OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 6

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Otago Education Board,' held on the 17th inst., was attended by Messrs A. MTCorrow (chairman), U. Borne, W Scott G. C. Israel, J. Smith, J. Mitchell, D. T. 1' leming, P. M‘Kinlav, and the Hon. T. * crgus. The Hon. Mr Fergus was welcomed back by the board, the Chairman remarking that he was sure members wore incased to sec their colleague in his seat again. Mr Fergus, in acknowledging the welcome accorded to him, said that while on his travels he had frequently thought of the board’s affairs, and of its meetings, and it had been of interest to him to visit the schools in Canada and the C rnted bfates as opportunity arose, and compare the black blocks schools there with the remoter schools of Otago He had come to the conclusion, and ho hold it very strong y, that the Otago schools could not be bear.cn much either in Canada or in the States. They had the same troubles there as wo had here in getting teachers for the numerous schools, and he thoroughly believed that in Otago we had a better class of teachers in small schools than America had. He found that the teaching in most of the Canadian schools was done by women, and tlie people seemed to appreciate this as a good thing, though, of course, the reason for the preponderance of women teachers was the same as here namely, that the salaries offered did not tempt men teachers. One thing he had noted about education matters in Canada was that there were fewer fads on the subject. In New Zealand we seemed to bo trying to teach a little of everything and not much of anything, with the result that unimportant things were magnified, and weightier matters excluded. However, that was not the time for a full discussion on such a big subject, and ho would close by repeating that ho appreciated the board’s welcome. The following applications for half cost of improvements were granted : —Clinton, improvements \to grounds; Ardgowan, asphalting grounds; and Oamam North, increased cost of asphalting. The following recommendations by the architect were agreed to:—Millers Flat, ■work on teacher’s residence, washhouse, ot ; Roxburgh, work on outhouses and verandah; Inchholm, painting residence; etc. ; Cromwell, repairs to teacher’s residence ; Naseby, repairs to school and residence, etc.; Waiwera, repairs to school and painting; Coal Crook, addition to school; Tautuku, outhouse etc. ; Sandymount, repairs to playground; Island Cliff, new outhouses and repairs to shelter shed; Akatore, repairs to coal shed. Applications from Ngapara for a new door, and from Papakaio for painting the school wore held over. It was agreed to sanction an application from Otopopo for furniture, the inspector recommending similar provision for other schools where an adult teacher was substituted foi a pupil teacher (Cromwell, Owaka. Totara, and Maheno).

Ardgowan applied for a shelter shed. — Referred to the architect to act.

Kakanui applied for a portion of the school "lol>o for the use by pupils’ horses.— Messrs Mitchell and Borrie to inquire and act if neocssarv.

- inch holme made a similar request, and also asked for a new teacher. —Granted. Colin H. Lindsay, a second year student, intimated (hat, ho had been ordered, on account of ill-health, to abandon teaching, and asked to l>e relieved from obligation of service.—Agreed (o on condition that the Department approved. Mrs Reilly asked that the Junior Board Scholarship held by her daughter Margaret bo extended for a third year. —The board regretted its inability to comply with the request. Leave of absence was granted to Miss Walton (Caversham School) in orcter that she might visit Britain.

The Roxburgh Committee asked that tho status of tho school might bo raised to that of a district high school.—Referred to tho Chief Inspector for report. Tho Educational Institute forwarded a resolution disapproving of tho exclusion of qualified and capable women from head tcachership of grade IV schools, when such positions had been created owing to an increase in the average attendance during their occupancv of the posit ion.—Received. The Otago Trades and Enhonr Council forwarded a resolution regarding the granting of leave of airs once on full pay to teachers and officers retiring from the service. —Received. Miss J. Maxwell forwarded a cheque for £2O as a voluntary contribution towards the further equipment of the North and Sou tit Dunedin cookery classes.—Accepted with thanks. Mr W. A. M‘Naught forwarded a cotntfcunication regarding pastoral instruction.

The inspectors reported that they had no recommendation to make a-s the subject dealt with was purely technical. —Communication referred to the rural instructors recently appointed. , Glcnlodi applied for a reopening of too school.- —The opening of the school was sanctioned, provided a teacher could be obtained at the salary available.

