EDUCATION BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 21005, 20 January 1932, Page 7

EDUCATION BOARD

FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR The monthly meeting of the Education Board was commenced to-day, those present being Messrs J. Wallace (chairman), J. Horn, J. Smith,, G. Livingstone, W. M. Cooper, J. H. Wilkinson, P. M'Kinlay, R. H. Todd, W. R. Brugh, and the Hon. D. T. Fleming. ADMISSIONS TO TRAINING COLLEGE. It was' reported to the board that under the Education Department’s decision to limit the number of probationers entering the Training College this year, there ' will be eleven Otago probationers exclude*) who otherwise are suitable for admission. The board informed the department that it did not think it right that those who have been found suitable and who have qualified at the entrance examination should be turned adrift altogether, and it suggested that it be allowed to retain these eleven probationers next year; that it pay each one a nominal amount of £lO each, and that if they continue satisfactory they receive preference for admission to college in 1930. The department has now informed the board that it has no objection to tho board’s proposal; but those retained must not be called probationers, nor may they be given the" impression that they _ will necessarily be admitted for training in 1933. It is impossible at the present time to forecast the financial situation in 1933, and it may not be possible to approve any admissions in that year. They could be told, however, that if entrants are accepted they themselves will receive preference provided' they fulfil the promise they have already shown. The Chairman said this was one of tl;e proposals of the board to the Director of Education. ■He was pleased that the department had so far been able to agree. It had been one of his most unpleasant jobs for a long time to agree to the list of those' who were to be excluded. He thought they might receive the department’s correspondence and express thanks for the consideration shown to the board’s suggestions. They should advise the students concerned that they could return to their schools‘for a year, though they would not be called probationers, and receive the sum of £lO for the year’s work. If they did not agree to that it was their own affair. Mr Wilkinson said it should be understood that the £lO was not a salary. It was' to enable the students to retain their connection. There were students who were extremely anxious to become teachers, and they would no doubt be pleased to return. The Chairman, in reply to a member, said there were only two failures in the entrance examination in the whole of Otago. Mr Cooper: The others are being excluded simply because there is no room for them. ' The board agreed to act on the suggestions of the chairman. POSITION AT KUROW. The Education Department advised that, though approval was tentatively given for the establishment of a district high school at Knrow, it was considered that it would be reasonable to defer the actual establishment for a year until it was definitely ascertained whether or not the attendance in the secondary department would be maintained. The board was authorised to appoint a secondary assistant at grade 2 salary. The Chairman: This shows what may be done in a department such as the Department of Education. I am not going to tell all that happened, but it surprised the Director of Education to learn that a promise had been made for the establishment of a district high school at Knrow. In tho face of the department’s decision in regard to Clinton, it seems quite unfair, because if Knrow has claims, the claims of Clinton are quite as good. Tho Clinton application was turned down, and they were allowed a Seventh Standard. Certain _ aspects of the matter were discussed in committee, and the hoard received the department’s letter. CONVEYANCE BY HORSE. The department advised that in future, where more than one child was conveyed to school on the one horse, the allowance was to bo paid for one child only. A member remarked that in Taranaki he knew of a case where four children travelled on one horse. Ths Secretary said there were thirteen cases in Otago in which allowance was made for conveyance by horse. The letter was received and noted. , ALBANY STREET, The department intimated that in view of tho present difficult state of finances it had been decided that a grant for the Albany Street Intermediate School must stand over for a year. The Chairman said that the committee of the board had put certain particulars before the Director, but so far no reply had been received. WEST TAIERI SCHOOL. The board received a letter from West Taieri stating that the School Committee and parents were sorry the board had ever thought of such a" thing as to close their school, and hoped it would never’ come to pass. “ Lots of things we never thought of are coming to pass just now,” commented the chairman. MERTON SCHOOL CLOSING. The Merton School Committee advised that at a meeting of the committee and parents a unanimous resolution in favour of keeping the school open was carried.—Received.