EDUCATION BOARD.

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1922, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

At last meeting of the Canterbury Education Bo:.rd, leave of absence owing to illness was granted to the following:— Arahura Road—Miss C. B. Hogan, two months. Greymouth—Air A. Coumbe, two weeks; Aliss A. E. Cornwall an additional four weeks. It was reported that the. cookery room at the Greymouth Training School needed a new Scott's range end high pressure boder, at a cost of £l4. It was reported handwork material had been sent to all schools, which were well supplied, the \\ rst Coast parcels being distributed by Mr G. Bigncll better than through the post. Air Johnston referred to the improvement the new Greymouth Technical School would mean for boys and Saturday classes. The dairy and agricultural science work occupied two days weekly at high schools on the Coast. Air Johnston stated: —Fine weather in May enabled the AVestland schools to do their winter cultivation under ideal conditions, and the prospects for a good season are so far very promising. The results of tho work of the pupils at La Fontaine have been spoiled by petty thefts from the experimental plots. At Arahura Road (Kaihinu) 1 watched the boys under the supervision of their teacher, carrying out very effectively difficult pruning operations on an old neglected apple tree. It provided practice on the various problems which confront tho orchardist. At Ruatapu, with the help of the boys, I laid out a garden and got some of the land turned over. I am trusting to the School Committee for a fence round the plot. The results of the potato competition are now complete. I am sorry more schools aro not represented, but there were some total failures due to unnatural conditions and some duo to interference by unauthorised persons. Taking into consideration records, etc., the following are the prize winners:— Ross, first; Ngahere second; AVaitaha, third. The records kept for tho Ross School are complete in every detail, and although the yield is below that of AVaitaha and one variety of Ngahere, the competition has been more valuable educationally to Ross than to any other of the competitors. The Ngahere records should secure second place. Tho schools visited during tho month arc: —Ahaura, Ngahere, Ruatapu, Kumara, Rotomanu, Kokiri, Taylorville, Moana, Kuril, Arahura Road, Humphreys, Blue Spur, Cobden, I’uke Kura, llari Ilari, La Fontaine, and Ross. Miss M. E. Moore resigned from Aloana school to take over Red Jacks School. The AVest Coast Attendance Officer (Mr White) reported the attendance kept up very well in view of severe weather. There had been 27 visits to schools, and a number of parents were called on, while three eases showed improvement. Ke Blackball school, tho Building Committee reported that tho Health Officer pointed out the necessity for repairs to spouting and cleaning of tank The mutters were referred to the foreman and committee respectively. Cobden: —The Town Board wrote declining to purchase sections to hand over to the Board in exchange for the old site. It was resolved that the Board adhere to its previous decision. Greymouth:—The Committee asked that the architect prepare a scheme of sanitution. It -was resolved that Air Penlington report at the first opportunHokitika:—The Committee’s application that lavatories and spoutings be attended to was referred to the foreman for attention. The Education Department asked for the Board’s opinion as to the location of junior high schools. One was to bo in a town of from 5000 to 9000 inhabitants, and another in a town containing from 10,000 to 15,000 inhabitants, unde one in a district where there is at present a District High School, which would, under the Junior High School svstem, be enlarged by the inclusion of the present fifth and sixth standards. It was decided that the Board recommend the Department to establish Junior High Schools at Timaru, Oxford, and Greymouth.