OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 23

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD.

Tho monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, heid on tlio 12th instant, was attended by Messrs Fleming (chairman), M'Kinlay, Wilkinson, Livingstone, Todd, Borrie, Brugh, Wallace, and Horn. Tho following applications for subsidies for half-cost of repairs were granted':— Oamaru South, Wakari, Leith Valley, and Cavershain.

Drainage and other works at St. Bathans were approved, at an estimated cost of £3O.

The painting and papering expenses incurred at Miller's Flat (£23 16s Id) were approved l . Tho architect announced that ho would report later on Mosgiel Committee's application for extension of accommodation at girls' lavatories and for drinking fountains.

The Maungatua Committee's application for the painting of tho interior of the school was declined; as was a similar application from North Taieri, but in tho latter case plumbing work was approved. The teacher at Cromwell applied for the erection of a verandah at the residence. The architect reported that the cost would be "about £22 10s, material being costly now. —It was resolved that the matter stand over.

In connection with a request from Ardgowan (Tarras) for the estabrshment of a new school, it was stated that there were 14 children of school age, of whom seven attended Tarras School now. There were 12 children under school age.—Held over for inquiry by the inspector. . The Heriot Committee asked that a report might be obtained from the architect as to the -seating accommodation of the school, and' requested that the Spylaw School should be re-opened.—The Chairman stated that the board could not re-open the Spylaw School just now, but it was probable that it would be re-opened in March as a new school. —Consideration deferred for one month.

f The Education Department wrote that representations having been made to tRe department that the board proposed to remove one of the rooms at Waianakarua to Five Forks, it should be understood that if such proposed school would be within four miles of an existing school, or if the board intended to apply to the department for a grant, the Minister's consent should be obtained.—The letter was received, the secretary stating that it was not within four miles, and was not a new school.

The department intimated a grant had been sanctioned! for the erection of an infant,department at the Maori Hill School in brick, and the furnishing of it. A report as to the admission of students to the Training College next year stated that there were 70 vacancies. The number of pupil teachers and probationers desiring admission and eligible was 52. The number desiring admission but not yet qualified by examination was 21. Two teachers -at present employed in Otago and- one employed in Southland had applied for admission under division D. Seven pupil teachers and three probationers in Otago had intimated that they did not desire admission to the college this year. —Some discussion occurred in connection with the report, Mr Wallace remarking that they had at present in their service three teachers drawing large salaries who had not passed through the Training College. It was not right that men who did not take the college course should get the high positions, while others who went through the college got the lower positions. The board should take steps to enforce the point that all its teachers, unless .for very good cause shown, passed through the college. He moved that the eeoretary be asked to make a report, covering the past five years, showing the pupil teachers and probationers who had not entered the Training College and were still in the service.—The motion was agreed to. The Education Department wrote intimating that from January 1 next special concessions in salary allowed to married teachers holding commissions were to cease, and all teachers serving with the ' forces would receive defence pay only. The new arrangement was not to affect the teachers already being paid under the previous conditions, or those receiving commissions before January I.—The communication was received. The following results in connection -with the shooting for the Daniel Clarke Shield were received: —Oamaru South, 241 points, 1; Mosgiel District High School. 235 ooints. 2; Oamaru North, 225 points, 3. Twentyone teams had competed.—Reference was made by the Chairman to the recent death of the donor of the shield; and it was resolved to convey the board's sympathy to his relatives. A return furnished showed the result of the bottle collection for patriotic purposes by the children of the Dunedin and country schools. The sum received from bottles collected bv the Dunedin .schopls was £1673 13s 7d; that from the effort of tke country schools £B2B 14s lOd. The board expressed gratification at the splendid work done "by tho children and the 'committee. SECOND DAY. The meeting of the Otago Education Board was continued on the 13th; present— Messrs Fleming (chairman), Horn, _Wallace, Smith, Borrie, Wilkinson, Livingstone, Brugh, and Todd. The following resignations were accepted:—Minnie Eason, sole teacher, Tahatika; Susannah Hunter, sole teacher, Tuapeka Flat; Chas. C. Rawlinson, first assistant. Itorth-East Valley; Margt. A. Wilson, first assistant, JEZia Ora; Elizabeth M'Lean, junior assistant, Port Chalmers; Q. Evel : ne Coates, probationer, Kaitantrata. Appointments were made as under: Chas. C Rawb'nson k*ad master. Green Tsl-mH, vice Wm. M'Donald, resigned; Emily Webb, first assistant, Tokarahi, vice Annie E. M'Col!, transferred; Isabel M. Walter, first assistant. Fkur Swamp, viro Olive Anderson, transferred; Maud Facer, sole teacher, Matau, vice Elizabeth Welsh, resigned; Minnie Eason. solo teacher, Owaka Valley, vice Robina Kirk, transferred. Dr Sydney Allen waited on th° board to present a petition for tho shifting of tho Tahakopa School to a site at the railhivul Dr Allen said tint he presented tho petition from the Tahakopa School Committee. Ho was a director of a sawmilling company, which had erected buildings in the district, and all tho men working there wore married. There were at present 43 children and a prospect of more, sinco tho mill would last for at least 15 or 20 years, and much land would be cleared as the result of the operations. At present all tho children had to go one

inilo and a-quarter. to school over most terrible roads' and across the Tahakopa River. Dr Truby King was willing to present one acre and a-half of beautiful level land for a school site, and there w-as a public hall put up by the; settlers which was available for the school. They were also willing to help financially in any reasonable way in meeting expenses incurred in shifting the school. There was no doubt that the railhead was going to bo the centre of Catlins, so that the request was not one involving temporary work, but rather .one involving a transfer that would in any case have to bo made at no distant date.—-In answer to questions, the secretary said there were 17 of these children at present attending school, and 13 other settlers' children attending from the other end of the district. —The petition was received, and consideration was deterred.

