EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14381, 26 November 1908, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, held yesterday, was attended by the Ho". T. Fergus (chairman), Mc-esrs A. M'Kerrow, W. Scott, (J. C. Israel, J. Mitchell, T. Mackenzie, ■ M.P., W. Snow, and *ho Rev P. B. Fraser. CONDOLENCE. It was decided to send a letter of eondolcaico 1o Mrs Marshall, Kurow, with respeot to the death of her husband, who was for many years a faithful servant of tho board, and who was for 'a short time a member of tho board. wokks committee's report. Tho Worb Committco mads the following recommendations: — • .Kensington: That the erection of new outhouses bo proceeded with at once.— Agreed to. Balclutha: That a bathroom and bath bo provided in connection with the teaohor's residence at an estimated cost of £15, and that the head tcaclior'e application for a hot water service bo declined.—Agreed to. Alexandra: That tho ventilator of the infant room be improved as •recommended by the architect, amd also that the water from the town supply be conveyed to tho girls' out offices.—Agreed to. Clyde: That application ba made- to the Education Department for funds for the •erection of an addition to tho school.— Agreed to. Cromwell: That, the wall be rebuilt and: repaired, and that application be made to the Education Department for. funds for tho erection of a,n addition to the school; repairs to tho wall to he included when tenders for the addition to tho eehool are called for.-Agrcedto, Lowlnim: That in the meantime a. screw bo erected at tho out offices, and that. some small repairs to tho school bo effected. Wainahi: 'fliat application for the erection, of an addition to tho residence bo hold over in the meantime.—Agreed to. Clinton.; That the com. mittee's application for drainage to school and residence, estimated at' £14, bo carried out, tho School Committee to open tho trenches and refill tho Eame after. tho pipes, have been laid'; ako that some repairs bs effected to keep tho l birds from the roof of the residence.—Agreed' to. Te Hou'ka: That the architect's proposals for increased cloakroom accommodation bo carried out, and that new outhouses be erected.—Agreed to. Waikouaiti: That the School Committee's application for tho erection of an additional 100111 at tho. teaoher's residence be agreed to, one room and porch to be erected.—Agreed to. Goldfiolds: That a plumber be sent to the goklfields, and that lie carry out the necessary repairs to spoutings which had been damaged by snow. Half cost of .repairs: The committee recommended that the following applications be' granted:—Forbury: Asphalting grounds, £15. Palmersteni: Fehoing and gravelling paths, £15. Pukcuri: Forming'.paths and asphalting, £6. Green Island: Asphalting, £25.—Agreed to. Palmcrston: •It wa6 recommended that the committee's application for 1 half cost (£2 15s) of .microscope, for tlio 1 school bo declined,' and . that tho application for tho erection of fencing round tho residence and glebe be granted, the adjoining proprietor to pay his share.— Agreed to. _ Lawrence: That the committee's application for lcakoming walls of .school, repairs to roof of school and belfry, soptio tank, laying oil water, to school garden, and clearing of gorae from road lines, be referred to the architect to report, -Agreed to. Henley: That the committee's application for £2 4s, cost, of bridge to-' teachers residence, recently washed away', be granted.-Agreod 10. Ctorsham: That the committee's application for repairs to \\rall, distempering of wall, and new desks for 60me of the'rooms, be referred to the architect for rcporr.-Agrcod to. Roxburgh: That tho necessary repairs to the floor of tho head teacher's class room be-carried out.-Agrced to. Strahh-Toiicri: That the School Committee bo informed of the work that- tho board proposes to carry out in connection with the addition" to. the school, and that -the architect will visit the district and interview -the committee.—Agreed to Taieri .Ferry;. That tho school outbuildings be shifted to a more convenient site, and that the necessary repairs to fencing be cawed out-Agreed to. Otekiiike: That- the necessary fencing between the school property and tho Reorea-. tion Reserve be orected.—Ag'Reil to. Mus-' selburgh: That, with regard to the fchool committee's application f O V additions to the Musselburgh School and to tho inspocW roport thereon,-the .mcmbei's of the lward should visit the school and' inspect — Apxx' to. Otago High Schools' Boaid: that with respect, to thr. High Schools' Board for the services of this board s arohiteot. for the drawing of. plans for the proposed new (lirls'. High Selioo], the matter be loft to the architect, hut that no interference, with the work of Ibis board be allowed.