OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 18

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

The regular meeting of the Otago Educa-. tion Board was held on the 20th, there being present-the Hon. T. Fergus (chairmani), Messrs Bowie, Scott, Fleming, Mitchell, M'Kerrow, Israel, and the Rev. P. B. The Works Committee recommended the following claims for half-cost for payment: Bannockburn, fercing, £2 10s; Kartigi, fencing, £2; Tapairai, fencing, £3; Training College, asphalting, £4 10s. The committee recommended tnat the architect be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the following new buddings authorised by the> Government:—\\ aitabuna, new residence; Southbrxlge, new residence; Mosgiel, additional, classroom; Rae's Junction, addition to residence. Further, that the offer of Mr Yorke (Waitahuna) for the sale of his residence as a house for the teacher be declined; that the application of the Houipapa Committee for additional accommodation be referred to the inspectors for report; that the application of the late teacher at Strath-Taieri for compensation for improvements to the buildings be declined; that the application of the late teacher at Miller's Flat (Mr Pilling) for a refund of 10s, cost of boiler, be declined j.that the architect be instructed to carrv out the following works recommended'by him:—Port Chalmers, improved ventilation; Moray place, levelling of playground ; Tapanui, painting inside of school; High Street, repairs to fences; Training College, covering and protection of windows; Maori Hill, new blackboard for school; Kensington, asphalting; Owaka, repairs to residence. That the followingapplication be held over in the meantime: Lawrence, alteration of septic tank; Portobello, repairs to school windows; Miburn, repairs to residence. That the application of the Port Chalmers Committee for a Dew drain be declined, and that notice be served on the town cerk if the board's objection to the proposed drain. That the eum of £25 be granted to the Owaka Committee for the completion and renewal of the fences and clearing and grubbing to the school grounds. That Mr Tubman (Ettrick) be informed that unless his purchase of the old residence and site be completed within one week the matter will be withdrawn. The committee recommended that the offer of Mr H. Lyall (Lake Waipori) of £l2 for the purchase of buildings be accepted.—Report adopted. An application for the establishment of a school at Springs was reported upon by Inspector Richardson, and approved. The approval apparently meant the removal of Hukinga School down to Springs Railway Station. A communication in this connection from the Strath-Taieri Committee, in reply to the department's memo, as to the conveyance of Hukinga children, was received ; the committee to be informed that the school was going to be removed. An application was received for the establishment of a school at Hunt's road. — Dr Don reported upon the application, and it was resolved that a copy of this report, in which it was stated that the school was not necessary, be forwarded to the applicants. A memo, was received from the inspectors as to free railway passes and the establishment of training classes, and it was resolved to establish classes in Oamaru and Dunedin, free railway passes being available for classes within 60 miles of these two places. A communication from Mrs Pearson, in which she asked that she might be paid for all children who went to School from Waikaka Valley, was received. The Educational Institute wrote asking the board to recommend that the midwinter holidays be held from May 27 to June 6, and requested that the usual circular be sent. —Agreed to. The Clyde Committee forwarded letters from parents objecting to children being taught in a shed.—lt was mentioned that the inspector stated that there was no necessity for taking the children into the shed, and that in fine weather they were better in the shed than in the school. —Letters received. The Railway Department wrote asking if the Clarendon children should travel free by rail to the Milburn School. —It was stated that the inspector's opinion was that free pusses were unnecessary for these children, and the board endorsed that opinion. The Board of Management of the Technican School renewed an application for an alteration of the regulations to admit of •holders of junior board scholarships attending the Technical School. —The Education Department had previously " pointed out that the Technical School could not be included as a secondary echool at which junior scholars .could attend, because the courses might vary from year_ to year, and /there was no security that the conditions laid down in the act would be permanently satisfied. The department pointed out, however at the same time, that if, in any year. the 'course of instruction were such as to make it the equivalent of h secondary school

it would be competent for the board to approve of the attendance of a scholarship holder, provided that he or she took a full course of not less than 20 hours weekly in a group of subjects substantially satisfying the conditions under which free places are held at a secondary school.—The director of the Technical School (Mr A-. Marshall), in a communication to the board, now stated that the courses were more extensive than the department had signified to be sufficient for junior scholarship requirements, the technical course involving an attendance of 30 hours and the domestic course an attendance of 24hours per week. On this information the board resolved to forward the particulars to the department for its permission that board scholarships this year be allowed to be held at the Technical School. Two more resolutions were received from school committees protesting against the reduction of grants, and also a reply from the department to the resolution passed by the board at last meeting. The latter was merely an "acknowledgment of the resolution.—lt was resolved that the matter be held over till next day, and that a motion be then passed by the board asking the department to restore the grants. The Inspector reported on the overcrowding in Albany Street School, and suggested! that the head master be instructed to reduce the attendance. The overcrowding was in Standards I, 11, and lII.—A copy of the report to be sent to the Albany Street School Committee and to the head teacher, and the board to take the matter into consideration at next meeting. Mr Scott gave notice that he would next day move—" That certain officers and teachers in the service of the board be at once notified that they will be retired on superannuation upon the dates set opposite their respective names, and the board hereby further resolves that in each case three months' leave of absence prior to the date of retirement be granted on full pay, as a recognition of the long services rendered by those named; and further, that as far as concerns the teachers named, intimation of the board's intention to retire them be ; given to the respective school committees." There are five names connected with the motion. .

