EDUCATION BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21638, 2 November 1933, Page 10

EDUCATION BOARD

INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS DEPARTMENTAL CHANGES Proposals by the Education Department for Auckland school inspectors to resume inspection of all those schools in the Auckland district which have for some time past been visited by members of the Taranaki inspecting staff were considered by the Auckland Education Board yesterday. It was further suggested b.vtlie department that Auckland inspectors should also be responsible for the inspection of certain country schools which, although in the 'Taranaki district, could more conveniently be inspected from Auckland. The chairman, Mr. T. U. Wells, said the Auckland staff had been increased by one inspector, and this fact was apparently the reason for the suggested rearrangements. The board approved of the proposals, and also that Mr. F. C. Lopdell, viceprincipal of the Auckland Training College, should temporarily replace Mr. A, MeMurtrie, an inspector who has been transferred to Wanganui, and that Mr. F. C. Brew, vice-principal of the Christchurch Training College, should serve as acting-inspector in Auckland during the temporary closing of the college. Advice was received from the department that it was intended to amend the regulations so that it would be necessary in future to reduce stall's of grade 3C schools if the average attendance for two consecutive terms was four below the minimum attendance of the grade, 81. At present the regulations do not require a reduction in staff unless averages for two terms are seven below the minimum of the grade. On the motion of -Mr. Wells, it was decided to ask the department if it could not reconsider the matter. Mr. Wells added that the new regulations would increase the difficulty of Grade oC schools. The position would not be so bad if the average attendance was allowed to fall five or six below the minimum before staff reductions were made.

It was agreed to support a suggestion by the Auckland Institute and Museum that a teacher should be attached to the War Memorial Museum staff for the development of visual education and school museum work. The institute advised that it had written to the Director of Education on the matter. The following appointments of teachers were authorised: Sole teacher: Miss I. M. Arnold, l'ongakawa Valley. Assistant master: Mr. B. D. Thompson, Normal.