OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3084, 23 April 1913, Page 5

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Tho monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, held on the 16th, was attended by Messrs J. Mitchell (chairman), Borne, M'Kcrrow, Israel, Smith, Fleming. M'Kinlay, and tho Hon. T. Fergus. Claims for half cost of improvements were granted to Livingstone, Otepopo-

Pukouri, and Palmerston. The following works were agreed toßemoval of interior of residence at Kuri Bush, half cost of new boundary fence at St. Bathnns; painting and papering interior of residence at Waihemo ; plastering inside of concrete at Awamoko; provision of low combustion stoves for three rooms at Oamaru North; repairs to windows, new blinds at school, alterations and fencing, and now gate posts at the entrance to the janitor’s residence, Albany street; repairsto buildings at Kurow (both rooms not to bo done in the meantime); repairs to chimneys, etc., a - : Stirling ; repairs to chimney tops at Pukeuri, same tor Papakuio; half cost of fencing at Pitrckireki (architect authoiused to do what was necessary to foundations of building ),• repairs to floors and playshed at the Normal School; two new ventilators at Kaitanguta ; now outhouses at Moeraki; electric light installation at the School of Art, paper and paint to renovate three rooms, old Waiwera residence, and also new- tank. An application for a bath and extra tan.: at Tuapeka Sleuth was allowed to stand over, as also was x’ae question of fencing an area ot the glebe for the teachers use at Glenomaru. The High Street Committee applied to the board to enter into a contract for the installation of hot water radiators, the committee agreeing to pay' £2OO on completion of the work and xhe balance o.' its share, £B* 6s 9d. at t'.ie end of the current year, but no extras. —It was agreed to undertake the installation upon £2OO being paid over, and a sufficient guarantee being given for

the payment of the balance. Consideration of a request from Mr Barnett (Kakanui) for compensation in respcct of a weather board shod, \va* acid over pending a report by the architect. It was agreed to comply wiAi an application from Pbolbnrn for a shelter shed. In connection with an application for provisional recognition of the Roxburgh School as a district high seiiool the Inspectorgcnoral of Schools wrote that the department had always a reluctance to vs!a-d'.J.i a district high school with a guaranteed attendance of less than 20 pupils, and in the case of Roxburgh it would appear that such a guarantee could not be given if satisfactory arrangements for the conveyance of the Miller® Flat and Fit trick pupils were made.—-The matter was allowed to stand over pending a report by the Ohiet Inspector when lie visited the district. The Chief Postmaster. Dunedin, wrote stating that the department proposed to erect, at a co t of £29, an addition to the school buildings at Beaumont for postal purposes, and he asked if the board would guarantee to n fund had this amount when the post office was removed elsewhere on completion of tno railway lino to Beaumont. —Agreed to. Consideration of an application from Alexandra that the department be recommended to build an addition to the present school to accommodate the secondary classes was deferred. Maty I. Turnbull, Brian IV. Hcwat. and Nina M’Neill resigned scholarships, and the following were selected in their place; Francis 11. G. Johnston (Moray place) and Gordon E. M’Curdy (Ba’.clutlia District High School), junior scholarships of £lO each, and John 11. Palmer (Otago Boys’ High Seiiool), senior scholarship of £lO. Mr Royd Garlick, director of physical education, wrote forwarding an outline of the plan which the department had hi view for the introduction of ‘.he new scheme of physical education. The department realised that local cond.lions were an important factor in determining the times for holding teachers’ classes or camps, and would be pleased to consider any practical suggestion from the board which wou’d assist in framing an itinerary of classes. In conferring with the officeio of the Southland and North Canterbury Boards ir had been suggested that their teachers might be requested to forgo one week of their term holidays this year, and to have that week added to the Christmas vacation, and by the addition of that week to the vacation a fortnight would bo available for their instruction before opening the schools next year. If each board would agree to take its fortnight at a different date to the others, this would practically provide a way out of the difficulty, for" the whole stall of instructors could then proceed to one district and hold classes in different centres therein simultaneously. —lt was decided that, as the present instructor was resigning in 12 months, the present arrangement should continue for that period, but prior to that the board , would take into consideration any suggestions for the future. With regard to a memorandum from Mr Garlick on the subject of military drill, sent by the department to private schools, and dealing with a continuance of instruc- } tion in military drill by moans of junior f cadets, the board decided to ask head mae- [ tors whether they desired to continue cadet companies in connection with their schools. The Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board forwarded a copy of a resolution adopted at the conference recently held in

