chance of a permanent school being required. The Rough Ridge School is about a mile and a-quarter along the line from the station, and if the Railway Department could be induced to slow down at the school and let the children on and off they would have an another hour at school. We recommend, therefore, that the Minister of Railways be communicated with in the matter. But it is imperative that additional accommodation be given to Bough Ridge, whether the Ida Valley pupils go there or not, as there is a roll number of sixty-seven pupils, not including the Ida Valley children. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, we think the best course to adopt is to have the timber shifted from Ida Valley to Rough Ridge, and an additional room built there, and that the carpenter be asked for a new tender for the carrying out of the work,—The report was adopted, and the chairman authorised to negotiate with the contractor for the erection of a room as an addition to the Bough Ridge School, and that the Railway Department be written to asking them to slow down the train to allow the children at present at Ida Valley to get off at the Rough Ridge School. The Board then went into committee.