OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19257, 22 August 1924, Page 11

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was continued yesterday, ami was attended bv Messrs J. Wallace (cnairrnan), Jas f>rnith. Geo. Livingstone. K. 11. Todd. G. W. Wood. J. H. W\ lkl J?. son - G. K. Graham, and the Hon. D. 1. rlemAccounts amounting to £23,392 3s 9d wore passed for payment. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. The following resignations were accepted; Henry 0. Romans, head teacher, Clinton; Irene Taylor, head teacher, Henley; Dorothy 1C Appleby, assistant, Macandrew ivoad. Janet H. Wilkie, assistant, Musselburgh; Margaret M. Crawford, assistant, Tapanui District High. The following appointments were made: Hugh M'Feelv, head teacher. Upper Junction; David F. L. Campbell, head teacher, Walton • Mabel R. Hislop, sole teacher, Sutton ; Jessie S. Glengarry, solo teacher, Hindoo • Stella R. Webber, solo teacher, Kokoamo; Adam S. Paterson, sole teacher, Nevis; Hilda M. Nioolson, solo teacher, Waihrmo; Eli Wm. Cuttance. sole teacher, Fruitlands: Janet 11. Wilkie. assistant, Leith Valley; Mary E. Wilson, second assistant, Cromwell; Norah K. H. Newman second assistant, Hampden; Margaret H. Dallas, second assistant, Maheno. ATTENDANCE OFFICERS’ REPORT. The Attendance Officer reported for the month ending August 16 that he had visited the following country schools:—Kaitangata, Stirling. Balclutha, Glenore. Milton, and Milhurn, and found that, with few exceptions, the attendance was very satislaetory. With reference to the city and suburban schools, those that were affected for some time past by diphtheria were now back to normal conditions. There had, however, been one or two fresh cases reported recently in other parts of the city. Ho was sorry to report that there had also been an outbreak of measles in (he schools at Kelso and Tahakopa, both schools having to close for a few weeks. As regards Kelso, the head teacher informed him that the trouble was brought into the district by a family of immigrants who had arrived from England only a week or so previously. COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEACHERS. The Otago branch of the Educational Institute wrote forwarding an outline of the procedure it desired to have adopted bv the Education Board and school committees when complaints are made against teachers. The board was asked to draw up regulations that would embody the following principles : —(1) The board requests committees to do all in their power to uphold the teachers’ authority in the school. (2) When a parent had a complaint to make against the teacher the following; would he the procedure(a) The complainant shall make his complaint personally or in writing to the head teacher, but not in ibe presence or hearing of the pupils, (b) Should a satisfactory understanding not be arrived at the complainant may submit the complaint in writing to the school committee, which would immediately forward to the head teacher a copy of the complaint, and the teacher complained against shall be given a reasonable time to prepare his explanation, which will then be considered by the committee. (c) Any of the parties dissatisfied with the committee’s investigation has the right of appeal to the hoard, in which case all correspondence relevant to the inquiry will he forwarded to the Education Board—The Chairman said that was the principle they had always acted upon. I n the course of discussion, tho Chairman said he could imagine casrs in which it was much better straight to the school committee rather than to (he head master first.—lt was decided to reply that the procedure asked tor was that visually adopted bv the board. ' - ARCHITECT’S RECOMMENDATIONS.. Momona: The architect did not recommend the acceptance of a tender of £2O for topping trees round the school. It was decided to offer the committee £lO to carry out the work. Stirling: The architect recommended the carrying out of repairs to school and residence and supply of labour, at a cost of £ll.—-Adopted. Strath Taieri: The teacher applied for the provision of a petrol light service. The architect reported that the plant removed from the Milton residence might he used, hut ho would report definitely later on.— Received. George Street: The architect recommended the (1) carrying out of repairs to roof of school, and of (2) repairs to stairs in school; (3) he recommended that application for installation of electric lighting in school he deferred; {4) he recommended the preparation of plans for remodelling of school, and that first attention lie given to the infant department; |5) that additional furniture for infant department he supplied; and (C) that the fencing at rear of school he proceeded with.—All these recommendations w-ere approved. Spottis Creek; The school committee applied to have a division fence erected between Mr Harvey’s property and the schoolground. It applied also for the supply of an ordinary suction piimp for the school.—Architect to act. Kurow: Tho committee applied for repairs and improvements to water supply on hillside behind the school. The architect was granted authority to do what is necessary. GENERAL. The list of relieving teachers and teachers on such leave for the month showed a total of G(i casual teachers, 13 on sick leave and 5 on ordinary leave, making a total of 84 relieving teachers tequired. • Mr W. O. Thompson, of Middleman.-}], applied for the payment of hearing allowance for his two children during the winter months.—The secretary said the board had to certfify that tho road was impassable before the deportment would grant n boarding allowance. It was decided to send on the application to the department pointing out the special circumstances of the case. The reserved application from the Conical Hills School Committee for the erection of a teacher’s residence was declined. Miss M. J. Vickers (Training College) and Miss Eva Woolliams wrote applying for leave of absence to visit Britain ns exchange teachers. Miss Wooliianis’s application was endorsed and Miss Vickers’s application referred to the chairman and secretary to act in consultation with the principal of the Training College.

The application from Waitaki Bridge for a small library press was granted.