EDUCATION IN OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 23322, 19 July 1939, Page 16

EDUCATION IN OTAGO

BOARD'S MONTHLY MEETING GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES The Education Board held its mOutbly meeting to-day. Mr J. AVallace was the chairman, and also present were Messrs AV. M. Cooper, J. G. Somerville, D. Marshall, AV. 11. Brugh, AV. D. Sutherland, E. Morgan, D. C. Cameron, and C. Richards. RESIGNATIONS. The board accepted the following resignations : Sole teacher, Elizabeth Shirley, Stuarts; infant mistress, Constance J. Pringle, Cromwell District High; assistant, William J. Barr, Alexandra District High; assistant, _ Tui I. Gall, Balclutha; assistant, Brian R. Lynskoy, Forhury; assistant, Elsie R. Macdonald, Musselburgh; assistant, Netta H. A. Lory, Omakau; assistant, Norma M. Bcnzoni, Port Chalmers; assistant, Doris M. Harrison, Tomahawk. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were confirmed : Sole teacher, Netta H. A. Lory, Conical Hills; solo teacher, Owen AV. Miles, Five Forks; assistant, William J. S. Burgess, Anderson’s Bay; assistant, Edna C. AVilletts, Clyde; assistant, Joyce A. Messent. Duntroon; assistant, Eva M. M’Lintoek, Waitati; secondary assistant, Stanley C. Knight, Ranfurly. NAMING OF NEW SCHOOL. The naming of the new intermediate school being erected in the south end of the city was left for decision to the new committee of the Macandrew Road School. The board received a letter from the committee asking that the school he called the Macandrew Road Intermediate School. The naming of the school is subject to the approval of the board. COST OF HANDWORK MATERIAL. Dunedin- North Intermediate School Committee forwarded a resolution to the effect that having inquired into the cost of and the supply of handwork material and found that the cost was approximately 2s per pupil, strongly expressed the opinion that the material should be supplied free of all cost by the Education Department. In reply to an inquiry, the Principal stated that the craftwork being carried out_ was principally book-binding and associated crafts. All articles were essentially of a useful typo and were taken home by the children or used in the school. The committee’s resolution is to be referred to the department; CENTENNIAL MEMORIALS. The Department of Internal Affairs, in reply to the board’s inquiry as to whether the Government centennial subsidy would be payable in respect of the cost of swimming pools erected in school grounds or of the cost of improvements effected to such grounds, replied that the centennial subsidy would be paid only in respect of centennial projects which were sponsored by a duly constituted Centennial Committee recommended by the appropriate Provincial Centennial Council and approved! by the National Centennial Council and the Government. Furthermore, a subsidised centennial memorial must have some memorial features and must be of general public appeal. One proposal to construct a swimming pool on a school reserve was not approved for subsidy purposes because of its restricted use and its lack of memorial features. _ ' Before any decision is reached m regard to this scheme the board is to make further investigations. A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED. The board received a letter from the Plunket Society stating that the society had approached the Minister of Education for his permission to a penny fund to be opened in the schools throughout New Zealand in connection with the Sir Truby King fund. As it was not the board’s principle to encourage collections for public funds in schools the request for permission to open a fund in Otago schools was declined. MUSICAL FESTIVAL. The Chairman of the Primary Schools’ Musical Festival Committee wrote thanking the board for the assistance given, particularly in regard to the advance of the amount required for the initial expenses. They consider that the festival was of definite educational value as well as being an outstanding success. The board agreed to express its gratification to the committee over the success of the festival. NORMAL SCHOOL BUILDING. The Advisory Committee of the Normal School drew attention to the cracking of piaster in parts of the school, and the continual jamming of a door, probably caused by the sinking of the foundations. —The Architect reported that the position could be summarised as that of a building 60 years old, fairly sound, and maintained in good order, hut out of date for school purposes, and not worth the expenditure of remodelling. Rebuilding was recommended. —He also , recommended a lighting point in the infant corridor, also improved lighting in the infant mistress’s office. The estimated cost was £3.—Before any work is carried out to the building a report about schools in North Dunedin is to he submitted to the board. The lighting improvements are to he carried out. KUROW SCHOOL FIRE. The circumstances of the fire that destroyed the Kurow District High School on June 21, inquired into by a sub-committee consisting of Messrs Brugh and Cooper, were the subject of a report which was tabled for the board’s information. In their opinion there was no evidence of any kind to indicate how the fire started, and there were no suspicious circumstances. The report was received. The Chairman said that the department had decided to erect a new school immediately. He pointed out the severe loss" that had to be borne by teachers, whoso personal effects were often destroyed, as happened in this case, and on his motion a committee consisting of himself and Messrs Brugh and Cameron was set up to arrange for the establishment of a fund by the board so that grants could he made to school committees that had their schools destroyed by fire. DEPARTMENT’S GRANTS. The department advised that it had agreed to .the following requests:— A grant towards the cost of providing a new dental clinic on the Caversham School site to take the place of the clinic at Macandrew Road. The amount to be raised locally for the building would be approximately £66 18s fid. A grant of two-thirds of the cost of a mechanical stoker for the boiler at the main school building. A -grant for renovating and improving the rooms used for the occupation centre. The hoard decided to thank the department for making those grants. COMMITTEE’S APPLICATIONS. The board considered an application from the Warrington Committee for an

additional class room. The two present rooms were overcrowded with an attendance of; 80.—The position at this school is to be placed before the department. The fallowing school committees applied for assistance: — Warrington—For 150yds of fencing in order to protect native trees and shrubs.—The Architect estimated the cost of material only at £6 Bs. Scacliff—For a jarrah-Cyclone fence in front of the school.—The Architect estimated the cost of material only at £2O 4s. ■ Henley—For a fence to protect a shelter belt. —The estimated cost of material was £5. As these applications are in the nature of centennial projects, the applications were referred to a committee for consideration. . It was reported that the Mosgiel Committee had represented to the Minister the need for an additional room while the new school was in course of erection.—Noted. ' ' ' ARCHITECT’S RECOMMENDATIONS. The Clutha Valley head master asked for a shelter fence;—The Architect reported that the material only in red pine would cost about £2O. A shelter fence of manuka would ebst less and would probably last until_ the had grown.—The board is to provide for the cost of a manuka hedge. . , The Strath Taieri Committee applied for the erection -of a bicycle shelter.— The Architect estimated the cost at about £l6. —It was agreed to grant £B. The Dunedin North Intermediate School’s head master applied for a wall board to be fitted round the library.—The Architect estimated the cost at about £6. The cost of transferring the library to the new room was £6 13s 9d.—The wall board ie to be erected. The Green Island Committee renewed its application for the removal of shelter sheds to the new position. The Architect reported that a' hew shelter shed for the girls would cost £175, a new coal shed £3O, the removal of the boys’ shelter £35, and the connecting of lavatories to' the borough system £lo—total £250. The new shed'for girls and new coal shed were necessary, but the removal of the boys’ shelter could be held.‘over. —The application is to be referred to the department. The board approved of the work being carried out. The Architect recommended that two 400-gallon tanks be provided to replace the concrete tank, which was beyond repair, at the Hampden School. The estimated cost of the work would be £2O. He further reported that althorngh the residence at Hampden was 63 years old, it was in a fair state of preservation and could not be regarded as unfit for habitation. It had all the usual conveniences, and he did not feel justified in condemning it. Some interior renovation would be necessary if a teacher were to occupy the whole building. The present teacher was using only the kitchen and one bedroom. —The first request -was granted and the second application held over.