EDUCATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1922, Page 2

EDUCATION

NELSON BOARD’S MEETING

(Special to tho Star.)

NELSON, March 13

The monthly meeting of the Nelsjii Education Board was held to-day, present ; Messrs Smith (chairman), Boyes, Treacher, Scantlebury, Canavan, Baigent, and Hon, W. 11. Mclntvre.

The architect was instructed to report on the Waimangaroa Committee’s requ-rt for a grant of £25 for fencing and super vising of the levelling of the .school

ground. The Department notified the Board time the date of the teachers’ certificate examinations will in future be August i! stead of January as formerly. The Senior Inspector was asked to report on the question of establishing a separate school in the district of Hector. Thirty-six children would leave GraiiJy School, making 97 at Hector. Mr Pascoe's tender (£3O) for fencin; Rotokohu School was accepted. Air Kelly was recommended for appoiroinent by the Westport Committee as assistant.

The Gvanity School was granted apparatus for teaching elementary science. The Board reorganised the office staff. Twenty-three applications were received for the position of accountant at £3bo per annum. After several ballots the number was reduced to two, C. Ihomas (Nelson) and N. Jones (Wanganui). In the final ballot Mr Jones was yjqiointed by 4 to 1. On the. motion of Mr Mclntyre, tho Board decided to renew its application lor a manual training school building at Millerton.

The director’s monthly report on the Westport Technical School was received. The Board decided again to urge tho Minister to expedite the equipment of the new technical high school at Westport. The question of the ’appointment of a director of the new technical high school at Westport was thoroughly thrashed out. The Chairman explained the reason for withdrawing the notices to the directoi and staff. Mr Mclntyre accepted the explanation, and said that he realised the motives were in the best interests of the ouard, but there had been misapprehension.

The Chairman said that additional information had completely altered the position, which must be fought to a finish. He wanted the Board to be unanimous in a decision.

Mr .Mclntyre strenuously opposed putting the matter off till next meeting, and urged that notice be again given, and an appeal fought if necessary. He gave strong reasons why Mr Tomkies could not succeed in an appeid. He said it was essential for a director to have academic attainments. The future teachers of the Buller district would graduate through the new school. Mr Tomkies did not even possess a D certificate. If the Department insisted that imeertilicated teachers could not Ims appointed to a permanent position in primary schools, it must follow the same course in higher education. The Board, ultimately unanimous, decided to write Mr Tomkies informing him that he would be assured of his present position as head of the technical branch at the same salary if possible, provided ho relinquished the claims to the directorship. Should he not agree, he would get notice as from April 1, and the whole facts would be [ilaced before the Minister and Teachers’ Institute. l\lr Hoare, waited on the Board re the position of the staff at the Westport High School.

The Board decided to ask the teachers to carrv on till the end of June. Miss Hardcastle (Timaru) was appointed to the High School staff.