OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2975, 22 March 1911, Page 9

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Otego Education Board was held on the> lbth, and was attended by the Hon. T. Fergus (cnairman), Messrs P. M'Kinlay, D. T. Fleming, J. Mitchell, G. C. Israel, D. Borrie, and A. M'Kerrow. WOBKS, ETC. Half-cost of repairs was granted to the Otokia, Raniurly. Luggate, and Hindon Schools. The Patearoa School applied for the cost of exterminating the rabbits underneath the school and of some wire netting, also rent of hall and extra window in school.—Granted. The Clinton School Committee's application for repairs to buildings, etc., was referred to the architect for a report, while it was decided to pay half the cost of an extension shed at Owaka. It was decided to connect the residence of the head master at Anderson's Bay with the water service on the head master agreeing to pay the annual cost of the water. The Awamoko School Committee's application for new furniture for both rooms of the school was referred to the architect to report. It was decided to approve of the architect's recommendation that a new fence be erected around the Green Island School, and also that additional buildings be erected at the Balelutha School, and that a porch and gangway be erected at the eastern end of the infant room at the Caversham School. The following works were also approved: —Painting a room at the Blue Spur School; the painting of the Normal School Buildings; papering, etc., teacher's residence at Strath-Taieri; alterations at teacher's residence at Palmerston; improvements and repairs to the Mornington School; papering, etc., residence of head master at Waikouaiti; alterations to residence at the Walton School.—The application of the Enfield Committee for a fiagpole was declined. It was decided to grant the requet for a washhouso and tank at Brighton, the architect to at the same time to consider the installation of a bath. The request of the Moray Pliace Committee for permission to put in a gas stove in the gymnasium for a Girls' Scouts' cookery class was declined. The board decided to bear the full cost of the erection of a shelter shed at the Greenfield School.. The head master of the Hawea School wrote complaining of the inconvenience caused by the closeness of the teacher's- residence to the post office.—The ' Secretary reported that he had waited on the Public Works Department,, and had received the assurance that a new pest office would be erected on another site within the next two months. The application of the Oamaru South School Committee for permission to install American stoves in the rooms for the better heating of the school was agreed to, subject to the architect's approval and that the board be. not asked to bear any of the cost. It was decided to decline the application of the Purekiriki Public Hall Committee for the freehold of the site of the haJJ, the board having no power to sell. The architect's recommendation that the application for repairs and buildings and new furniture to the Saddle Hill School bo granted was agreed to. It was agreed that the name of the Lake Waipori School be changed to Berwick. It wa6 a.ko agreed to allow Mr W. B. Rogers's house at Teviot Downs to be used as a household Gchool. The inspector was instructed to report on the application for the erection of a school at Balruddery. The inspector recommended that children be conveyed from Hunt's road to Owaka School. Agreed to. Consideration of the applications for repairs to the residences at the High Street and Arthur Street Schools was deferred. BE-.-TJTATIOXS. A deputation of Opoho residents, headed by Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P., waited on the board to press the claims of Opoho for a school for their district. Mr Thomson said the deputation was in . connection with the petition from, Opoho residents that a school be erected in that locality. The speaker said Opoho was geographically situated quite distinct from any other locality. The educational needs of Opoho were at pr-esent served by the NorthEast Valley axid George Street Schools, but the latter school was at least one mile and a-half from the middle of the district, and the way to it lay along tramlines and over roads, on which the traffic had considerably increased, espeeialij' the tram traffic. It was not particularly desirable for children to have to go that way to the school. The Ncrth-East Valley School was at present suffering' from congestion, especially in the lower standards, and the congestion was jikely to increase. At the present time There were something like 90 Opoho children attending schools outside the district, with 50 or 60 children coming on to school \ age. A school was therefore not only needed, but would at once justify its existence..' Ovev 150 houses were occupied in that part of the district, with more houses going up, and it was hoped very shortly to see an extension of the tram service taken up by the cemetery to servo that portion of the lull.

