EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 21721, 16 May 1934, Page 10

EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS

OTAGO BOARD MEETS The Otago Education Board met this morning, trie re being-present- the chairman (Mr Jaines .Wallace), Messrs !). T. Fleming, J. Shepherd, Iv. Morgan, D- C. Cameron, G. Livingstone, R. H. Todd, W. E. Brugh. W. M. Cooper, and P. M'Kinlay. SUPPLY OF TVI’EWRITFRS. The Owaka Head Master applied for a supply of typewriters, which he stated were urgently required by the pupils attending the commercial class m the secondary department.—-The request is to be forwarded to the department, with a. recommendation that four machines should be supplied. MEMORIAL GATES AT OWAKA. The Secretary of the C. J. Connell memorial fund stated that the Owaka Committee proposed to spend the sum of £4O on a gateway at the Owaka School to act as a memorial to Charles John Connell, who lost his life at Long Point in an effort to save his schoolteacher friends, Messrs -Sprout and Menzies. Permission was asked'for the erection of the gateway, also as to whether the board would make a grant towards the erection and maintenance of the gateway.—The matter was referred to the members for the district and the committee. UPPER WAITATL Three residents of Upper Vi ait aii wrote stating that, as there were now seventeen children being conveyed by the Eeith Valley bus from tho Saddle, they were of the opinion that a small school in the locality would give more satisfaction. As an alternative, the present bus service might be continued further down the road, as those furthest away have'two miles to walk to the Saddle. The Chairman and Mr Cameron were apked to meet the residents and report to the hoard. TEMPORARY SCHOOL.

In connection with the Falls DamOniakau irrigation scheme, a. request was received from parents for a temporary school to provide for the nine children of school age and others expected to arrive from time to time. : The Chairman reported that he had recommended to the department the opening of a temporary school as this would.he more economical than conveying the children to either St. Bathans (seven miles) or Blackstone Hill (sixmiles) .—Approved. REQUEST DECLINED. -

The Kakanui Committee stated that the head master had applied for a supply of paint brushes, drawing books, etc., for use in the school, as the outcome; of the music and art refresher courses held recently. The committee considered that, as the work was authorised'to be done by the education authorities and as the committee found enough gear for the school already (most of which the hoard used to supply), it felt justified in asking the hoard to make a'grant to the committee for same. The request was declined. ‘ ROMANTIC NEW ZEALAND.’ The department wrote that officers of the Education Department who had recently seen a private ' screening of ‘ Romantic New Zealand,’ a film prepared by the tourist and publicity section of the Department of Industries and Commerce, had no hesitation in enthusiastically recommending it for exhibition to sphool children of all ages. It was regarded as the finest thing of its kind ever photographed in New Zealand, apd marked a very great advance in photography and variety of feature ori anything previously exhibited. OMAKAU CONSOLIDATION.

Replying to the petition against the proposed Oiriakau consolidation, the Minister wrote, as follows:—“ I have given the matter very careful consideration, ' and must express the regret I feel that the people in the district centring on Omakau are unable to agree either on the subject of consolidation or on the situation of the proposed new school. I should have thought that the advantages of the larger school, of conveyance of the children, and of the probability of post-primary education being provided in the district for those children who wish to undertake it, .would have outweighed any differences of opinion that parents may have. I should have expected a unanimous request to the board to expedite consolidation. This, however, is not the case as the petitions forwarded with your letter show. *' “ In view of the pronounced opposition to the scheme from Cambrian, Becks, Lauder, and Blacks, I have no option but to decide to take no further action in. the matter of providing improved school facilities and conveyance in the district. I regret to have to do this, but it has never been the policy of my department nor, think, of your board, to force consolidation on an unwilling community.” The Chairman reviewed the facts showing that the people of the district generally _ were originally in favour of a centralised district high school. • Mr Wallace concluded by stating that the board did not want to force consolidation on any district. It was, however, still of the opinion that the people, of .this district actually wanted a central district high, school, bufc_ it was in error in thinking that opposition as to the site would die down when the department. the board, and the Minister too, had come to a decision on the matter. The position now was that until the people could reach unanimity on the question of the site the privileges of secondary education, also of woodwork and cookery instruction, would be denied to their children. When the people were ready the board would do all in its power to further the project. Possibly even now some may have regretted their action in this direction. REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS.

The Otepbpb Committee asked for the remodelling of the school. Adequate ventilation was difficult to obtain in cold weather owing' to the creation of down draughts when the windows behind the children were open. There was a rapid spread of colds among the children during cold weather, due to insufficient ventilation.. Levelling of the floors and individual tables and chairs were also asked for.—The architect was instructed to submit a report.

The Kakanui Committee stated that a new windmill was now required.—The Architect reported that in. December, >1933, he recommended to the board that Mr R. Southgate’s tender of £l2 Os 6d for complete overhaul and repair of windmill be accepted. He Still thought this .should have been done instead of the temporary repairs effected at cost of 30s. He recommended that both Messrs Southgate and Osborne, who tendered previously, be asked to submit fresh prices. The. work could not be done befqre the school reopened, hut if the concrete tank was.still supplied with water there should be no urgency.—Referred to lb? architect and Mr Cooper. The Morning ton Head Master drew attention (o the draughty condition o< Standard 11, class room.—She Architect

reported that the room was in an exposed position. The dado, which was t. and g. lining, had shrunk and allowed the draught to come through. He recommended that the dado lining on back part of side wall be stripped and refixed and lined with building paper. The estimated cost was £3 10s. —Tho work was approved. The Head Teacher at West’Taieri applied lor the repapering of three rooms and passage and repairs to spouting and lootpaths.—The Architect reported that he had not inspected this residence, hut some interior renovations were carried out in 1924 and the buildings were repaired in 192-3. He had no doubt the renovations asked for were necessary, and they -would cost about £l3 10s. He would require to examine the paths. If gravel would do, the cost would be £1 15s.—The architect was instructed lo submit a further report. The Wakari Committee asked for the renovation of the class room occupied by Standards 111. and IV.—The Architect reported that the ceiling of- this room was painted and the wall -washed down in 1932. when the two other class rooms were renovated. The work now asked for would cost about £l2.—The request was granted, subject to the committee paying one-thi- d of the cost.

The Head Teacher ;u Waianakarua asked for the removal of a window in one room from the south-west to the north-west wall, and for the renovation of the room.—The Architect reported that this was a desirable improvement, as the room received no sun in the winter months, and the previous teacher complained that the weather was driving past the window frame and damaging the papers. The estimated cost was £6 10s, including the renovation of the room.—The work was approved. The Warrington Committee applied for permission to build a shed, 24 x 18, to be used mainly as a card room; and also for a subsidy.—The Architect recommended that before permission was granted full particulars as to type of building should be submitted _ for approval. This recommendation was adopted. The Head Master at Green Island asked for the register grate in one of the rooms to be converted into an open fireplace, and also for a new sink.—The Architect estimated the cost at £3 10s and 30s respectively.—The request was granted. The Chairman reported that as the Kensington School Committee had had a free offei; of new material tor the remainder of the Grosvenor street fence, he authorised expenditure on the labour and also on the labour for gate posts for new gates which were being presented. —Approv ed.