EDUCATION BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 14225, 26 November 1909, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD

The Otago Education Board met to-day, present—the Hon. T. Fergus (chairman), Messrs D. Borrie, W. Snow, D. T. Fleming, J. Mitchell, A. M’Korrow, and the Rev. P. B. Fraser. An apology for absence was forwarded by Mr Israel. ■' —Correspondence.-

The Purakanui School Committee apElied for permission to establish a savings arik.—Granted.

The Southbridgc School Committee forwarded a resolution protesting against country children of the Sixth Standard being Sent out of their own schools' to be examined.—ln the course of a discussion on the matter it was mentioned that tho department was not to be commended for some of its actions. Tho Chairman "Cited a case where regulations compelled the sending of a scholar from Cromwell tb Dqjjedin to bo examined—an unnecessary expense and trouble. It vvas resolved—- “ That a copy of tho letter be forwarded to the Minister with an expression of the Board’s conviction that the complaint is well grounded, and that an injustice is being done to the children of tho country schools by the pursuance of the present method.”

The Glenomaru Presbyterian Church Committee wrote asking sanction to purchase part of school site for a site for a cottage manse.—Board no power to give sanction.

TKo Strath-Taieri Committee wrote asking the Board to sanction the appointment of Dr Irwin as hon. medical officer in succession to Dr Collier.—To be informed that the Board had no -authority to give sanction. '■

Inspectors’ reports on applications for the establishment of schools at Ponnawca and Wharetoa (Clydevalo). As regards the former application, the inspector reported adversely, and suggested that application bo made to the department for the provision of means to convoy children under ten years of a’ge to Owaka School, three miles distant.—Tho Rev. Mr Fraser thought a committee should bo appointed to visit the district, and furnish a report to the Board. This was adopted, Messrs Snow, Mitchell, Fleming, and Rev. P. B. Fraser being appointed as a -committee.— In respect of the application for a school at Wharetoa, the inspector’s report was favorable.- The report was approved, and it was resolved to apply to tho Government for the necessary funds to purchase a recommended site and erect a school.

—Scholarships.— Tho Rector of the Roys’ High School wrote suggest ing that' parents of all scholarship holders enter into a bond that the pupil shall, unless prevented by health, complete the term of his scholarship, undpr penalty of having to refund tho amount of scholarship and allowances. Junior scholars might, he wouW suggest, ho required to complete the two rears, and senior one year at least. Without some such conditions there appeared to bo a risk of the scholarships in certain cases failing of their objects. It was presumably intended that they shall not be a mere prize lor examination success, but an inducement to parents to allow boys and girls of capacity to carry their education further than would otherwise be done. A pupil who holds a scholarship for a few months only is really standing in the way of another who, in the interests of tho State, belter deserves assistance, and to whom it might quite possibly be a consideration. He had no personal complaint to make of tho pupil above mentioned, nor did he criticise the judgment of parents in deciding that the pupil should take up employment.—After a, brief discussion it was resolved to express regret that the Board could not see their way to comply with tho request. The Hillend School Cqpimittee forwarded a reply from the department declining to grant rent allowance for the teacher.. 'Dim raised a discussion, and tho expression of definite opinions about tho department’s procedure in such matters.— Mr Mitchell moved—“ That this Board cannot refrain from expressing its profound astonishment at tho nature of the department’s reply to the application for house allowance 'in connection with the Hillend School. This Board feels assured that when framing that reply the department was in ignorance of tho fads—viz.: f1) ’That the building is qver forty years old, and was partly provided by tho settlers; (2) that the residence was reported upon by tho Board's architect as unfit for occupation ; (3) that the schoolroom was overcrowded, and tho Board, in order 1o meet absolute needs, altered tho building by removing the partition dividing tho Schoolroom from tho portion designated the residence, by this means making provision for requirements at small cost. This Board must enter its most emphatic protest against the principle sought to be set up by the department: that education boards must undergo tho humiliation of seeking departmental authority for every trifling work. The Board trusts' that the Minister will reconsider his decision, and recognise the right of the teachers to house allowance in lieu of a residence, a right that the Board considers conferred by law.’’—Mr Fraser seconded tho motion, which was carried unanimously. Tho Eweburu School Committee wrote asking that Miss Dnimmey ho appointed head teacher, and that an assistant he appointed.—To bo informed that the Board could not see their way to grant the request. The East Taieri School head master's recommendation of tho establishment of a cadet corps in connection with the school was approved. —Appointments.— _ The following appointments were made : —M. A. Jennings, assistant secondary department, Naseby, vice C. Robertson, transferred; Harriet Fyfe, head teacher, Kartigi; Rhcebe Garry, head teacher, Hindon: Beatrice Todd, mistress, Tapanui; M. E. Faigins, head teacher, Broad Bay ; Isabella Griffen, head teacher, Mariuiata ; Alex. F. M'Murtrie, second assistant, Kaitangata ; Janet J. Allen, seventh assistant, Mornington; Andrew Chesney, head teacher, Owaka. —Resignations.— A. M. Kirby, head teacher, Cambrians; Janet J. Allen, mistress, Clyde: M. A. Jennings, junior assistant, Naseby; and Stuart U. M'Donald, pupil teacher, Arthur street.