EDUCATION MATTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 12

EDUCATION MATTERS.

SERVICE OF TEACHERS.

POSITIONS IN THE COUNTRY,

The Auckland Education Board met yesterday, the chairman, Mr. A. Burns, presiding. Referring to the board's request for an amendment to the Education Act rendering country service obligatory upon teachers, the Education Department notified the question would be placed before the Minister. It was stated the department pointed out no teacher could get above a certain number of grading marks without country service. Members thought something more definite should be provided. It was decided to restate the case to the department. • The Post and Telegraph Department drew attention to the fact that it had invited tenders for inland mail services and suggested that contracts for carrying children and mails should be combined. It was decided to carry out the scheme as far as possible. The Southland Education Board notified that Southland members of Parliament had been requested to support the proposed amendment to the Education Act giving boards discretionary powers in employing married women teachers. The department wrote stating that in order that lecturers on the staff of the Training College should have contact with the work of schools it was prepared to pay the actual travelling expenses incurred by lecturers. The letter was received. A grant for erection of an additional classroom at the Otahuhu School was authorised by the department. Public school statistics for the quarter ended June 30 showed there were 757 schools, including half-time, district high and junior high schools, in the board district. There were 66.789 pupils, made up of 34,958 boys and 31,831 girls, on the rolls. The average attendance was 58,694, 30,830 in the case of boys and 27.864 in respect of girls. The secretary said that there was a slight increase in the roll-number but a falling-off in the average attendance.