SOUTHLAND EDUCATION NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14441, 6 February 1909, Page 5

SOUTHLAND EDUCATION NOTES.

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. (Fuom Oun Own Coriiespoxdent.) INVFItCARGILL, February 5. At- to-day's meeting of the Education Hoard tl.« folio illy appointments were madeliioinbitry, William A. Diack, bead teacher; lnvercargill Middle, Ktiiel Harrington, seventh assistant ; (Kautau, Rosina, Daplyn, mistress. .Mr H. X. Wilson was appointed acting head master of the Wintan School till a peniianent- appointment ran he made, Mii« E. M'liut-ch:-soii to be acting assistant teacher during that period. Other apiwinlments were made as follow:—Uivorton, Ethel lie-er, relieving pupil teacher during the absence of Miss Marion Cavell: Feldwick, Emily Oroit, temporary role teacher; Kaiwera, William M. Ottle.v, temporary sole teacher; Manapouri, Isabella Brown, temjiorary sole, teacher; Aparima, Lillia It. Hamilton, temporary mistress; Fairfax, Mary I. Saunders. temporary mistress; Nol'ili Fonrst Hill, Myrtle A. E. Ifayward, temporary mistress; (Jarston, Mary llerlihv, temporary mistress; Limestone l.'liiills, Mary If. Frew, temporary mifilitss; Longbusli, Maliel Elizabeth Uarber, temporary mistress; Menzies Ferry, .Jane C. Graham, temporary n.'istnss; Paliia, Ethel (;, Deer, temporary mistress; Tarami.a, Nellie M'Ken/ie, temporary mistress; Jiyal flush, Annie I'rvdo. temiiorary Ulistlcsi; ; Waikaka. Valley, Mary W. Wright, temporary mistress; lnvercargill Park S'-'-lio.il, .Jane K. Garms-'in, pupil teacher (third vear): Tilbury, Isabella K. llaplyn. pupil teacher (third year): Keuninut-on. Mary ,J. Giiduey, pupil ttacVr (third year); Que enstown, Helen Tait. pupil leather (third year): Waikaia, Hugh G. Sproat, pupil t-cacher (second year); C'oluc Hay, Helen M. Twecdie. pupil teacher (third yc-:ir); Edeiidale, Mary Port-cous, pupil teacher (second year).

I'JiIVATE SCHOOLS' FXAMJXATION,

The inspectors reported that they had examined 520 pupils of private scliooks, which, at 6d pi-r scholar, meant that the board was entitled to £13. There was also to be added £3, £1 for each school inspected, which brought the amount uii to £21.

.Mr King moved—"That the report bo received, and the amount given to the inspectors." lie stated that it- mi«ht be said that, in the pant tl.e inspection of private schools bad formed purl of the inspectors' duties, and they were paid for the work in tl'.oir present- salaries, hut against this lie held the opinion that in a very short tin:c they would have to iucreii'ie the nunib.-r of in.sp-ectors, as they wore very much overworked. '

Mr hisher opposed the motion, on the giound that it was wrong in principle, and that any increase to the fapcctors' salaries should lie niatk in a proper way. The motion was eventually carried bv 4 votes to 5. TECIfXICA r, INSTRUCTION EXTENSION. The Executive C'onunitkx. of the Education board reported oh the recommendations of the Technical Committee rccoivcd at the previous meeting. This report was in effect:—(l) That a'grant of £2000 for additions to the Technical School h iivin# tieeu placed on the Estimates, the plans 1>! adopted and tenders called; (2) that the report of the director on the work of the evening classes be mrived; (7>) that, in conjunction with the High Schools' Board and on condition that that body provides .6100 per annum towards the 'wlarv account, applications be invited for ail artmaster for the art department in the letiiuiral School at £225 per annum; (4) that the contr.il of Ihe Core clashes lie handed to the Gore Iligh Schools' Hoard ; (5) that the scheme for the extension of tlio woodwork and cookery classes to country schools be approved. Clause 3 was referred back to the committee for further consideration, and the other clauses were adopted.

Mr 'J lio:um«i said the time had come for the establishment of technical schools in the country, as 1-lie country children were nil i-eceiving the benefits of the scheme. '1 he erect ion and equipim-nf of a building in Invenargill had cost £750, •rod attending the s-ehool were 355 boys and 331 girls lrom eiidit schools, or a hit a! of 686 pupils, Lnder the scheme which the director of technical instruction had Mibruitted 15 schools wc-iild be benefited, embracing 570 boye and 497 girls, or a total of 1067. and the expenditure in providing accommodation in the two centres—one in the Eastern and the oilier in the Western district—would he £1600—£750 ill each. The new regulat.'.ons would come into force slioitly, and the hoard would receive sufficient money to pay for goad instructors ami all the expense in connection with the schools. The Dominion was spending £56,000 on technical iiintruction, and the country was entitled to the benetils of such instruction. Oiiis should receive instruction in ooakerv and bovs in woodwork. The St'ilo had mado provision for this, and it was the board's duly to see that Hie ronuliy children, as far as possible, go'. Ilie bandits. I'a.vlnent- was on the capiiatiin basis, and 'the scheme of the intruder had the approval of the inspectors and the sympathy of the head teachers of the schools adjacent to the railways. lie thus thought the board should deal with the niattei promptly and endeavour to inaugurate instruction in those two subjects. He was going to do all he. could to tee that- children in the country were provided with facilities (or obtaining that instruction hrcanse they desired it. lie hoped the Executive Committee would lepoi't to the board that tlio director be advised to proceed with the scheme, which was an excellent- one.