Wellington to inquire as to the prevalence of tubercular diseases, and the measures necessary to prevent their spread. It "as resolved that the hoard would gladly do all in its power to further the object the conference had iji view. At the same time the board pointed out that in many of the existing schoo’s it was the custom to conduct classes in the open air where the conditions were suitable. The board would bo prepared to co-operate with the Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard in bringing about the desired end.

The board dealt with several matters in Committee. It appointed Mr Nelson Isaac teacher of arts and crafts at the School of Art. Mr Isaac is at present teacher in the | Wellington Technical College. Mr Haro’d i C. Hall was appointed solo teacher at the i Karita.no School. This was until recently 1 a Native school, and has been taken oyer ! bv the Education Beard. Miss Catherine | Melville was appointed instructress in cookery. SECOND DAY. The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, held on the 17th, was attended by Messrs J. Mitchell (chairman), D. Borric, D. T. Fleming, G. C. Israel, A. MTverrow, J. Smith, and Hon. T. Fergus. ; RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. J The following resignations were ac- ! cepted :—E. H. Howard, headmaster, I llenloy; L. E. Ellisson, headmaster, 1 Walton; J. F. XU'emner, sole teacher, Ida i Valley; O. J. M. White, sole teacher, i Kokonga; C. E. Dent, sole teacher, ' Kuriwao; M. J. Swan, sole teacher, Lauder; J. R. A. Paterson, mistress, Port Chalmers; Ivl. G. Tough, mistress, Maungatua; A. C. Alexander, assistant, Aormal; M. H. E. Gordon, junior assistant, Cromwell; H. Woodhousc, lourth assistant, Mosgiol; E. D. York, pupil teacher, Albany street; M. Vlietstra, solo teacher, Whare Kuri; M. J. Macaulay, junior assistant, Balelutha; E. F. M. H. Paul, mistress, Lawrence; A. lloggans, first assistant, Tokomairiro. j The following appointments were made : i —L. E. Ellison, headmaster, Stirling, vice H. C. Jones, promoted; A. Hoggans, headmaster, Dnnback, vice J. Gray, real red; E. 11. Howard, headmaster, Biucspur, vice J. M‘K. Miller, transferred; I. Hubbard, sole teacher, Bald Hill, vice A. E. Adam, resigned ; C. E. Dent, sole teacher, Blackstone, vice G. MTvor, transferred ; Helen M. Tail, sole teacher, Big Hill, vice J. Bates, resigned; A. R. Richardson, solo teacher, Nevis, vice H. liawkes, transferred; M. E. Vlietstra, sole teacher. Table Hill, vice E. M’Mullan, transferred; K. M. Armour, sole teacher, Moa Flat, vice il. J. Bourko, resigned; A. C. Alexander, mistress, St Clair, vice 1. O. Cooper, promoted; E. O. Henderson, mistress, Awamoko, vice A. Prydc, resigned; B. Crawford, jnnr. assistant, Kaikorai, new appointment; M. H. E. Gordon, junr. assistant, Mornington, new appointment; 11. Woodhousc, junr. assistant, Macandrcw Road, new appointment; M. G. Tough, second assistant, Musselburgh, new appointment; M. J. Macaulay, third assistant, Musselburgh, new appointment ; M. J. Swan, junr. assistant. East Taieri, vice B. Luke, transferred ; E. B. I, Smith, junr. assistant, Kaitangata, vice E. F. Frazer, promoted ; 11. Bremncr, sole teacher, Saddle Hill, vice E. M‘Lellan, resignedG. Brown, solo teacher, Thapeka West, vice G. Swan, transferred; 11. C. 1 Hall, solo teacher, Karitanc, new appointment. On the recommendation of the Chief Inspector, Alcthea Wood was appointed a pupil-teacher in the Sawyer’s Bay school. COOKERY CLASSES. The Chief Inspector recommended that Professor Boys-Smith’s request that one of the cookery classes at Union street centre he placed in charge of two of the Home Science students, in order to give the latter practice in teaching, ho acceded to and that site be authorised to make a rrangements. ■ The recommendation was confirmed. BURNS - club scholarship. The Burns Club wrote offering a bursary of £ls per annum to a student of the Training College, to he selected by the principal, the holder to keep terms at the university. The object of the club in giving the scholarship was to encourage a promising student who was desirous of securing a university education and found finance a stumbling-block. The scholarship was tenable for two years. The Principal of the Training College recommended that the scholarship be awarded to Mr John Finlay, of Windsor. The offer was received with thanks, and the Principal’s recommendation was confirmed. VISIT OF THE NEW ZEALAND. The Inspector-General of Schools wrote as follows: —“By arrangement with the Education Department, the Railway Department will give free passes to school children in standards 4,5, 6, and 7, and also to any children in standard 3 who are over 11 years of ago, from places to which they can return the same day, to enable them to visit the battleship New Zealand by any special train provided for the purpose. The free passes will be extended to teachers in charge, but not to other persons. There must bo at least two adults in charge in each carriage. The board will, of course, make arrangements for