T 1 i-o Otago Education Board resumed its meeting on Thursday morning, there being present: Messrs A. M'Kerrow (chairman), Borrie. Israel, Smith, Mitchell, Fleming, M'Kinlay. and the Hon. T. Fergus. The following- resignations were accepted Robert 11. Hunter, headmaster, Lovell’s Flat; W. T. Slater, solo teacher, Kia Ora; W. 0. ('loss, head master. W aikoikoi; D. Barnett, sole teacher, Chaslands; I. M. M'Kcnzie, sole teacher, Hamptons ; E. Smart, sole teacher, W hare Kuri; R. W. S. Dotting, sole teacher, Earnscleugh ; Jessiq Manson, sole teacher, Clydevale; F. M. J. Bremner, sole teacher. Glenore; Margaret Burnside, sole teacher. Tokarahi; B. Craig, sole teacher, Waitahuna W. ; Margaret J. Shaw, solo teacher, Akatore; A. J. M'Kcnzie, sole teacher, Wanaka; Jean C. Sim, mistress, Strath Taicri; Annie C. Wade, mistress. St. Bathans; Ethel M. Murray,- mistress, Kaitangata; Isabella Blair, mistress, Waipahi; Mary S. Fisher, mistress, Beaumont; Phyllis Duncan, assistant. Oamaru South; Janet Allan, junior assistant, Mornington; Elizabeth Wilson, mistress, M'atakanui; Agnes S. Dodds, pupil teacher, Kaikorai. The following appointments were made: D. A. J. Rutherford, head master, vice J. Whyte, resigned; W. T. Slater, head master, Coal Creek, vice Miss Geddcs; D. Hartstongo, head master. Kahuika, vice Miss Gray; Mrs Ewart, sole teacher, Incholme, vice Miss Broome; O. J. M. White, solo teacher, Arthurton, vice Miss Taylor; M. G. C. Tough, mistress, Maungatua, new appointment ; Jessie Manson, junior assistant. Forhury; R. W. S. Betting, third assistant, Oamaru North; Emily S. Geddcs, fourth assistant. Port Chalmers; J. C. Fisher junior assistant, Clinton; Miss Gordon, junior assistant, Cromwell ; Miss Wilson, junior assistant. Wakari; C. M. Robertson, junior assistant, Mabeno; B. Craig, junior assistant, Owwika; Miss Blair, mistress. Wylie’s Crossing: Miss E. D. Smith, junior assistant, Clyde; Miss Luke, junior assistant. East 'Taicri; M iss Morris, junior assistant. Sawyers’ Bay; E. J. Hall, junior assistant, Totara; A. Morton, junior assistant. Ote popo; P. Garroy. junior assistant, Stirling; J. C. Sim, junior assistant, Waitahuna; Amy I. Dotting, junior assistant, Hampden; R. R. Hunter second assistant. Arthur street.

1 It %vas moved that Mr Israel anil the lion. T. Fergus bo appointed to represent the board on the High School Board of Go- , vernors as to Otago. i The Hon. Mr Fergus said that if they 1 put him on the board he wanted them to | understand that ho went on it with the , lirrn intention of having it abolished. The j work of the High School Board and that of ' the Education Board overlapped, and there were only two or three paying pupils in the Girl’s High School, and not more than half a dozen in the Boy’s High School, who were drawn from the District High Schools and 10 ordinary schools, and wh v they should have a separate body with all the paraphernalia of offices and staff he foiled to see. Ho wished them to understand this; that if ho was sent to the High Schools Board ho would go for the pur- ! ix>so of seeing it abolished. lie would do ■ his utmost in that direction. He was just i as much in favour of that course as he was i in favour of seeing the Legislative Council j very much reformed indeed. He would like ! them to know the position he took up. The bodv to which they proposed to appoint him had outlived its usefulness. ! The motion was carried, and Mr J. Mitchell was smilingly appointed to represent the Ixiard as far as Waitaki was concerned. | With regard to the awarding of five junior national and 10 board’s junior scholarships, the secretary (Mr Park) said that the reports from (he principals of the secondare schools ns to the progress, conduct, etc., of the pupils wore satisfactory. The information as to the results of the junior scholarship examinations wa« to hand, but the results of the senior had not yet been received, and the question for the board was whether it should now allot (ho five junior national scholarships and the j 10 board junior scholarships, or wait for the complete results. Mr Mitchell said he thought it was desirable to deal with the whole subject at ono tim‘. If the board proceeded to allot the junior scholarships then it could oi’v awaid the 10 promised, and that might load to disappointment. When the board had thn

complete results it might see its way to increase the number. He moved that the chairman bo authorised to convene a special meeting as soon as the information was available. The motion was agreed to. The reports for the “ third ” term on progress, conduct, etc., of the holders of the board’s scholarships sent in by the princinals of secondary schools were regarded as satifactory. In connection with the cookery classes at South Dunedin and Oamaru, the inspectors recommended that application be made to the department for a grant to cover the cost of providing linoleum for the floor, etc. —Agreed to. Permission was granted to the teacher at Glonomaru to let the glebe for one year for grazing purposes, on condition that it was kept free of rabbits and weeds. Transfer of pupil teachers. —In addition to the transfers sanctioned at last meeting, the inspectors recommended the following:—James C. Smith from Naseby to Alexandra, Miss Catherine E. M'Erlain from Outram to Mosgiel. Miss tt. C. M'Pherson, present assistant at Cavorsham, was appointed teacher to the second model school in connection with the Dunedin Training College. Accounts amounting to ££23o IQs 6d were passed for payment. The evening of Tuesday, February 20, was fixed for a special meeting of the board to appoint representatives on boards of management.