EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 17

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Ota,go Education Board was commenced yesterday morning, and was attended by Messrs J. Wallace (chairman), J. Horn, J. Smith, D. T. Fleming, M.L.C., W. H. Brugh, G. Livingstone, B. H. Todd, W. M. Cooper, P. M'Kinlay, and J. H. Wilkinson. UNEMPLOYMENT MATTERS. The Clyde Committee recommended the erection of a concrete wall round portion of the school property as a means of providing work for the unemployed under scheme No. 5. —The architect reported that the material would cost about £4O and the labour £2O. In view of the cost of the material he did not recommend the work.—The application was declined. The Ravensbourne Committee recommended various works for unemployed men, but the architect did not recommend them for unskilled labour. —The matter was left in the hands of the chairman, who was asked to have as much work done as possible. The Unemployment Board forwarded particulars of its No. 5 scheme.—The secretary reported that a circular had been sent to all School Committees, and so far 25 committees had suggested work which had been considered suitable. KUROW SCHOOL. The Kurow Committee reported that 13 children were taking a secondary course at the school, and it asked for a secondary teacher to be appointed in view of the fact that next year there would b’e fully 20 pupils. The chairman said that he believed that there would eventually be a secondary school at Kurow, but one could not be established without the approval of the. Council of Education. At present advantage could be taken of the correspondence course. The secretary was asked to give the committee full particulars of the position, and to state that if parents could give a guarantee that there would be 20 pupils next year application would be made for a teacher. The committee also stated that the roll number now stood at 288, and it was of opinion that a fifth room should be erected at the new school or it would be necessary to continue the use of one of the halls. Mention was made of the fact that the attendance was likely to • dwindle after the completion of the hydro-elec-tric works, the chairman, expressing the opinion that the conditions at the school were perhaps the worst in Otago. The secretary was asked to explain the position to the committee. EARTHQUAKE FUND. The director of education forwarded a copy of the letter from himself to school children which would appear in the next number of the School Journal, suggesting that the children give their pocket money to the Relief Fund. The board was asked to organise the appeal and arrange for all contributions to be sent to the office. The chairman said that while he would not oppose the scheme under any circumstances he resolutely objected to schools being made collecting agencies for any purpose. He had vivid recollections of his own school days, and he knew that those who did not give were “ well spotted.” The board agreed to organise the collection. REDUCTION IN BURSARIES. Mr R. W. Peacock, a third year Training College student, protests against the reduction being made from his bursary for the month of January. The chairman agreed with the writer that it was not right to deduct from the bursaries when the - students were led to believe that they were to receive so much a year. He thought that the department was starting at the wrong end. The board should draw attention to the fact that the students had entered into a bond with the department under which they were to receive a,• certain amount for the year. The amount deducted amounted to 8s 4d. Mr Cooper: As far as the department is concerned it is a mere bagatelle. The Chairman: No. It is a very substantial sum. , It was agreed that the board should protest, and that it should be; pointed out to the department that a protest would have been entered at the last meeting had the board not been under a misunderstanding when it received advice of the reduction from the department. GENERAL. It was decided to carry out repairs at the residence at West Taieri at a cost of £ls. Messrs M'Skimming and Son wrote stating that they had sent a pair of garden vases to the district high schools at Owaka and Palmerston. —The chairman: This is only one of many kindnesses.—lt was decided to write to the donors expressing the board’s thanks. A copy of the city librarian’s report on the school library scheme was received, and it was decided to thank the City Council for its interest.