SECOND DAY. The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Boa,rd was continued on the 21st, and was attended by the Hon. T. Fersrufi (chairman), the Rev. P. B. Fraser. Messrs Bsrrie, M'Kerrow, Israel, Mitchell, Fleming, and Scott. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. The following resignations were accepted : Arthur VV. Tyndall, head teacher. Bluespur; Archibald Thomson, sole teacher, Rae's Junction; Arthur Kerr, sole teacher, Tarara; John Williamson, sole teacher, Tahakopa: Henrietta A. French, sole teacher, Otiake; Hanrah Ewart, mistress. Lowburn; Jessie Paterson, Pukeuri. The following appointments were made:— Arthur W. Tyndall, head teacher, St rathTaieri. vice J. Matheson (transferred) ; John Williamson, head teacher, Purakanui vice W. G. Burns (transferred): Archibald Thomson, head teacher. Beaumont, vice W T. O. Kaye (transferred); J. J. Snence, sole teacher. Reomcana, vice C. A. Graham (transferred); Ethel A. Roewveare, sol© teacher, Gimmerbum. vice B. Gow (transferred); Henrietta A. French, sole teacher, Sutton, vice C. M'Culloch (resigned); Marion D. Stoel, sole teacher, Kelso vice I. B. Purves (resigned); Emily Mitchell, mistress. Momoaa. vice I Cuttle (resigned); Jessie Paterson, fourth assistant, Morn in aton vice L. A. Whinam (promoted); H az »l W. Ourrie, junior assistant. Balclutha (new appointment); and Mary J. Jackson, junior assistant, Outram, vice I. N. Hurley (transferred). ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £9898 5s lid were passed for payment. TECHNICAL SCHOOL SITE. The Director of the Technical School wrote that the Board of Management Committee appointed to consider "the of procuring a sit© for the extension of the Technical School buildings, or the erection of new buildinus on a more suitable site, had unanimouslv passed the following resolution : —" That this committee recommends that the Education Board be asked to grant to the Technical School Board of Management the use of the education reserve in Stuart street as a site for the erection of Technical School buildings. The writer asked the board's consideration of the matter. The Rev. Mr Fraser said he would move in connection with the matter. He believed that it had been the opinion of members of the board ail along that when a Technical School of an up-to-date character shou.d be erected for Dunedin it should te on the Stuart street reserve site TJn fortunately, the Technical Association was in possession, or had put itself in possession, of the bujlding that now went by tho

name of Technical School in Moray piece, and very large sums had been expended upon it to make it useful. Now it was found that it would not be suitable when day classes were established. The present position was that a large sum of money vas locked up in this very unsuitable building, and it had- become practically useless for day classes, and an up-to-date school for day classes was required. He wished to emphasise that the board should not assent to giving the use of the site in any form unless it was going to be used for a real up-to-date Technical School, and not merely a patch Of ground on which to make extensions., otherwise they would bo throwing away a valuable site and making it over to be used as a mere addition to the unsuitable building in Moray place. By making it a condition that the whole plant was to be moved to Stuart street, they were not hampering the cause of technical education in the city, but giving it an advance. He believed the Technical School . managers would not be able to go on with a new, school without a very substantial sum being got for the old building. His motion was—" That the board is prepared to grant to the Technical School Board the use of the site in Stuart street when the Technical School Board is in a position to place thereon an up-to-date Technical School." The motion was seconded by Mr Israel and carried. A GREENFIELD REQUEST. With regard to a request from Greenfield for a school residence, the secretary mentioned that there was a nice little school residence at Round Hill which would never be required, and it was decided that a request be made to the Government to provide for its removal. RETIREMENT OF OLD SERVANTS. The board then went into committee to consider a number of matters, among them being the motion concerning the retirement of five employees _of the board, of which notice had been given the day previous by Mr Scott. The following resolutions were passed unan i mously : "The chairman having intimated that the chief inspector (Mr Goyen) had axithorised him to say that it was his (Mr Goyen's) intention to retire on his attaining the age when he would be entitled to superannuation, consideration be deferred." Mr Pryde having intimated that it was his intention to retire on the 30th September, it was resolved 1 that in view of his long service he be "relieved from duties as from the 30th June and continue on full pay till the 31st December." "That the following teachers in the service of the board be at once notified that they will be retired on superannuation upon the dates set opposite their respective names, and the board hereby further resolves that in each case three months' leave of absenoe be ■ granted on full pay, as a recognition of the long services tendered by tho.se named:—D. A. Murray. April 50 1910; D. A. M'Nicoll, Julv 31, 1910; W J Moore, September 30, 1910. And, further, so far as the teachers named are concerned.' intimation of the board's intention to retire them be given to the respective school committees."