EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD

The Education Board met on the 22nd Just.; present- Messrs J. Wallace (chairman), B. Bailie, J. Smith. G. Livingstone. U. H. Todd, J. 11. Wilkinson, I'. M'Kinlav, W. B. Brugh, and the lion. U. T. Fleming. An application from the Luggatc School for subsidy (£5 2s 3d) on the erection of double and single gates at the school was granted. The following recommendations bv the architect were agreed to: —Tokorahi, repairs to tank; Port Chalmers, concrete hiii-in ::l tank; Beaemor.t, grant < f £\ for tilling holes in playground caused by removal of old schoolroom; Kvansdale. concrete tank and grant of £7 Is conditional iur repairing fences, grubbing gorse, etc. In regard to an application from ihe Tvaikcrai School regarding works promised, but n< : carried out, it was decided to forward to 1 in* committee ihe architect s reply. An application from Oamaru Middle for interior painting was not reecnimended, and owing to sirtahle local labour not being available at Hawea. and the teacher having agreed to live in the small rtsidence, renovations there were deferred - ' till the end cf the year. An application from Kakrnui for palming or distempering the walls was net recommended, nor was an application from 'j . komairiro for lire extinguishers, ti:i .. 1 ing considered too costly. It was decided, however, that the Hon. U. T. Fleming and the architect report in regard to the provision of (ire extinguisher?, the application being the result of a fire which took pi a o on the 3rd inst.. the framework • •! a grate being slightly damaged. The position of lire prevention was further considered as the result of a report, from tin tire inspector, who recommended that firn buckets be provided. At present 126 were stated to be necessary, and the probable cost would be fr< m 6? to 8s each. —Members took the view that the need of tire buckets was not, urgent. If the department considered them necessary', the department should supply them.—lt was derided to ask tln> department for the necessary funds. The Oamaru South School Committee applied for a curtain to prevent draughi in tho gymnasium, which is being used as a

classroom. An alternative suggestion was the erection of a beaver board partition oft high.—Architect to report. The architect was also asked to report on application from Good weed (clearing gorse and broom, repairs, etc.), Tomahawk (shelter shed, asphalting, garden tools, etc), and Waipahi (dark blinds to permit of lantern teaching). An application for the reopening of the Gimrnerburn School was reterred to the senior inspector for a report. It was stated that there were nine families, with 12 children of school age and six under school age. Applications for the letting of. the Kokouga School residence and tho Kia Ora glebe were granted on the usual terms. The Education Department forwarded a circular asking that publicity be given to Section 129 of tho Education Act which places upon parents, school teachers, and others wiio are aware of the place of residence of blind, deaf, or feeble minded children and tile owners of the places w here such children reside, the ivsxionsibility ot sending notification of the fact to the Education Department. —It was decided to send a c-opy of tho circular to head teachers, schdol committees, and the various newspapers. The secretary, iu response to a question, stated that there were 33 children attending the special school in Dunedin for feeble-minded and deaf children. The Education Department asked that as the board had at the end of lest year a credit balance in the Capitation for ffehool and Class Libraries account, and as the capitation payment of £285 10-. fid lor tne rear 1920 had since been paid, tne hoard might forego its claim for the capitation for the current year.—li was decided to forego half the grant and the chairman, the lion. D. T. Fleming, and the senior inspector were appointed a committee to report on how the available money should be utilised. Tho Department forwarded a, notification in regard to curtailment of expenditure. Tho Department intimated that a new paragraph was io bo inserted in tho Syllabus of Instruction providing I hat instruction in history and. civics should aim at i net filing in tho boys and girls love for their country and pride in the achievements of the race throughout, the Empire. Loyalty should bo tho dominant note and the

