EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21004, 17 April 1930, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was held yesterday; present—Messrs J. Wallace (chairman), D. T. Fleming, M.L.C., J. Smith, J. Horn, J. H. Wilkinson, G, Livingstone. E. H, Todd, N. Coiquhoun, P. M’Kinlay, and W. E. Brugh. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. The following resignations were accepted:—Daniel Dale, bend teacher, Highcliff; Robert Brand, head teacher. Tokoiti; Anne v. Fraser, sole teacher. Glmmerburn; George A. Spears, sole teacher, Tawauui; Annie H. Y. Durward infant mistress, Balclutha; Jessie E. Macgregor, infant mistress, Lawrence D.H.; Florence Jones, infant mistress. Maori Hill; Beatrice Provo, assistant Henley; Daisy I. Boyd, assistant, Kaikorai; A. Irene Smith, assistant, Kelso; Helen T. R. Gourlie, assistant, NorthEast Valley; Ethel Jones, assistant, Otepopo; Rowland King, assistant, Tapanni D.H.; Agnes F. Wallace, assistant, Walton; Florence F. Rressey, assistant, Musselburgh. Appointments were made as under;— Henry J. Sandle, head teacher, Blacks; Robert Brand, head teacher, Scacllff; George Macdonald, sole teacher, Five Forks; George A. Spears, sole teacher, Henley; Alice I. Litton, infant mistress. Oamarn South; A. Irene Smith, assistant, Awamoko; Isabella I. Noone, fourth assistant, Cavorslmni', Jamas C. Ruins. third assistant, Green Island; Florence A. Smith, fourteenth assistin't. Forfaury; Aim B. Moir, fourth assistant, Kailangata; Daisy L Boyd, eleventh assistant Normal; Jean N. Hendry, assistant, Otenomomo; Ethel Jones, first assistant, Otepopo; Estelle B, Sqclen, second assistant, Ownka D.H.; Mary M. Coutts, third secondary assistant, Mosgiel D.IL OMAKAU CONSOLIDATION. The Blacks, Spottis Creek, and Chatto Creek committees wrote approving of the closing of their schools, and the conveyance of their children to Oraaknu.—The secretary stated that replies had yet to come from Matakanui, Lauder Railway, and Galloway, It was decided to again communicate with these committees. SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS. The Caversham Committee recommended the appointment of, Mr J. Reid to fill'tho vacancy on the committee.— Agreed to. Tlie Mornington Committee recommended the appointment of Messrs E. Sincock and J. G. Sainsbury to fill two vacancies on the committee. The North-East Valley Committee .recommended that Messrs S. R. Urwin. John Crawford, J. J. Paul, Harry B. Galland, Harry Thomson, and A. T. Jensen be appointed to fill vacancies on the committee. —Agreed to. SUMMER VACATION. The chairman and Mr Brugh were appointed to represent the board at the conference to bo held in Dunedin on the subject of summer vacation. ALBANY STREET. The department’s architect forwarded the plans of the Albany Street School. Certain amendments had been made to conform-with the requirements of the department, and the pinna had been re turned to Wellington. \ Mr Wilkinson said it was satisfactory to have reached finality as to the main proposals of the plans, and the work ought to bo pushed on, so that the build-ing-might he erected as early in the year as possible. GYMNASIUM ALLOWANCE. Tho Wakari Committee wrote protesting against the withdrawal of the gym? unsium allowance. Mr Wilkinson said there was a feeling that school committees were not being fairly treated in this mattqr, and . the board ought to let it be known that.it lind no sympathy with tho department’s action. A large amount had been raised for these buildings, and it was unfair that tho department should treat the committees as it was treating them at tho present time. A cheese-paring policy had been adopted to deprive tho committees of income that they were entitled to from the gymnasiums, , SCHOOL BOOKS, There was a complaint before last meeting that the parent of a Standard 111 pupil had to pay 10s Id for school books and requisites. Tho headmaster of tho school concerned wrote stating that tho Teacher of the Standard 111 class told her pupils to procure certain hooks and requisites, which should not have exceeded an expenditure of 13s o<l. The ■ children were not asked to buy any unauthorised book. The teacher also told the children she would accept any or dictionary, and they were not required to spend 8s 6d cdcli on those books. The total 13s 5d represented the price of books for the whole year, and in some cases for several years. Mr Fleming remarked that tho complaint did not refer to any country storekeeper or bookseller. Tho chairman said ,the books were obtained in Dunedin. It was stated by the chairman that tho following circular, dated April 4, had been sent out to head aud sole teachers: —- As several complaints have been' made to the board of’ the cost of school books and stationery, the board enjoins teachers to see that tho children are not asked to buy uuncecssarily expensive books or material, and that as far as possible the .cost is kept within reasonable limits. One list submitted showed an expenditure of 19s for a Third Standard pupil and another 7s 6d for n Standard I pupil. In one instance the teacher had herself purchased all books and stationery without reference to the parents and forwarded her accounts to the parents. One account for a Standard I pupil contained an itenJ of 3s for six 6d exercise books. Tho board considers that £or tho lower standards 3d exercise books should answer the purpose quite satisfactorily. Such actions shoW a lack of common sense and a want of appreciation on tho part of the teacher of the need there is in most homes tor exercising tho strictest economy. Teachers are again reminded that the children must not be asked to buy hooks not on tho department’s authorised list. ATTENDANCE REPORT. The attendance officer (Mr J. E. Ryan) submitted the following report;— ‘l be" to report for the month ending loth inst. that the attendance over the whole of the Otago District has been exceptionally good, the fine weather conditions and the absence of illness oi any consequence helping to a considerable extent in maintaining a very satisfactory average attendance. I may say that in many schools the pujfils in the standard classes arc averaging about 90 per cent, to 08 per e&it. of attendance. ■ , . With reference to pupils who nave obtained their certificates leaving school before attaining 13 years of age, a case from one of the country schools was recently reported, where a pupil gained her proficiency in December last year at the age of 12 years three months. As under ordinary circumstances no provision is made in the primary schools to continue pupils who have obtained their proficiency certificates, and as it was not convenient for the parents to send this pupil on to the district high school (about six miles distant) she was kept at home. However, when interviewed, the parents quite willingly returned the pupil in question to school, and the teacher has undertaken to give her Form 111 work in tho meantime. In eases of this kind I would he glad if the board could give me some indication as to what action I should take in the matter.