It was resolved to pay half-cost of im provements at Tokoiti. -

Application was made for a new residence for the teacher at Otokia. —It was decided to have a new building erected as soon as possible. The architect reported on the cost of the proposed new infant department at Balclutha, and it was decided to forward a copy of the report to the committee. It was decided to renovate spare rooms at Waikouaiti at a cost of £l6, to make improvements at Ranfurly at a cost of £l3, to erect new buildings at Cambrian at a cost of £6O, and to give half-cost of fencing (£5 13s) to the SeaclifT Committee. The architect reported on the cost of a new school at Tuapcka Flat.—lt was resolved, in order that tho board might have all the facts, before it prior to proceeding, to call for tenders for the conveyance of children to Lawrence.

Tho board agreed to grant to the-Albany Street Committee one-third of the cost of asphalting and to give the Port Chalmers Committee a stfbsidy of £6 for asphalting.

Mr W. G. Wallace's tender of £2050 was accepted for the erection of an infant department in brick at Maori Hill. Tho proposed alteration of the boundaries of the Mosgiel school district to embrace part of the East Taieri district was the sub-" ject of further protest from the East Taieri Committee.—The Rev. Mr Kinmont and-Mr A. Miller waited on 'the board in support of the letter from East Taieri. —-After the deputation had retired it was resolved to take no action in the matter. Thi3 means that no alteration will bo made in the boundary. In regard to allowances to school committees for incidentals, the department wrote notifying a supplementary payment (on a graduated' scale), the payment to be continued from year to year until conditions became normal again.—The effect of the supplementary payment is that a little over £3OO will be divided among the committees for tho current year over and above the amount paid by the board as a war grant. It was decided to close the office from December 21 to January 14.

' The board ratified the following now appointments and transfers of pupii teachers and probationers: Pupil teachers, appointments: —Robert S. Harrison, High Street; Arthur J. H. Shaw, Forbury; Sheila L. Maclean, Albany Street; Vera M. Flamank, "George /Street; Grace I. Taylor, Kensington; John Henry Brown, Anderson Bay; Horace H. Hawkins, Lawrence ; William A. Ritchie, Macandrew Road; John Robert. Brown, Caversham ; George E. Wilkinson, Forbury; Reweti O. Mason, 'Balelutha; Winifred J. Musselburgh; James' Wi E. Mitchen, NorthEast Valley; Oscar C. Moller, Port Chalmers: Hazel M. Bell, Concord; David R. Lockhart. St. Clair; Florence A. Mullenger, Sawyers Bay; Allan G. Fleming, Macandrew Road; Ethel E. Botting, Port Chalmers; Leslie Brown, Maheno; Mary J. Spark, Kaitangata; George R. Kennedy, Oamaru North; Beryl O. Cooke, NorthEast Valley; Bessie Agnes Smitn Oamaru South; Dolly Wilson, Owaka).

Probationers, appointments:—Elsie A. Scoon, Tokomairiro; Alice A. Stringer, Palmerston; Ethel B. 'M'Kay, Green Island; Margaret T. Lonie, StrathTaieri; . Janet A. * Eaton, Albany Street; - Kathleen E. Walden. Kaikorai; Ethel I. G. Brownlie, .Tapanui; Joan D. Stephens, Alexandra; David W. Bews, Oamaru South; Mona M. Wilson, Maori Hill; Henrietta A. Boyd, Arthur Street; Ronald G. Lockhart, Caversham; James W. Armstrong, High Street; Alexander Polwarth, George Street; Hannah M. Sim, George Street; Hilda Beaufort, Kensington; Doris T. Renfree, Moray Place; Margaret H. Dallas, Moray Place; Jessie Saunders Campbell, Tokoiti; Jean Campbell, Oamaru North; Greta A. Hilliker, Sawyers Bay; Evelyn M. Hall, Oamaru Middle; Millicent- B. Potts, Walton; Annie D. Fraser St. Clair; Violet E. Scheib, Cromwell ; Amy R. Williamson, St. Clair; Stuart Sinclair, Kensington; Agnes Macphcrson, Oamaru North; Isabella L. Griff en, Caversham ; Victoria L. "Weaver, Alexandra. Pupil teachers, transfers:—R. M. Sullivan, Macandrew Road to Albany Street; M. A. Beattie, Oamaru North to Albany Street; Francis M. Kennedy, Maori Hill to Albany iStreet; 0. G. Grant, St. Clair to Arthur Street; E. M'Kinnon, Kaitangata to George Street; M. Gwyn, Owaka to Macandrew Road.

Probationers, transfers: —R. W. Moir, Tokomairiro to Arthur Street; Jean M'Donald, Waitati to Kaikorai; E. W. Maloeh, Seacliff to Waikouaiti; A. J. M'Gill. Port Chalmers to George Street; John A. Lockhart, Concord to Maori Hill.