Mr E". P. Harvey said he thought the on}y objection, if any, to their view would come from an interested source—namely, the George Street and North-East Valley School authorities. However, he considered that any such objection would ba a selfish one. He was quite satisfied to leave the matter in the hands of the board. When they had made up their petition they were very careful not to go outside the district for signatures. Ivlr Fergus* said they were very pleased to seo the deputation there that day. The board had long felt that the time must inevitably come when, provision would, have to be made for the extension of school accommodation in that part of the district. The North-East Valley School had grown very much, particularly in the infant department, and. recognieing that the need of something being done, the board had 'visited, with' the Inspector-general of Schools (Mr Hogben), all the congested schools applying for increased accommodation, and also had a look over possible places where further schools could be provided to remedy this congestion to some extent. They had visited the North-East Valley School, . and had also gone, up to Opoho. The number of Opoho children attending the Valley School was 37, and those going to the George Street School 35. The North-East Valley School was more fully taken up, and more than fully taken up. in the lower standards'. The George Street 'School, however, was not crowded in any department so far as they could see. The board had informed Mr Hogben that it understood there would be further demand from Opoho, and it was arranged that the board', after deliberation, should forward some recommendation to tha department. The speaker recog-

rised a good deal ot justice in. tsie deputation's request, which he said' •vrotud be fortified if there were l a considerable number of children under seven years of age. The board would have to make fuller investigation as to the facts of the case, and would inform the deputation of its decision later on. KINDEBGAETEN ASSOCIATION. A deputation consisting of Messrs James Allen and: G. M. Thomson, M.P.'s, and M. Cohen waited on the board to request permission for teachers and trainees to attend classes in modelling and designing at the Dunedin School of Art, and also that the Education Department be asked to permit trainees to attend some of the practical classes in kindergarten work at the Training College. Speaking of the last clause first Mr A'len said they were training their teachers very fully now, but they were not teaching them in this direction. He hoped the board would not make any change, as there was a free kindergarten, and they had to look for funds fromi the public, and to a subsidy from the Government. The subjects he would specify as. those in which they wanted free training were the history of education, drawing, singing, nature study, and the knowledge of child nature. They bad brought out an expert from, America to train students, but they did not have the fund to re-engage her on the expiry of her engagement. Mr Cohen said he considered the time arriving when the system of the free kindergarten should largely work into the State primary system, and this was the goal they were aiming at. The Chairman said he saw no reason, personally, why the modest request should not be granted, though it would have to be referred to the department. As to the request relative to modelling and designing, he thought that the board would probably consent if the pupils would take the whole course and thus give tie board a chance of getting the capitation. CHIEF INSPECTORS ItECOMMENDATIONS.