.vie Anderson objected to £2000 being expended on what was practically a museum for Inverciirgill. Technical education would not benefit to any extent from if.

Mr Gilchrist moved that the report of the visit bv the Chief Inspector and the Director of Technical Instruction to technical schools in tlw northern districts be received, and that the inspectors and dir«tor be asked to meet the board and consider more fully the question of teaching elementary agriculture in the schools. Jllr (iilchrisf said be bad thought of including the members of the Teachers' Institute, but that could he done later. The report had been interesting and useful. It was useful to know that. Southland was abreast, of the northern centres in technical instruction, lie was pleased that there was no recommendation to appoint- an agricultural instructor to visit, the schools, as much of the instructor's time would iy.; wasted in travelling. The work now being done was u.-M'td. and a good deal of agricultural instruction was being imparled in an indirect way by means of the woodwork classes. A boy. by learning joinery, would turn bis knowledge to account, in certain hmnchi's of farm work. Hi* referred to the opinions of recognised writers as to applying to farming the results obtained by experts. Xo difference should be made lietween town and country children in the matter of educational advantages. He spoke of the practical advantages to intelligent boys presented by a course of study of soil, plants, seeds, and insect life, lie did not favour school gardens, as they imposed extra physical labour on children in the countrv who

already had labour enough, but he was .in favour of small museums and libraries in country schools. Credit should he given to teachers for the agricultural instruction which many of them already- gave.

Mr Anderson, in s<?c->ding the motion, explained that hie remarks about- museums did not- mean tha-t he was opposed to such institutions, but that he considered thatthe. money granted for teclmical education slioiiid not- lie üßod to establish a museum for InverairgilJ. PERSONAL. In the matter of appointing an acting chairman during tho impending absence for seven months of Mi- C-rosbr Smith ill Mifi Old Countjy, attention was drawn by Mr King to the fact- that the chairnan's absence would aleo entail the loss of a representative of the board on the High Schools Uoivrd of Governors. He thought a repreeentative should be appointed to till Mr Smith's place on that body during his u-bsencc. It was point-ed out that the only way was for Mr Smith to resign, ajid this he frankly expressed his disinclination to do. Mr King OTcntaolly, said that lie wished tc pro-

test- against. members holding office when they were not. (in Mu> spot to lill lliem. The matter I hen dropped, and Mr T. Mac Gibbon was iippoiiilod acl-iny cliairir.n n. A cordial welcome was extended to Mr John Cowie on his Ihst appearance at the table after a trip Home. .Mr Cowie, in acknowledging the courtesy, meiiiioiud thai tlie only thing in which New Zealnu'l could learn from llk> system in the Old Country was in the matter of agricnlt-ur.il education.

OKXKHAL. Mr G. J. Anderfou gave not-ice to move at next meeting— 1 " That, regulation 6 of the scholarship lie altered to road: ' Kvory holder of a board scholarship shall, during the term of such Folwlavship. attend the neavest- highschc/ol in the Southland Education District.'" Inspector Mendrv made a sugge-stiou that the services of .Mr J). Tannock. of nmiediu. lie stcurcd to conduct a teachers' Saturday training class during the winter months. It was mentioned that Mr Tannock had done valuable work for the Ota go teachers, and the. board received the suggestion favourably, and referred i! lo the executive for consideration. The inspectors recommended that, under gazetted regulations of December 18, 1.908, 16 probationers bo appointed to certain schools. The recommendation was referred to the executive to consider, with power to act.

(Pkr United Press Association.) INVKRCARGILL, February 5. At 10-diiv'6 meeting of the Southland l:\lucatijii Board a communication wan received from the Assistant Inspectorgeueral stating that railway, coach, and steamer fares at second class rates would bo refunded to e.very candidate who received ail offer of a junior national scholarship. Mr Fisher drew attention to the trouble that was always experienced by pupils in getting their school passes from the railway authorities. In no single instance had the passes been ready before the schools were open, and intending scholars frequently missed the first week at school, lie thought that all the examination results should in any ca.se he made known sooner. This year the results had come in in four different- batches, and the nervous strain, particularly to girls, was a serious evil in many cases. It was resolved to approach the department with a view to urging the advisability of having the results made known earlier and in one meesage.