EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD

1 The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, held on the 14th, was attended "by Messrs D. T. Fleming (chairman), D. Borrie, W. R. Brugh, J. Wallace, V. M'Kinlay, J. H. Wilkinson, R. H. Todd, J. Horn, and J. Smith. The Galloway Committee asked that the school ground be fenced, at a cost of £4O. — It was resolved to ask the committee for an estimate of the work. The Pukctiro Committee asked for the erection of a new school building.—Referred to the chief inspector and architect for a report. The Otago Central Fruitlands Company was granted permission to construct a race through the school property at Bald Hill, subject to a supply being given for school purposes. The North-East Harbour Committee wrote stating that the bank at the side of the school was dangerous. —The architect reported that there was no present danger.— Resolved to forward a copy of tne report to the committee. The Sandymount Committee asked that modern furniture be installed at the school. —The architect reported that new furniture and necessary alterations to the floor would cost £6o.—lt was agreed to notify the committee that the board was dealing with cases of the kind as expeditiously as possible, and that its application would bo considered m due course. The architect reported that the Tuapeka Flat School building was done, and must be renewed shortly.—The matter was held over, but the view was expressed that it would be advisable to consider the question of conveyance of children to the school. • The agricultural instructors recommended that the scheme of seed collection by country school pupils be carried out this year on similar lines to last year, the proceeds to be devoted to patriotic purposes Agreed to. The Otago Educational Institute forwarded a resolution asking that the board instruct teachers not to collect moneys for war purposes (local ones excepted) without obtaining the board's sanction, and that before granting permission the board consult with the Emergency ■Committee of the institute. The institute also expressed the opinion that somo record of the aggregate sum contributed by the schools should be kept. This was done in Australia, where the children had raised £90,000.—1t was decided to receive the letter. It was reported that R. H. Wade, first , asi'stant in the secondary departrrent at Balclutha, had been accepted for military service; that Ezekicl Mawhinney, Iraining College student, and Horace W. Nind, probationer, Clyde, had been accepted, and would leave "for camp shortly; tha* Horace Fawcett, first ass : stant at Maori Hill, had been appointed field secretary .ure'er the Y.M.C.A., and would leave for the front about March ; and that W. J. Sparkcs, sole teacher, Kokoamo. had been accepted, and would leave for camp in February.—The board decided to grant leave in »aoh case.

SECOND DAY. The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was continued on .Friday; present—Messrs D. T. Fleming (chairman), W. 11. Brugh, J. Wallace, D. Borrie, P. M'Kinlay, R. 11. Todd, J. Horn, and J. H. Wilkinson. The Chairman referred to the death of Mr J. J. Ramsay, and moved: "The board records its regret at the death of Mr J. J. Ramsay, a former member of this board, and expresses its sympathy with his widow and relatives." —The motion was carried in silence, members standing. The following resignations were accepted: James Flannery, sole teacher, Coal Creek; Catherine M. Palmer, second assistant, Naseby; Frederick Grymes, messenger. Appointments were made as follow: Helen P. Don, solo - teacher, Taumata, vice Eliz. Welsh (transferred); Margt. Adams (Mrs), solo teacher, Purakauiti, vice Isabella M. Walter (resigned); Catherine M. Palmer, solo teacher, Slpylaw Valley, vice Jessio Foster (promoted) ; James H. Scully, first assistant, Alexandra D.H., vice Richard J. J. Burke (promoted).

Tho Balclutha Committee asked that the interior of the school buildings bo tainted. —The architect reported that tho cost would bo £l6O, and recommended that tho work stand over for a year. —Tho report was agreed to The head master of the Normal School reported that tho patriotic contributions, etc., by tho pupils of the school totalled £122 6s sd. The monthly payments of tho staff, varying from 30s to 10a a month, amounted to £306 19s 6d.—The board! noted with pleasure the largo amount contributed for patriotic- purposes.

