OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 18741, 17 September 1924, Page 4

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of tho Otago Education Board was commenced this morning, those present being—Messrs J. Wallace (chairman), J. Smith, G. Livingstone, L. Sanderson. G. K. Graham, G. W, Wood, J. H. Wilkinson, R, H. Todd, and tho Hon, D. T. Fleiping, PLAYGROUND TOO SMALL. Tho High Street School Committee applied for the removal of play sheds, so ns to make possible the use of the ground to the best advantage. {The architect recommended that the shed on the northwestern corner bo sold for removal), Tho committee also asked that the. present shelter sheds he taken down and the old material used in erecting two sheds, one on tho High street frontage and tho other abutting on tho Town Belt boundary fence. Tho Chairman said this was a case whore due attention had not been given to the provision of playground epaco. There was at present no place where all tho children of the school could be assembled together, and tho new head master objected to taking them on to the road. On tho occasion of such a ceremony as saluting the flag the pupils could not all be brought together. They were asked why they wanted eight acres on tho Lake area. Those who asked such a question should have a look at tho grounds of some of the town schools, and their question would ho answered.

An application by tiro committee for new drinking fountains and for asphalting to bo carried out at an estimated cost of £250 was granted. The Hign Street Committee also wrote requesting the board to apply to the City Corporation for tho granting of tho lease of a small area of the Town Belt at tho rear of the school, this area to bo improved and used as a playing area for the pupils. Tho Chairman said that, if the area could bo obtainea from the corporation on the same terms as areas on thq Belt were let to sports bodies, it would bo a boon to the school. It was proposed to establish a basket,ball ground there. A certain amount would be provided by the committeo, and the board would probably give some assistance. On the motion of Mr Todd it was decided to apply to tho corporation for a lease of tho ground. INFANT BOOMS. The department intimated that where grants were being considered for new buildings or additions it was prepared to consider applications for tne provision of chairs and tables for infant classes in lieu of desks,. This substitution applied only to rooms used exclusively for infanta. BACKBLOCES SCHOOLS. The department intimated that it was willing to consider paying special remote allowances in tho case of a few backbiocks schools where living conditions were unsatisfactory, and where, in consequence, it was difficult to secure the services of reasonably competent teachers. Tho board was asked to send a list of schools in its district where it considered remote allowances were necessary. Tho list should be in three sections i (a) Very difficult cases; (b) difficult cases; (c) cases not so difficult,, but whore some consideration should ho given. The matter was referred to the chairman, tho senior inspector, and the secretary lor a report, MISCELLANEOUS. Tho architect submitted a. list of sohooU to which the fifty fire extinguishers promised by the department should be supplied.—'Approved. The following were appointed to represent the board on the board of managers of technical schools:—Mr J. W allace (Dunedin). Mr Geo. Livingstone (Oamaru), and Mr G. G. Menzies (Milton). An application by the Waitati Committee for the erection ot an additional room at tho school was referred to the architect and the senior inspector for a report to tho next meeting. It was agreed to increase from £6O to £BO a subsidy to the Musselburgh School Committee, for asphalting.