EDUCATION BOARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12538, 27 June 1901, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARDS.

SOUTH CANTERBURY. A special meeting of the South Canter-bury-Education Board was btld yesterday, to transact some arrears of business. There -were present—Messrs Howell (chairman), Farnie, and Rev G. Barclay. The Department: wrote for a definite statement of the number of pupils passed Standard VI. who are certain to attend secondary: classes at Geraldine if tin© school is made a District High School, and stating that it is unlikely that aDistrict High, School will be established anywhere unless at least twelve or fifteen such pupils can be counted' on. The letter (had been forwarded to the committeei and head-i Easter. A good deal of time was spent in discussion on the application of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act and regulations thereunder. The Teachers' Institute submitted a scheme of lessons io teachers, for which a grant of £125 is available for the ' They proposed that classes for teachers be established at Timaru, Waimate and Geraldine, and possibly also at Temiufca,, for kindergarten' manual exercises, modelling in clay or plasticine,' brushwork and woodwork (including carving) , say, twelve one-hour lessons in kindergarten and in brushwork, and a sufficient number to cover tiie work in modelling laid down in the Departmental handbook. The committee -made its recommendation regarding woodwork lessons, except that information should be soutfhb at the Normal School, Christchurch. The Institute thought that 'the teachers instructed should begin to teach these subjects as soon as possible, but that before a'continuous course is entered upon there Should bo a substantial reduction in the amount of work required from ejuch standard 1 above the second, and the Board were requested to take action towards securing such reduction. Teachers, attending the classes should be conveyed by rail free of ohargo, if necessary for them to travel. The Waimate Comandttee' asked for a portion of the £125 for the establishment of local classes for'teachers. The Inspectors were requested to prepare i ar scheme for working the classes,' and to advise on the appointment of teachers at next meeting. The Timaru Main Sch 00l asked the Board to claim for the school 'capitation for certain classes under the manual instruction regulations, for classes averaging one hundred and forty-eight in number, and the Temuka School mado a similar request. " If was resolved 'that the tors inquire what schools were entitled to claim the capitation and certify accordingly, on behalf of the Board. It was resolved to fit certain rooms in the Tinuru Main, School with gas, for the use of the Technical Classes Association, it being understood that the Government refund rach expenditure.' The Assets' Realisation Board had heen as;ked to give or sell a site for a school on Waihaioranga Estate, and quoted £6 an ■acre, and declined to reduoe. this to £4. The local residents, applicants for ai school, stated that picked farms had been sold by the Board at £5 an acre, amd the proposed site was some of the poorest land in the estate, not worth more than £2 10s or £3 an acre. The Chairman said he had written to the Premier, tending the gist of tins correspondence, but had not yet received a reply., The inspector (Mr Gow), who had interviewed the lesidentE, recommended the erection of a school for Waihao Downs, about threequarters of a mile from the Wsihao Downs Station, Mr J. ■ L. Douglas giving a five-acre site, and stone for the building if stone is used, and the applicants will do all necessary carting free. Mr Douglas also offered temporary accommodation for a school. These offers were accepted, the school to be built as soon as funds were available, and a temporaoy school to,, be opened if the building offered is suitable. Householders on Waikakahi having ' agreed to a site for a school about mid-way hztween Morven and Kapua schools, and Jive 1 ; ;;.-\.? r .-,rn. sit'"!- a" I one of tb -■■-''' ■■;:', Mr Don. agreeing to provide <a ette of twoacres, ihe Beard xesolvvid to vouiu.iUJ u •new school district, and 'erect a ••••;.,-.■, ,w? •i'oon as certain difficulties reg«rdiii». have been overcome. On. the .report of 'the inspector, ib xeaoived to shift the Wui-