I may say that in the Otago district quite 08 per cent, of the pupils who gain their proficiency under 13 years of age go on to secondary schools. • It was decided that in all cases where a country teacher would find it hard to carry pu seventh standard work a pupil of the class referred to might join the department’s secondary correspondence scheme; the pupil to continue at the school, and, in addition to the correspondence course, to have the supervision of the teacher. CORP.ORAL PUNISHMENT. The chairman said that a circular had been sent out to head and sole teachers on the subject of cornoral punishment: — From time to time parents and guar dians report to the chairman of the hoard and at tire hoard’s office instances of what are considered unnecessary or undue corporal punishment on the part of teachers —particularly teachers of the lower standards. For the most part these complaints are made in a more or less unofficial manner and principally with the oh*opt of obtaining information as to the power of teachers and the hoard’s regulations relatin'? to corporal punishment. From the number of inquiries made, however, and after making due allowance for the fact that the parents for the most ’'art are relying on the evidence of ,their children, the board is led to believe that some teachers resort too frequently to corporal punishment. The board considers it timely, therefore, to draw attention to by-law No, 32, which reads as follows: — “Corporal punishment: Whijo not prohibiting corporal l punishment, the board enjoins teachers to have recourse to it sparingly and with due deliberation. Its frequent infliction is always to he accounted an indication ot defective discipline. The board views it as a serious offence to strike a pupil on any part of the head. Girls arc not to be subjected to corporal punishment unless in exceptional cases. The head teacher shall he licit! responsible for the discipline of his school and for the manner In which punishments are inflicted. In no case shall a probationer he permitted to inflict corporal punishment.” pead teachers arc requested to show this circular at once to all their assistants. The chairman said there was no suggestion of excessive punishment; the complaint was of the continual punishment of little children. Many parents were afraid to complain officially, because they thought punishment might bo visited on their children. He did not believe a teacher would do such a thing, hut that was the opinion of parents. One case of punishment mentioned to him was that of e child six and a-ha,lf years of age who had been strapped twice in a week. GENERAL. The Roxburgh Committee wrote applying for the completion of paths, etc., round the secondin''' building, at an estimated cost of £25. —G minted. The Mosgiel Committee wrote applying for hot-water heating in the infant department, towards which it would pay one-third of the cost.—The architect estimated the cost at £l3O to £l4O. Granted. The Cambrian Committee .wrote applying for a new play shed.—The architect reported that the school was without a floor. He asked for authority to do what was necessary. He also recommended that the schoolroom floor be levelled at a cost, of about £2O. —The matter was referred to the architect. The Totara Committee wrote asking for the erection of a new infant classroom. It would call a public meeting to arrange for funds as n contribution towards the cost. —The architect reported that, if the present classroom was to be condemned, a very large percentage of the hoard’s schoolrooms must he scrapped. He thought improvements in ventilation might ho advisable, hut nothing more.—lt was decided to forward to the committee a copy of the architect’s report, A protest against the legality of the Brighton School Committee election was considered and dismissed. It was resolved to inform the department that- the residence at Glenkennich was in a general state of disrepair. It would cost £OO to make good the interior, and the place was not worth It. The house should he condemned and house allowance granted to the teacher. —It was decided to apply tp the department for a new school.-—The architect reported that the present building was very old, and another school should be erected on tlio new site. It was decided to carry out renovations at the Purakanui residence at a cost of £35. The Peninsula County Council wrote stating that it did not agree that it had done anything to alter the course of any water.— The chairman and Mr Horn were appointed a deputation to meet the council, ■ The architect was authorised to act in the matter of tho erection of a concrete wall beside the creek at Lovell’s Flat. It was resolved to renew the application to the department for an additional room to house the secondary department at Ownkft. Tile Mil nurabor stands at 35, and the cookery room provides unsatisfactory accommodation. The date of the second election of school committees, where necessary, was fixed, for May 20. This closed the board’s business for the month.