EDUCATION BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16808, 18 March 1915, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

.YESTERDAY'S. MEETING. The North Canterbury Education Board inei, yesterday; present—Messrs G. Rennie (chairman). T. W. Adams, C. H. Opie, J. Jamie'son, W. H. Collins, W. A. Banks, H. Boyd, E. H. Andrews and M. Dalziel. NORMAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The Normal School and Technical Committee reported that it had agreed to join with tho Technical College and ask the Department to have tho reports furnished by Mr Howell in connection with his visits to' gondola when on his trip, to England printed and distributed among educational bodies interested in manual and technical instruction. The arrangement made by the director for extra assistance fc'r the manual training classes had been approved. The. director had reported that on the whole the East Ohri-Jtchurch school grounds appeared to be the most suitable locality for the new manual training• centre. It was conveniently served by trams from New- Brighton.. Bnrwood and Richmond, while children coming on other lines would not have far to walk. The Eart Christchurch School Committee had been informed that the board proposed to establish a manual training centre in their school grounds and make application for a grant for a building similar to that at Sydenham. The director had brought up the matter of a clas in economical cookery for the mothers of the pupils, similar to iho classes held in 3\ew South Wales. The establishment of such a class had been approved, and the board was recommended to commence one at the Sydenham centre. The report was adopted. PHYSICAL TRAINING.

A telegram had been received from the Department of Education, stating that tho Minister had approved of +K<> complstion of the physical training classes for teachers in the North Canterbury district, two fortnightly sessions i'.< be taken, commencing March '.'2 and May 10 respectively. In view of the number (about 350) of teachers concerned, it would not be possible io carry on school work with tempo.--ary substitutes! It was, therefore, suggested as the only practicable course to close the schools tor a night, and to arrange for rather more than half the number to attend classes commencing March 22, and the remainder on May 10. In the absence of + he chairman of the board, who had expressed his approval of the proposal, the matter had been brought n<fore the committee as one of urgency, of which members of tho board had been informed.

It was resolved that the dates suggested by the Minister should be approved, and that the schools concerned should bo closed for two weeks to enable the teachers to attend the classes. It was further agreed' that all teachers from echcols in the south ward should be achritted to the session commencing March 22, the number requirH by the instructors to be made up by the teachers iu the central ward who had not yet attended the classes, and, if necessary, by teachers from other schools adjacent to Chr'stchurch. BUILDINGS COMMITTEE.

The Buildings Committee reported that the members who recently inspected tho Opawa schoolhouse recommended tho Board to condemn the building and instruct the architect to furnish a report preparatory to the necessary application Ljing made to tho Department.

The action was anproved. MISCELLANEOUS.

The Senior Inspector submitted the results of the recent special examination for proficiency or competency certificates. There had been 105 candidates, of whom 31 haa gamed proficiency certificates and 14 competency certificates. In view of the large number attending this examination it was decided to recommend the Department in future to reduce the fee from os to 2s 6d.

New boundaries for the following school districts were resolved upon : Beckenham, Breeze's Road, Glen Kowhai; Hapuku, Horsley Downs, Mead and Scargill, the alteration to take effect from April 12. Monday, April 36, was fixed »s the date for the annual meeting of householders.

On the recommendation of the Senior Inspector it was' agreed to appoint, subject to the Department's approval, Miss F. Kershaw as probationer in the Ashburton School, provided the Nelson Board was agreeable to tho transfer.