EDUCATION AFFAIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 September 1931, Page 2

EDUCATION AFFAIRS

MEETING OF NELSON BOARD

BUSINESS DEALT WITH

The Nelson Education Board mot today. There were present: The Hon. W. 11. Mclntyre (chairman), Messrs J. H. Hark ness, VV. C. Baigent, E. Trevena, F. W. 0. Smith, F. V. Knapp, E. J. S.j.Millehury, and J. G. Wilkens. Accounts totalling £7150 7s 5d wero passed for payment. The report of the instructor of Agricculture (Mr J. Bruce) stated that 16 visits of instruction had been paid to schools. He had also supervised work at various schools under the_ No. 5 Unemployment Scneme. Over 1000 trees had been planted at Redwood’s Valley school. Mr W. 11. Johnston, instructor of Agriculture in the southern portion of the district, also forwarded a report. It was reported that no grant had yet •been received for the new school at Westport, and that the condition of affairs now existing was unsatisfactory.

Mr llarkness remarked that in view of the present political situation it looked as if the new school would bo hung up. It might be that a grant would not now be obtained, and he thought the Board should be prepared to undertake renairs to the old school and send the children back there. Mr Smith thought the suggestion a good one. He did not think there was much prospect of a grant being obtained, and he thought it would be advisable to put the whole position before the Government.

The chairman said the fault of no grant yet being made was not the fault of the Minister. The application had been waiting for a meeting of the Cabi-. net, but owing to the Economy Committee sitting no Cabinet meeting had been held. It the present. Minister continued m office he did not think it would be any use asking to go back to the old school. If there was a change, and there was no prospect of getting a new school immediately, then he would agree that the children should be allowed to go back to the brick school after certain improvements had been carried out. Mr Harkness said Westport was suffering for something which happened two years ago (at the time of the earthquake). 'lf the brick school was to be condemned and pulled down then the Department had done nothing for them except to spend money on a building which was to be pulled down. Mr Harkness added that the present position at the Technical School could not continue. The matter was left in the hands of the chairman. The Education Department approved of the sale of the old school site at Waimangaroa. REPAIRS, ALTERATIONS, ETC.

The application of the Dovedale Committee for an increased grant for a bicycle shed was not granted. The Foxhill Committee was granted a contribution towards cost of repairing a fence.

The Granity Committee is to be informed that the Board could not undertake any liability as to repairs to typewriters.

The application of the Hope Committee for a grant towards cost of repairs to fencing was refused, the Board considering that the cost should come out of the committee’s funds.

The Inangahua Committee was granted £5 towards cost of ground improvements. Arising from a report by the subcommittee regarding the proposed exchange of school sites at Lower Moutere, it was resolved to urge the committee to take steps to obtain an option over an -additional and that the . five* acres be inpfiediitely cleared under the No. 5 unemployment scheme. ' It was decided to purchase a Public Works building at Lyell for a school, and that certain improvements be made thereto. •

Two tenders were received for drainage improvement at Motueka School, that of S. C. Davis and C. Gibbons (the lowest) at £B4 10s being accepted. A grant towards cost of swimming baths was requested by the Murchison Committee. The lack of bathing facilities, owing to the dangerous nature of the rivers, was stressed. It was resolved to grant £1 for £2 up to £2O. Half the cost of replacing a dividing fence at the Central School was authorised. A new gate is to be erected at the teacher’s residence at Ranzau. A special grant of £lO towards incidental expenses was made to the Riwaka Committee. The application of the • Summerlea Committee for a grant to cover cost of a new fence was referred to the architect. The request of the Takaka Committee for a grant to cover cost of interior fittings was refused. The Waipiea West Committee is to be informed that the Board does not consider it is an opportune time to apply for a grant for remodelling the school. .Arising out of a remark made by Mr Harkness at the previous meeting, Mr Smith, explaining the alterations in the Tinline scholarship said that originally £I2OO was set aside. At the time the money realised 71, per cent., but now it produced only 5 per cent.

GENERAL The Minister of Education acknowledged receipt of the Board’s letter as to the employment of married women teachers, and stating that he would make a statement in the near future. Mrs M. H. Fish notified that she recently had been married, and intended to continue in the Board’s service. A number of circular letters dealing with various matters were received from the Department. Exception was taken to the Department forwarding circulars through inspectors arid teachers asking for information instead of through the Board direct. A resolution of protest on these lines was passed unanimously. It was resolved to forward a strong protest regarding the ' amended rate of capitation for manual classes. The Department intimated that in future teachers must pay for work books and scheme books. It was stated that teachers could buy books cheaper locally than those sold by the Department. Mr Trevena said the teachers will soon have to supply their own blackboards. Thu books ultimately became the property of the school, and teachers should not have to pay for them.

Regarding anonymous correspondence in the press as to the employment of uncertificated teachers, the secretary reported that there were a few such employed. due to the location of the schools. He read a list of the schools concerned. Mr Smith said it was marvellous that any teachers at all could be found for such out-of-the-way schools. It was stated that only one teacher at present was out of employment. It was resolved that in two instances teachers bo advertised for.

A suggestion from the Health Department that head teachers should collect dental clinic levies was not approved, (lie Board expressing the opinion that, the present method whereby the dental officer collected the levies, should continue.

It was resolved to forward a letter to the Public Works Department expressing appreciation of the manner in which the building 'was left after an examination by the officials. In answer to a question, it was stated that the result of the inspection was not yet to hand. It, was decided to make a contribution to the Nelson Unemployment Committee towards cost of postage, etc. (Proceeding)