-Agroed ,-to. Millers i'iat: That the architect bo requested to report regarding the committee's application for forming well and providing pump (estimated cost. £15).—Agreed to. Anders°"'B Bay: That members of'tlia Ijoard visit Musselburgh, and also visit Anderson's Bay respecting the commiJ.tee's application for improvements to the teacher's residence - Agreed to. Tiivra-mii: That the building hitherto used as a school he purchased by the board, provided suitable arrangements can be made.--Agreed to. INSPECTION OF HIIVATE SCHOOLS. T|ho Inspector-general wrote advising that provision had been .made in the current year's appropriations for the payment of grants to Education Boards in aid of the cost, of inspection of private schools -the grant would bo paid as follows:— (a) £1 for each private school inspected under section 170 of "The Fxlucaton Act, 1908," during the year; and (b) o<l tor each pupil present at the time of inspection. Tho board should, after tho cose of Ihe year, forward a, -return giving the name of each school so - inspected, its loeaMy, and the number of pupils present at the date of in3pection. r ßecoived. teachers' SALARIES. A telegram was read from, the Education Department, a. copy of which has already been published, intimating that the payment of salaras according to the now net would date from January I,' 1909,—The communication was received with satisfaction, and it was further resolved to send a letter to tho Prime Minister expressing the thanks of tho board for the prompt manner ,n which he had dealt with the difficulty that had arisen, ' BIBLE INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS. In reply to the boat's letter concerning he proposal to increase the school time by half an hour one day a . week to permit of Bible instruction 111 school, the secretary 0 f the Tokomairiro School Committee wrote'On August 31 a deputation of the locai clergy was received at a meetino. 0 f tho committee 111 support of an application to imparl religious instruction during school hours. The rector was present by invitation, and his opinion was asked on the matter, *and he was averse to any 'inter-' ruption in the existing arrangement of the school, as he stated that it would seriously interfere with the work. After a fidl discussion in the rector's presence a rcsolution was carried-' That the request of the deputation be_ granted, provided the instruction be given at the close of the present school hours, and that - on, the day religious instruction is given the school should be dismissed half an hour later than at present.' It. is to the latter part of the motion, I presume, that the rector refers in his letter to tho lioard; and the object of the committee was to ensure a full attendance at the,classes for religious instruction, to, as far as possible, meet the wishes of tho deputation and at the same time not interfere with Ihe work of the school. It was also understood that any objections to the extea instruction would be sustained, and I believe the matter was brought directly under tho notice of all the parents, and the wishes of those who J offered any objotion whatever have been : receded. Any fow objections have come j from parents whose children are required' I to attend other classes for music,'etc., at ; the close of their school hours, and the ' committee thinks that these arrangements for religious instruction have so far been earried out without any resulting friction." The letter was received;' I'OMAIIAKA DOWNS. Inspector Richardson reported that the Popctunoa School (Pomahaka Downs) should be shifted to a site on section 6, belonging to Mr Erskin It was decided to adopt the inspector's suggestion and to pro- ! ceed with the removal of the building asobserved. TELEGRAPH CADETS. The Telegraph Department wrote asking for the use of a room in the Normal Sohool for the instruction of cadets.—The'request was granted l , and tho secretary was. instructed to see that proper supervision was observed. ENTRANCE EXAMINATION. i The inspectors wrote recommending that [ in - futuro no entrance examinations for pupil (eachors bo held—Consideration was deferred. i PUKE ISSUE OP SCHOOL-BOOKS. The Education Department's circular with reference to froo school-books for Standards I and II was referred to the inspectors for a. report. The board then' went into committee.