In reference to the Lawrence Committee's request that classes in woodwork and dressmaking be established, Chief Inspector Richardson recommended: (a) That application be made to the department for requisite furniture and fittings for dressmaking; (b) that application be made for erection of suitable buildings for woodwork and cookery and equipment of same, and for rent of temporary buildings until the permanent buildings are obtained.—Approved. ." The Chief Inspector also notified having started a class in woodwork at Bale-utha and an additional cookery class at Tokomairiro for Benhar, Lovell's Flat, Fairfax, and Stirling pupils.—Approved. On the Chief Inspector's recommendation it was decided that Ethel Lomas be transferred from George street school to the Mornington school, and that Margaret Nissan be aocointel probationer it Tokomairiro; also that Fred. J. Ashley and Mary Mackenzie be admitted to the Training College to till the two remaining vacancies as students under Division C. CAPITATION GRANT. Mr IMitchell gave notice of the. following motion :—" That the department having as from Jamuiarv 1 increased the per capita allowance by 9d, the committees' allowance be proportionately increased 1 for the quarter, and that intimation be given cf an intention to review rhe whole position.'' SECOND DAY. Thursday's meeting of the Otago Education Board was attended by the Bon. 'i. Fergus (chairman) and Messrs E iS i' K, £" lay, D. T. Fleming, J. Mitchell, G. U Israel, A. M'Kerrow, and D. Borne. The following resignations were accepted : —George A. Blackwood, sole teacher, Tarara; D. Stewart, head master, Model School; William Martin, first assistant, Morav Place; Wm. W. Turner, first assistant, Forbury; Vera Niool, mistress, Ngapara; J. D. Roulston, first assistant, Ravensbourne; R. J. Barrett, head master, Oamru North; Janet C. Wilson, sole teacher, Matau; Ethel E. M'Keliar, mistress, West Taieri; Margaret Mackenzie, mistress, Ravensbourne; Margaret M. Garrey, assistant, Oama.ru Soxith; Jessie M. Mitchell, mistress, Dunback; Hugh G. B. M'Donald, sole teacher, Lauder; David A. S. Walker, sole teacher, Waitahuna Gully; 'Ernest Marryatt, head master, Leith Valley; Abigail Monfries, sole teacher, Moa Flat; Violet B. Sinclair, sole teacher, Owaka "V alley. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made: Richard J. Barrett, head master. Arthur Street, vice J. H. Chapman (deceased); Wm. W. Turner, head master, Lawrence, vice John Robertson (promoted); Alexander Lake, sole teacher, Cambrians, vice D. A. J. Rutherford (resigned); D. A. S. Walker, second assistant, Mornington, vice H. R. Urquhart (resigned); James Lenihan, fifth assistant. Normal, vice E. Stevens (retired); Margaret Mackenzie, mistress, George Street, vice I. Turnbull (retired); Janet C. Wilson, junior assistant, Maori Hill, new appointment; Jessie M. Mitchell, junior assistant, Green Island, hew appointment; Mary H. E. Gordon, junior assistant, Mosgiel, new appointment; Ethel E. Maekellar, junior assistant, Musselburgh, new appointment; Rebecca Alexander, junior assistant, Maeandrew Road, new appointment; Isabella Blair, mistress, Waipahi, vie© J. G. Rsnnie (promoted); Florence A. Widdowson, junior assistant, Roxburgh; Violet B. Sinclair, third assistant, Palmerston, vice L. Beckingsale (resigned); Esther M'Mullan, solo teacher, Table Hill, vice A. Monfries (transferred); Victor H. T. Bremner, fourth assistant, Arthur Street, vice T. R. Ritchie (resigned). WORKS, ETC. The application of the Arthur Street School for the renovation of the teacher's residence was agreed to.—The board granted the use of the Normal School Gymnasium for the use of the Battalion No. 1 School Cadets.—lt was decided to agree to the request of the Oamaru South Committee that if its gymnasium was insured in the board's name the board would guarantee to pay over the amount of the insurance, in the event of a firo occurring, to the commit-ee, provided the money was expended to the approval of the beard.— The application of the Maeandrew Road School, asking that Standard I room be divided into two rooms and used fot Standards V and VI, was declined.—The question of painting the interior of the Waikouaiti School was referred to the architect to act in terms of his report.—■ Mr Gray, head teachea of the Dunback School, was granted an additional month's leave of absence on sick leave.— Mrs Robb (Pounawea) wrote withdrawing her offer to transfer to the board sections 30 and 31, block VI, Glenomaru. and the board deferred consideration in the mean-

time.—Mr A. Melville was appointed auditor of school camlmittees , accounts. It was decided to inform Miss Kean (Wharetoa) that the board could not see its way to recommend the committee to increase her salary. In regard to the sal© of grass by Miss Kean, and claims in regard to harvesting the crop, eto., from Mr Overton, the board declined to take any action. The chief inspector was granted permission to arrange for cookery classes at Oamaru for the schools surrounding Cfcmaru and for the appointment of a temporary teacher for same, subject to the board's approval. The director recommended that the machine construction class at the School of Art be discontinued at 31st inst., and that a trade class in modelling and wood carving be substituted during the winter months. Also that the winter session of the school conform as to dates.of opening and closing with the session of the Technical School.— Approved. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Fleming gave notice to move as follows: — That the board take into consideration the appointment of an instructor in agriculture, and that the ohief inspector be asked to report on the practicability of the proposition and its probable financial outcome. That the secretary prepare and lay on the table a return of the teachers who have been in their present positions for five years and over; that a copy be furnished to each member and to the chief inspector; and that the latter be asked l to report from time to time as to cases in winch transfers are advisable.