OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 12

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

The monthly meetirz of the Otago Education Board "oa the \ r jth was attended by the Hon. I. Fergus (chairman), Mess).* Borrie, M'Kerrcw, Israel, Mitchell, Fleming, and the Rev,' I'. B. Fraser. works committee's report: The Works Committee recommended that : the following claims for half-cost be paid:" Brighton, enlargement of sheds, etc.. £2O; Cromwell, impairs to residence, £5; Duuback, fencing*; £J IDs"; North-East Valley, asphalting, £3;; Oamaru North, asphalting, £4 10s; Miller's Flat, asphalting pound for pound subsidy), "£4: That £lO be granted as the boards contribution to tho town water supply at Blacks and that £2 be granted annually for the supply of water to the school. That the architect call for. tender* for the removal of tho trees at the Tokomairi.ro School. 1 hat consideration of the application for improved ventilation for "the North-East S r al!ey Sehcoi be held over. .That the architect be instructed to carry out works as recommended by him at the following school buildings:--Cambrians, Chaslands, Lawrence, Luggate, Maruimato, Oturehua, Outram, Stirling, and St. Bathans. That the application for sinking a well at Hawea School be declined, but that tanks be provided in the meantime. That application be made to the Government for a grant for the erection of the necessary buildings in Wanaka district. That the tender cf Mr Joseph Manning for the- additions to the Evansdale School be accepted. That -"the tender for the erection of .schools at Tapui and "Kauroo be left in the hands of the chairman urrtil further information came to hand. That a copy of the architect's report be" forwarded to the School Committee at •Poolburn.—The report was adopted.COR iiESI'ONDEXCE. The board considered an application for the- establishment of a school at Springs,' and tho removal of the Hukinga building;. —Referred to the inspector for report. - The board also considered an application for the establishment of a school at Hunt's road. There were 34 children in the district.—Referred to the inspector for report. Tub railway . workmen at Pukepito appiied for a school.—The board decided to supply a teacher and furniture provided the department gave the necessary building. 'Hie Hampden School Committee in January had written protesting against the system of examination for proficiency and an account for conveying • pupils for proficiency examination had been forwarded by the Pukeiwitahi Committee. The letter and account had been forwarded io the department in Wellington, and tho Assistant Inspector-general of Schools now replied that the department was unable to see its way to make provision for the _cost of carriage in such cases. Under the regulations centres were to be within a convenient radius, and it therefore expected" that where a likelihood - existed of much disadvantage being experienced the board would, through its inspectors, arrange as far as circumstances permitted to reduce the inconvenience to a minimum by increasing the number of centres.—Copies to be sent to the Hampden and Pukeiwitahi Committees. A rely was received from the Education Department as to free passes for those attending classes in mannual and technical instruction to the effect that the Minister had decided to continue the privileges previously enjoyed at the; Government's, expense of free week-end railway tickets. It had been decided to impose, in connection with the issue of these tickets the follow-, ing conditions:—(l) "No"' teacher to travel on a free ticket to attend a' class that has not been approved by the department; (2) attendance registers to- be kept- for all approved classes, such registers.to he for-, warded to the department at the conclusion of the course in each case; (3) a teacher requiring to travel by .rail to attend an ap- . proved class to be admitted to such class only on the recommendation of an inspector, the names of all teachers so admitted to be forwarded to the department aii soon as possible.jailer the, commencement of the course;',44}i'i# genfersaj''no' ticket ■■;to beissued^ to a tei^ki^^iWMl^MU^'^^^ &^ce not less 'man"two is.: io, he' provided for; (5) ,be^Vailahle : - as--..-before*.;, from morning only; (6) < air ticketsto be issued subject to the further condition.thaf if a teacher fails, without- satisfactory explanation, to make at least 80 per cent, of attendances at an approved class, the boar? shall require such feacher to refund the d -at of the tickets

