CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1917, Page 4

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD

FRIDAY. JULY Oth.

The Board met at Christchurch, those present- IncfucUng Messrs Grimmond and 'if. J- %*!];' (West Coast representatives). The (Truant officers reported that the names of 214 absentee children had been sent in'in the Canterbury district, while. Court’ proceedings had been taken against three cases. Thirty-two absentee ,iit s had been sent in from West Coast schools aiul iwe n ty-two personal visits lmd been made by the truant, officer. Forty-six ordinary and nine final notices had been sent out. The Appointments Committee reported that the inspector’s reports on Iho whole were of a satisfactory nature but that there were one or two cases in which there was need of closer attention on the part of teachers. The Agricultural Committee reported that numerous replies had been received to the Circular sent to School Cominittees with regard to the utilisation of idle spaces in school grounds. It was resolved that % future the Board would j make a practice of granting £1 for £1 up to £lO on all voluntary contributions paid into the Board’s funds for improving school gardens and grounds. The report was adopted. The report of the Buildings Committee referred chiefly to minor repairs, altrenations etc., to various schools m the education district. Tt was decided to forward all petitions for new schools’at. Pernassus, Tormore, and White Rock, to Mr. Forbes, M 8., Mr. Grimmond to wait'on the Minister i n connection with the matter. Mr Banks, speaking with regard to the Waitaha school, said the school teacher had to Hvo’in the porch of ~ the sci/001, which lie considered a scandalous thing; ho moved that/tjie School Com,nit lee should he informed that g unless they could iim] accommodation for the teacher the school wouh) he closed. • After some discussion the motion was

10,5 t,. , . Mr. Banks also spoke strongly on the way the Board had to go cap in hand to the Minister for the purpose of getting the needed schools at Tormore, White Rock, and Parnassus, There was an • Agitation for saving the babies and getting" a greater population in the Domihio,D,'but it seemed impossible to get) the Department to adequately supply teaching accommodation when they became of school age. The speaker also referred to the need for repairs at- t-hoj Blackball school. i

Mr. Bignell said it was not only West Const schools' that needed attention. Ho had seen n tenehor’s residence in Canterbury that was “not fit for a dog—nP, nor yet fit for a pig,’’ to live in. It’ was stated that this was the teacher’s house at Itapaki. The chairman said that it was a .Departmental school. The Board disclaimed anv responsibility for it. Mr. Bignell: Well, tlie teacher has to live there, anyway. Mr. Peverill, reverting to the Waitoha matter,* moved hat the accommodation .be provided, hut the motion was lost on a division.