OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21829, 16 December 1932, Page 2

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING , The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was concluded yesterday morning. Mr James Wallace occupied the chair, and there were also present Messrs J. Smith, D. T. Fleming, E. H. Todd, W. M. Cooper, D. C. Cameron, and P. M'Kinlay. RESIGNATIONS. The following resignations were accepted :—Robert Brand, head teacher, Scacliff; Marguerite Murphy, sole teacher, Kelso; Charles T. Harman sole teacher, Spottis Creek; lona M. Marshall, sole teacher, Te Houka; Margery Kingston, sole teacher, West Taieri; Greeba E. Allen, infant mistress, Albany Street; Sarah Gillespie, infant mistress, High Street; Jessie A. MKclvoy, assistant, Forbury; Winifred S. J. Snell, assistant, Oaraaru South; Agnes G. Stenhouse, assistant, Teaneraki; Laura M. Morrissey, assistant, Waitahuna; Doreen M. Colgan, assistant (secretary), Roxburgh District'High. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made:—Cecelia P. Dark, sole teacher, Kakapuaka; Margaret A. Allan, sole teacher, Kyeburn Gwendoline ■ M‘Lar6n, sole teacher, Wairuna; Olive B. Walker, sole teacher, Wanaka; Charles T. Harman, first assistant. Kurow; Catherine Murray, fourth assistant, Kurow; Sarah P. Lawson, fifth assistant, Kurow; Greeba E. Allen, infant mistress, Anderson’s Bay; Sarah Gillespie, infant mistress, Albany Street. ALBANY STREET SCHOOL. A letter was received from the headmaster of the Albany Street School with reference to the condition of the class rooms. The writer stated that the walls were in a deplorable state, and there were holes in some of the floors. He asked that some renovation work should be done during the holidays.—The architect reported that the floors would he attended to, but the building was really done, and it was therefore difficult to know what to advise in connection with the walls. An extensive scheme of renovation could be carried out for about £l3O and a less extensive scheme for £SO or £oo.—The chairman expressed the opinion that the letter and the architect's report should be forwarded to the Minister, who should be asked what he intended to do in connection with this school. —This course was adopted. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS. The Hampden Committee applied for individual tables and chairs for the whole school, towards which it would pay twothirds of the cost and level the floor in the senior room. The total cost of the furniture would be £OB ss, of which the board's share would be £22 15s. — Agreed to. The St. Clair Committee applied for modern infant room furniture, and asked that something should be done to the Kennedy street fence to keep out intruders. The architect estimated the cost of the furniture at £IOO, and the work to the fence at £l4. —It was decided to erect a six-foot fence on Kennedy street, and to supply the furniture if the committee would provide onethird of the cost, j The Kaikorai Committee applied for i interior painting of the school under the No. 10 scheme. The architect reported that the interior was last painted in 1914. The cost of painting five rooms lit £2O each, and the corridor at £2O would be £l2O, less the subsidy under the No. 10 scheme of £lB, leaving £lO2. The Kaikorai Committee might be willing to assist. —The board was prepared to

do the work if the committee would provide one-third of the cost. OVERCROWDED ROOM. The headmaster of the Arthur Street School replied regarding the overcrowding of the infant rooms complained of by the school medical officer. He made certain suggestions for improvements which the architect estimated would cost £249. —It was decided to bring the matter before the department and to ask for a grant. TRAINING COLLEGE REPORT.

The following is an extract from the report submitted by the principal of the Dunedin Training College (Mr J. A. Moore): — “Our zest for work was further seriously threatened by the unsettled state of affairs with regard to the fate of the college for the year 1933. Even now it is not quite clear what is to happen as Parliament has just announced its decision in favour of the petition forwarded by your board praying for the retention of all four Training Colleges in 1933. Had such a decision been arrived at some months ago it might have prevented revolutionary changes in a time of unexampled economic depression, and would have afforded ample time for a thorough inquiry into the desirability of a closer union with the University. Some economical form of amalgamation might be possible which would result in a higher academic standard of attainment without loss in practical training. Notwithstanding the disquieting conditions under which we laboured, I believe that the high standard of efficiency of previous years has been fully maintained. Excellent results can be obtained by a small staff of efficient and enthusiastic instructors, when each cooperates harmoniously with the others in the best interests of the students.

“ In the past, four colleges have been found necessary for the effective training of teachers, and it is very unlikely that in future with an increasing population and a more generous scale of staffing fewer colleges will be adequate, when normal economic conditions are restored. It is to be hoped that not only the members of the Education Boards of Otago and Southland, but the citizens generally of this university district, will bear this steadily in mind, and when the time is opportune insist, in the interests of their children, on having their Training College restored.” GENERAL, The Broadcasting Board forwarded further information regarding the approximate number of schools where wireless seta were installed.—Received. Tim department advised that the Minister regretted that he could not accede to any alteration on behalf of children attending lighthouse schools. —Received. In view of the removal of the teacher of the Ilinahina School, it was decided to call for tenders for the conveyance of the children to Owaka with the object of finding whether this system would be more economical than re-opening the school. THE SEASON’S GREETINGS. At the conclusion of the meeting, (he chairman extended to members of the board the season’s greetings, and expressed the hope that next year would be a better one than this. The past year had, in some ways, been a sad year, ns two valued members of the board had passed away, and the financial position of the board had grown worse. He wished to say, however, that there had never been any grumbling about the lack of funds and, so long as a fair share of the money available had been given to the board, it had not considered that there was cause for complaint. The hoard had at all times received fair treatment at the hands of the Minister and the department. Referring to the staff, the speaker said lie could only be eulogistic, as every request had been

instantly acceded to and the service given had always been the host. On behalf of the members, Mr Fleming reciprocated the chairman’s greetings, and referred to (he businesslike manner in which the board meetings were conducted.