RURAL EDUCATION

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1756, 1 November 1905, Page 49

RURAL EDUCATION

ACTION BY THE BOARD. INSTRUCTOR TO BE APPOINTED. In pursuance of the motions proposed at previous meetings of Vhe Education Board by Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., a committee, consisting of Messrs Buchanan, Hogg, McDonald, and Allan, made a report at Thursday’s meeting of the Board. Tne committee recommended that the salary of an instructor ir elementary agriculture should be £3OO, with travelling expenses from "Wellington. With regard to the programme of work, two proposals had been considered: — _ (a) To appoint a supervisor and oiv ganiser in elementary agriculture for the whole district, to visit schools and! take classes for teachers on Saturdays. The money available for this, without drawing on the administration fund, would probably be £IOO from the Government grant for the instruction of teachers, Capitation would be available fro l - the teachers’ class, and it was believed the capitation from the school classes would also be required; the balance of £250 to £3OO would have to come from the administration fund. (b) To ippoint an instructor in elementary agriculture to work various centres first of all, to hold classes for teachers on Saturdays, and, when time permitted, to visit schools where the work was taken up. A conference had been held with, the Director of the Technical Board, who considered, if the Board found the ground in Wellington and allowed the Technical Board to use the instructor’s services for one practical lesson and two evening lectures a week," a contribution of £l5O could be made by the managers towards his salary. As one evening lessm could be held on the same day as the practical lesson, this would really mean only one day and one evening a week, and the instructor would be free from three and a half to four day a in the week, not including Saturday morning for teachers' classes. This contribution, with £IOO from the Government grant, would mean a grant of £250 towards the salary. The centres at which such an instructor could work would be Levin, Pahiatua, Esa&tahuna, Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, Featherston, Hutt (including Petono and the Hutt Valley) and Wellington. The committee recommended the latter proposal, suggesting that it be left to the instructor to visit the various centres first, and leave him to settle the arrangement of his work. The committee thought the money would be well spent if an instructor were appointed ; nd a fair trial given. The chairman read the report of Mr La Trobe, which had been adopted by the Technical Board the previous evening. Mr La Trobe in this recommended the Technical Board to contribute not more than £l5O to the salary of the Education Board’s expert, on condition that he was available for the Technical Board for one whole day and two evenings in the week. The revenue from twenty day and ten evening scholars was estimated at from £l2O to £l6O. The chairman said the Technical Board had come to the conclusion it could not go into the matter alone, but it was in favour of meeting the Education Board as far as possible. - Mr Vile moved “ That the report be adopted, and that the committee bo authorised to appoint an instructor as suggested.” This was seconded by Mr- Feist, supported by Mr Hogg, and agreed to.