MARLBOROUGH EDUCATION BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 89, 14 April 1908, Page 7

MARLBOROUGH EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of\the Marlborough Education Board was held yesterday afternoon. There were present :—Messrs W. H; Macey, E. H. Penny, Jno. Conolly, J. White, J. Smith, W. B. Parker, H. M. Reader, J. Storey. In the absence of Mr McCallum, Mr Macey was voted to the chair. MENIAL WORK FOB DOMESTIC TEACHERS. It was decided to circularise all aided schools stating that teachers must not be expected to do household duties. '.■' The resolution was the outcome of complaints, from young teachers that on taking up new positions in families they were expected to scrub floors, darn stockings, etc. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE. Mr Gibbes, Secretary for Education, wrote as follows:—A school building having recently been set on fire through the dropping of a lighted match in some dry ; growth adjoining the building, I am directed to ask the Board to be good enough to_ direct the attention of School Committees and .teachers to this source of danger, and to require them to keep the walls of their buildings free from any growth that might constitute a danger in this respect. It is suggested that the Inspectors of schools also be requested to pay attention to this matter.

_Mr Parker remarked that the Flaxbourne school had had a narrow escape recently, being surrounded by long dry grass. Mr Storey said that the Rimu Gully school was surrounded by rubbish. At the suggestion of Mr Reader, it was decided/to circularise Committees as suggested.

THE BLENHEIM MASTER'S , ■■■-.■■.■- RESIDENCE.-, ~ . The Blenheim , School Committee wrote calling attention .to the fact that the teacher's residence, let by Mr Sturrockto a tenant, was in heed of repair. '■'■"■

In reply to the Chairman Mr Penny said that no attention whatever had been jpaid to the school by the Committee for ten, years at least. The Committee had not deemed the school-house under its care, having been handed over to Mr Sturrock for the purpose of lotting. Mr Conolly said the building had not been painted since it was built, and "it certainly should have ■ been painted twice. .

The Inspector explained that the rent Mr Sturrock got was in lieu of house allowance, which, in his case, would be £50 per year, The Board received a .certain percentage for the maintenance of school residences, and if Mr Sturrock had been occupying the house it would /have had to be maintained by the Board.

m The Committee also asked permission to cut down trees.-i-The permission was granted. ■■•■.. ' It was decided that the architect report on the house at next meeeting! VARIOUS SCHOOLS. v

Seddon.—The Awatere Committee was granted 50s for repairs to-the school. .

Canvastown.—Mr ,E. H. Stratford claimed if be paid by the Board for material Supplied at Mr Storey's instance, fie could bring witnesses to prove that Mr Storey had authorised the supply of the metal, and i£-the Board still refused to pay he would sue.—Mr Storey explained that what boulders had been supplied had proveduseless.—The Board decided that it was not responsible to Mr Stratford, he must recover from the contractor. Letters were received from several residents of Endeavour Inlet in further reference to the ill-feeling in regard to the present arrangement. Two of the corerspondents suggested the erection of a neutral public school. A sum of £16 would be sufficient to erect a school. Mr W. Jones, junior, who forecasted that 16' children would be forthcoming at a;later date, if a State school were erected, offered to board the teacher. His reason for refusing to agree te< the present arrangement had been explained before. opinion of the Board was that there was no power to spend the Board's funds, even so small an amount as £10,' on a new school.—Mr Ewing, who at present holds the school and boards the teacher, waited <>n the Board, and explained that the former school had been closed after the examination, and no one would undertake to re-open a school. -He had moved at last nr-fche matter, and procured a teacher, and now the other settlers objected. He explained that a sr K3'°l was a separate building, and there was also a small house which couid be used if a male teacher were appointed He pointed out that out six cWren in the district only one, that of Mr Jones, was being kept away from the school. He offered the school-house to the Board at a peppercorn rental, say 6d per month. He would be quite pleased if the Department would build a new school on the reserve, but that was not likely until antimony mining boomed. At present the school in use was quite larse enough. 6

On the motion of Mr Reader it was resolved that, after hearing Mr Ewang s explanation, the Board considers matters should continue as at nresent. . : .

>■ Waterfalls.—The resignation of Miss \f" W"8011 * teacher, was accepted. t Marlborc>ughtowp. — The Secretary for Education replied that the Department would proyide. 10s per week rent on account of the temporary building so long as it is required for school purposes. In a former memo, the Department declined to make a grant for an additional class-room, anothis <>ffer of rent for temporary accommodation was in lieu of that refusal. Havelock.—Miss Macalister, now of Canyastown, was appointed assistant teacher m place of Miss Stone, resigned.

. The Secretary for Education wrote m reference to the re-opening of the Waikawa school, and requested the Board to get Mr G. Watson a list of the children who would be likely to attend the school if it were re-opened, —itie Inspector was asked to supply the names. c* J th? B oaL ali eyrTh 6 9 hairman asked waW £ ° """rtKag- Awards re&S the + i cho<>l residence.-Mr We ted-.°f a visit t(> the nouse, and described the protiertv as * «d most dilapidS ?n ytL Storey said it was predicted that 27 wrote complaining of the way the school was being carried on, and stating that it was difficult for her to

make out who was teacher, Miss Wells or her mother. Mrs Wells had interferred in connection with the exercise of discipline in the school.—Mrs W. Wells wrote explaining the circumstances in self-defence.—lt was, decided to write to Miss Wells, the teacher, and inform her that the Board cannot allow interference with the discipline of the school. Havelock.—Mr Smith, the headmaster, asked that Mrs Smith be appointed assistant mistress temporarily to succeed Miss Stone.—The Board resolved to reply that it does not favour husband and wife teaching together. Renwick.—Half the cost of a fence round the school ground (£6 ss) was granted. ' Pinohia.—W. D. Iremonger asked for ah aided school, with Miss F. A. Gray as teacher.—Approved. Waikawa Bay.—Miss Myrtle Lupton's appointment as teacher was approved. ;-■■• Seddon.—The Committee was granted the Board's subsidy upon an amount proposed to be spent on fencing the school gardens. / Wairau Valley.—The Committee was authorised to have the interior of the school painted a light colour. The Grove.—lt was decided to allow the Methodist Church trustees to proceed with the fencing between their property and the school, the Board agreeing to pay half the cost. Rimu Gully.—Mr John Lambert forwarded an account for £175, cost of erecting new school.—Mr Reader reported upon the work, which had been completed. He recommended that the balance of £20 available be spent on a ring fence.—-The account was passed for payment, the usual percentage" under the Workmen's Lien Act to be retained for thirty days. , Ward.—The Committee asked for alterations, extra dual desks and a fuel shed; also improvements in the sanitary arrangements.—The Inspector recommended that the small; requirements be granted, and that application be made to the Department for a fuel shed. • The school was now up to 40 children.—The Inspector's recommendation was adopted.—Thq teacher was permitted to let the school residence.

Kakapua'Bay.—lrene R. Simson was confirmed* in her position of teacher.

Koromiko.—The Committee asked for an additional grant towards a bell, also for^subsidy on £5 raised by, a concert.—The subsidy was granted, and other matters referred to Mr Parker.

Wilson's Bay.--L. A. Foote resighed the teachership. Picton.—-Mr Sheard's account for papering and painting the school was .passed for payment. - /■ FINANCE.- .! The monthly statement showed a balance to credit at end of March of £711 16s 3d, and accounts for the day were passed amounting^ to £170 19s 3d. . . -' " ■■''■ . - ■■ ■ ' ■-'"■.-