the proper care and supervision of the children during the journey and in port.” The secretary remarked that the Railway Department was communicating direct with the school 'committees. It was resolved to authorise the secretary to circularise the teachers, to ascertain the number of children and teachers for whom free passes would be required. TRAINING COLLEGE. The Principal reported that tho college had opened with 119 students in attendance. Of these 74 were first-year students, and 45 were in their second year. The particulars of university work done were:—2s students took mathematics, 43 economics, 19 senior Latin, 2 mechanics, 10 senior French, 56 education, 6 junior French, 45 senior English, 30 junior Latin, 4 physics, 32 jimior English, 19 mental science, 2 geology, 49 home science (preparatory to C certificated work next year). The subjects of physics, chemistry, and geology were almost wholly neglected, mainly tor two reasons: (1) Each science class implied two classes (one theoretical and the other practical, and therefore made a demand on the students’ time twice as groat as _ thj ordinary class; (2) science classes wore’ arranged at the university at such hours as to make it impossible for students to attend without serious injury to their professional training. The report was referred to the chief inspector for remarks. CROMWELL. The committee appointed by the board to visit Cromwell and report as to the best means of providing for the school requirements reported that it had viewed the present site and conferred with the school committee.' The ground was not very suitable, a largo part of it being a steep hillside. Tho school was a substantial stone building in good condition, but its situation close to a high hank and with, a limited area of level land abo.it it rendered further additions exceedingly difficult. The committee had made inquiries as to tho possibility of securing a more suitable site, with a view to the erection of a now school and the disposal of the present building and land, and it had come to the conclusion that, of all the sites suggested, that which would most completely meet all the requirements was a vacant piece of land, two acres in extent, vested in the Cromwell Borough Council. The committee had interviewed the Mayor and (several councillors on the subject of an exchange upon equitable terms. The terms since offered, however, were not such as the committee could recommend tho board to accept, and the committee therefore suggested that the Cromwell Council should be advised to that effect and asked to reconsider the matter with a view to a more equitable arrangement being arrived at. The erection of a new schoolhouse upon another site would entail upon the board an expenditure of fully £1250, in addition to the amount granted by the department for tho purpose of providing the increased accommodation that was required. The committee recommended that no action be taken in the meantime in the direction of adding to the present building, so that the local authorities might have an opportunity of showing a more reasonable disposition to meet the board in its desire to provide in the most perfect manner for the school requirements of the locality. It was resolved to forward a copy of the report to tho School Committee, and ask it if it had not another oiTcr on more favourable terms to place before the board. TENDERS. Tho following tenders were accepted: Palmerston, woodwork and scicnciK room, E. 11. Clark, £396; Nasebv, shelter shed, A. Ball, £44.