on which he has travelled. In case of default no further privileges to be granted. A later letter from the department stated that the maximum distance for which free passes might be issued would be laid down in Kos. 17 and 18 of the Railway Department's regulations (60 miles).— Referred to the insnector for report. . The' Waitaki Branch of the Educational Institute wrote asking that classes be established in Oamaru in connection with manual and technical instruction. —Referred to the inspector for report. A memorandum was received from the Education Department to the effect that the usual grant would be made this year for the establishment of special classes in connection with the Manual and Technical Instruction Act.—The matter was referred to the inspectors to bring up recommendations. A letter was received from the settlers at Kauroo stating that they were unable to meet the commissioner of the board to submit a site for a new school at Kauroo. The Secretary (Mr Pryde) produced a map of the district with the names of the settlers on it, and after the matter had been gone into it was considered that the site selected was in every way suitable for the present requirements of the district. A letter was read from the Albany Street School Committee objecting to the erection of the proposed veterinary college near the school.—lt was decided that the board would do what it could to protect the interests of the schcol. VARIOUS MATTERS. Consideration, of resolutions by various committees protesting against the withdrawal of the special grant of 9d per pupil for incidental expenses, and a resolution of the Dunedin and Suburban Schools Committees' Association asking that the board grant nssistance was deferred. Mr Goyen submitted a memo, on school libraries, and on the motion of the Rev. Mr Fraser it was resolved—" That the cordial thanks of the board be recorded to Mr Goyen, chief inspector, for his labour in nr'eparine so excellent a catalogue of books suitable for school libraries and school prizes, and for his interest in this question; that the board renew its recommendation to school committees and school i teachers to make use of tire catalogue and of the subsiding the bo».rd is orep-ared to ! 2'ives to establish school libraries; further, \ that there be laid on the table a return ef- the number of committees who have established libraries under the scheme, with ty,,. ifA.intt naif' The Secretary drew the attention of the board to the artion of the department in instructing the board to reduce the_staffs of tb° Hyde pnd Naseby Schcols. ~ He ouolprl the regulations and read correspondence which had passed between the board and th-e department bearing on the subject, and also the opinion of the board'6 solicitors, which suggested the view the board had taken in connection with the matter. The solicitor's opinion was that both schools ' were entitled lo the, staff thev already had. —On the motion of Mr Mitchell, it was resolved—" That the Minister be informed the board was advised by its solicitors that, the proviso to clause 2 of the staffs and salaries regulations, on which the department relied, was ultra vires, being in direct conflict with the act. While therefore ■accepting' the decision to permit ex ; etinar arrangements in the Naseby and Hvde Schools to- continue, the board declined to recognise any obligations to take the first opportunity of bringing the staffs of these schools into conformity with the present regulations. The sitting of the Education was ■ continued on t*»e 17th, and was attended by ; the chairman (the Hon. T. Fergus). Messrs ' Borrie, M'K*"*~ow. Israel. Mitchell. Fleming, and the Pov. P. B. Fraser. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs : Snow and Scott. ACCOUNTS." The monthly accounts noised for payment amounted to £11,8%. In this j month's accounts, however, is included the i quarterly allowance to school committees. - RESIGNATIONS. The following resignations were ac- j cepted :—John Matheson (head master. Strath-Taieri), Horace Fawoett (head master, Patearoa). Wm. G. Burns (head master, Purakanui). T'hos.. B. Pur.ves (sole teacher, .Kelso). ■-'Catherine do. G. Graham (sole : teacher, Reomoana). Janet L. Mitchell (sole teacher, Wangaloa), Eliz. D. Smith (sole teacher, Waitahuna, West). Grace M. Smith (sole teacher. Waihemo). Eliz. O. Cowie (mistress, Allanton), Ivy Cuttle (mistress, Momona), Lois A P. Whin am I (fourth assistant, Morninsrton), Eleanor W. j Mackisack (junior assistant, Tapanui), J

Irene N. Hurley (junior assistant, Outram). APPOINTS E.NT3. The following appointments were made: Robt. M. Taylor (head master, Patearoa), vice H. Faweett, transferred; A.- D. M'Arthur (head master, Hawea), vice W. Alexander, transferred; Catherine de G. Gramm (sole teacher, fc'outhbridge), vice M. Sims, resigned; Jessie Bradheld (sole teacher. Stony Creek)', vice J. Bowie, resigned ; E. B. Jeans (sole teacher, Inch Valley;, vice J. Gibson, resigned; Irene Barth (mistress, Eweburn), new appoint•ment; Lois A. P. Whinam (mistress, Maeandrew Road), vice A. Forsyth, retired; Jessie Kinder (mistress, Kurow), vice E. M'Lellan, promoted; Janet L. Mitchell (mistress, Waihola), new appointment; Emma Ewert (mistress, Hawea), vice J. Bradfiekl, resigned; John Mathe«m (first assistant, Kaikorai), vice J. Robertson, promoted; Wm. Renton (second assistant, CVyersham), vice J. Melville, promoted; Robert H. Wade (third assistant, Oamaru North), vice T. Davis, promoted ; Wm. G. Burns (fourth assistant, Albany Street), vice Wm. Renton, promoted ; Cath. Copland (junior assistant, Oamaru South), new appointment; Eliz. C. Cowie (junior assistant, Forbury), new appointment; Irene N. Hurley (junior assistant. Musselburgh), new appointment; Eleanor W. Mackisack (junior assistant, Morningion), new appointment. AN APPRECIATION. On the motion of the Rev. P. B. Fraser it was resolved—" That the board express its high appreciation of the long and enthusiastic services of Major Murray, of the North-East Valley School, in connection with the Public School Cadets, and its appreciation of his services as senior officer in command of the Cadets in the late review under Lord Kitchener, which have been recognised - in complimentary terms by the Commandant of the Cadet Forces of the Dominion. The board at the same time expresses its high appreciation of the excellent appearance of the Cadeis in the late review, which reflected such credit on the officers and teachers in the service of this board."