The Taranaki Education Board asked the board to support it in securing adequate education facilities for back-block settlements.—lt was resolved: "That this board, while in sympathy with securing adequate educational facilities for back-block settlement, cannot say that it has much, if any, ground for complaint in this respect, and does not feel itself in a position actively to support the Taranaki Board's proposal." The Director of Education, Wellington, wrote: "I have to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum regarding the regulations bearing on certificates of proficiency. From the department's reply pointing out that the changes in the regulations were not 'drastic,' as characterised by the board, it might well have been inferred that there was no adequate reason against putting them into operation at once. No instructions have been given that only 60 per cent, of candidates ought to be allowed to pass."—lt was resolved: "That, despite the reply in this matter, this board is of opinion that an important change was effected at too late a period in the school year, and that it will continue to protest against any similar procedure in the future."

The secretary submitted a list of applicants qualified for admission to the Training College next year as students. Fiftythree applicants (males and females) were sitting or about to sit for qualified certificates. —It was decided to admit the qualified applicants. The following probationers were appointed to vacancies : —Kenneth Wm. Bennett, Arthur Street; Flora Christina MacGregor, Kurow; Marion Meklrum, Oamaru North; Ellen Beardsmore, Oamaru Middle'; Violet Marion Mitchell, Mosgiel; Annie Houston, Owaka; Marjorie Blair, Lawrence ; Mary Margt. Buchanan, Balclutha; Davidina Bethune Morgan, Naseby; Elk. Wright Malloch, Clyde; Alice Isabella Wilson, Cromwell; Robt. Wm. Moir, Toko mairiro; Ellen Baxter, Weston; Jeanie W. M'Donald,. Waitati; James Alex. Duncan, Anderson Bay; John Andrew Lockhart, Concord; Bethia Mawhinney, AlbanyStreet; Mona Mary Macdougall, Maori Hill; Mary Gordon Burn, Mornington; Margt. Scott Lonie, Forbury; Mary Yule Wallace, North-East Valley; Doris Labeth Wishart, Macandrew Road; Margt. Theodosia M'Dougall, Wakari; John Wm. Martin, Forbury; Gordon M'Curdy, Mussel burgh; Margt. Evelyn Thomson, Tokomairiro.

Tho following pupil teachers were appointed to vacancies: —Violet M. M. Fleming, Balclutha; Gwendoline Mawhera M'Lean, Alexandra; Johan Bower, Tapanui; Robert Thos. White, Waikouaiti; Vernon Hugh Hamill, Albany Street; Horace Henry Hawkins, Kaikorai; David Roy Lockhart, Green Island; William Albert Nehoff, Caversham; Herbert Walter Thompson, North-East Valley; lan Gordon MacLennan, Macandrew Road; Francis Martin Kennedy, Maori Hill; John Clifford Harris, Forbury • Mina Ross M'Leod, Forbnry; Linda Lynn, Macandrew Road; Esme Rana Bethan, Mornington; Esther Botting, North-East Valley; Daphne Gwendoline Carey, Wakari; Fanny May Chisholm, Port Chalmers; Helen Fairburn Allan, Caversham, Eveline Mabel M'Elrea. Arthur Street; Ruby Lily Agnes Meikle. George Street; Marcia E. Morris, High Street; Mabel Eliz. M'lntyre, High Street School; Barbara Munro, Kaikorai; Marguerita Murphy, Green Island • Nano Marjorie Fahcy, Kaikorai; Edna Clarice Bastings, Kaikorai; Eva May Turner, Ravensbourne.

Transfers: Muriel Beattie, from Oamaru North to Oamaru Middle: Ella Jane Grey, from Milton to Kensington.

It was decided to close the board's offices on December 21 and to re-open on January 11. The next meeting of the board will be held on January 23. 24, and 25. The Chairman thanked members for their assistance to him during the year, and expressed the hope that they would enjoy a well-earned holiday.