EDUCATION BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 17411, 22 July 1920, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD

The monthly meeting of. the Otago Education Board was continued this morning, those present being—Messra J. Wallace, (chairman), J. Horn, M.P., J. Smith, D. Borrie, R. H. Todd, George Livingstone, Hon. D. T. Fleming, and J. H. Wilkinson.

The Truant Officer (Mr J. E. Ryan) reported as follows for the month ended July 20:—The general attendance of the City and suburban schools has been completely disorganised by epidemics of. fteasles, mumps, influenza, colds, and also by the result of vaccination. The schools at the south end are having a particularly bad time. The" number of pupils absent from these schools during the last fortnight ranges from 60 to 250. There seems, however, to be a slight improvement this week.

The following resignations of teachers were accepted : —Albert A. Labes, headmaster, Duntroon; E. M. Yorston, sole teacher, Kokonga; Margaret M'Corkindale, sole teacher, ' Kuriwao; Janet E. Wilson,' sole . teacher, Merino Downs; Phyllis M. Smith, sole teacher, Mount Cargill; Rachel S. Miller, sole teacher, Otanomomo ; Alice Glanville, sole teacher, Otekura; Isa Wilson, sole teacher, Otokia; Christina Kirk, sole teacher, Patearoa; Mona M'William, mistress, Ranfurly; E. L. M'Corkindale, secondary assistant, Alexandra; E. D. Aitchison, eighth assistant, Albany Street; Ethel H. Healy, eleventh assistant, Albany Street; Renata V. Anderson, sixth assistant, Balclutha; Martha Macdonald, tenth assistant, Macandrew Road; W. A. Valentine, fourth assistant, Maori Hill; Florence Murray, sixth assistant,' Mornington ; Ethelwyn J. Beattie, seventh assistant, Oamaru South ; Doris V. Thompson, second assistant, Otepopo; Mabel J". Swan, probationer, *Mosgiel; Rose M. Zeller, assistant, School of Art, The following appointments were made:—Doris V. Tnompson, mistress, Coal Creek, vice M. P. Blackie (promoted) ; Mona M'William, mistress, Hampden, vice F. M. Richards (resigned); E. M. Yorston, mistress, Otepopo, vice D. Y. Thompson (promoted); Mrs Wilson, sixth assistant, Albany Street, vice E. H. Healy (resigned); R. V. Anderson, third secondary assistant, Balclutha, vice M. Duthie (resigned) ; Reinga Anderson, tenth assistant, Kaikorai. vice Ella Young (promoted); Margaret M. Green, fifth assistant, Kaitangata. vice Grace Botting (transferred); A. A., Labes, first assistant, Kensington, vice H. G. B. Macdonald (transferred); Florence Murray, fifth assistant, Maeandrew Road, vice Mrs Alexander (resigned); E. J. Beattie, first assistant, Oamaru Middle, vice E. M'Mullan (resigned); Alice Glanville, second assistant, Sawyers Bay, vice S. R. Melrose (transferred). The architect recommended the erection of a teachers' room at Arthur Street School, also that some remodelling work be carried out in the main school, the estimated cost to be £640. The erection of a fence between the school ground and the High School ground, was also recommended.—lt was decided to make application to the department for a grant. The architect recommended that a teachers' room be provided at George Street School, shelter shed for the girls erected at the rear of the building, and partitions removed from the boys' shelter shed; that the iron roofs and ridge caps be painted. £433 would be the total cost.—The recommendation in respect to the removal of the partition and the painting were agreed to. It was decided to make an application to the department for a grant for the erection of a teachers' room and a shelter shed. The board's committee -'recommended that, on condition that the school committee contributed £SO, the board carrv out work to the amount of £l5O i;i asphalting paths and terracing grounds at Maori Hill School, but no guarantee be given that the whole of the work would be done in consideration of the committee's contribution. —• The recommendation was adopted. application was - made by the X.Z.E.I. for a supply of work books, class books, and stationery to school teachers. —The secretary submitted a report giving the practice of other boards, and said the report contradicted the information 3'eceived from the Education Department on the subject.—lt was decided to send a copy of the report to the institute, and to state that the board were prepared to supply scheme books onlv. The Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association submitted for the board's endorsement a resolution asking the Government to make the benefits of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act available to all soldiers entitled- to those benefits.—lt was decided to receive the resolution on the undrstanding that the cause of complaint had now been removed by the Government deciding to continue advances. The department asked the board's views regarding the employment of itinerant teachers in remote parts or, as an alternative proposal, the establishment of hostels in convenient centres to house children who live too far away from a school. —lt was decided, on the motion of the Hon. D. T. Fleming, that the hoard were oi opinion that the itinerant teacher system was the better.