lessons should he selected and presented in j such a way as to lay stress on the need j for sympathetic co-operatio i between the ! various dominions within the Empire and j between every section of the community.— j Received. The Department to be informed j that the practice had been carried on in j Otago for some years. The Department intimated that the Gov- j eminent printer was making an estimate j of the cost of manufacturing large quantitles of school exercise books, pads, and j drawing hooks, and that estimates were also j being obtained from English firms. The j Department hoped to be in a position \ shortly to provide boards w.th information : on tho subject.—Received. A communication from the departmentwith regard to the interchange of teac-hers ■ was received. —The position caused some ; discussion, and it, was agreed that the board j should do its best in the matter. —The question was left in the hands of the chairman and the, ronior inspector, with power ; to act generally and in special cases to | report, to the board. SE: OND DAY. The ordinary meeting of the Otago Edit- j cation Board was continued on Thursday: ! present—Messrs J. Wallace (in the chair). I l>. AT Kin lay. J. 11. Wilkinson. R. 11. Todd, j 1). Borrie, James Smith, W. R. Brugh, ; G. Livingstone and the lion. D. T. TTeni- j = ng. ~ ' j RESIGNATIONS AND ATT 01 NT- I .MEATS. i The following resignations were accepted: I Walter B. Graham, head master. Toko- i mairivo D.ll. ; Phcebe lit. E. Hicks, sole teacher, Artliurtcn; Marjorie Gorman, sole teacher, Hindon; Winifred B. Inder, solo teacher, l.’atearmi; Margt. E. ITof. s<'!e | teacher, Tapui ; Kate Andrew, mistress, lerl.itry; .-Enid AT. Fleming, mistress, Owaka: Leith V. B a gley. assistant, Norm a 1; Kve - line M. Black, assistant, Naseby; Florence B. Corma<.k, assistant, Clinton; Ivy E. Duke, assistant, Wakari; Harriet E. Ash, assistant. Kaitangata.; Andrew ATil. Davidson. assistant., Kaikorai; Wilhelmina R. lieid, assistant, Kaikorai; .Catherine A. C. doG. Graham, ass is ant, Musselburgh; Grace M. Connor, assistant,, North-East Valley.

The following appointments were macte : Norman I*. Lory, head master, Hawea Flat, vice Francis H. P. Regers, promoted; Harriet E. Ash. sole teacher, Clark’s Flat, vice E. M'Mullin, resigned; Joah G. Tunnicliffe, sole teacher, Kr.huika, vice Thos. A. M'Keeman, resigned; Isabella- Kidd, sole teacher, Kauru Hill, vice Wnt. Morrison, promoted; Jane Whitdicld. sole teacher, Spottis Creek, vice Leslie F. Stewart, resigned ; John W. Duvwood, sole teacher, Tawanui, vice Geo. W. Thorby. promoted: Marjorie Gorman, mistress. Brighton, vic-o Veve C. Sinclair, promoted : Grace M. Connor. mistress. Papakaio. vice Ruth Bottinpr, promoted; Margt. E. Fleet, mistress, Windsor. vice Agnes Finder, promoted; Constance E.sihor, assistant. Anderson’s Bay. vice Ellen F. Fraser, promoted; Gilbert E. M'A’nan. assistant. Green Island, vice George Swan, promoted: Wilhelmina R. Reid, assistant. Kaikorai, vice Andrew R, Davidson, promoted: Ivy E. Duke, assistant. Morning-mu. vice K. W. Mackßuck. promoted; Catherine A. deG. Graham, assistant. Musselburgh. vice Jane Farquharson, promoted ; To. ■■line M. Black, assistant. North-Eu?t Y.-i. Hey, vi e Grace AI. Connor, promoted; Leith A’. BagTey. assistant, Normal, vice Gertrude C. Ala c - pherson. promoted; E. At. Fleming, assistant. Kaitaiig-.-i i a. vice Olive AI. King. Promoted : ATatv-ia Alc-rus, a-.-t-tant, Stirling, new appointment. TRUANT’ OFFICER’S REPORT. The Truant Officer reported that during the pa?t month two convictions had been obtained in the Magistrate's Court, Dunedin and four informations hud been laid for hearing at Port Chalmers. At the schools which he had visited during the month he had found that with the exception of pupils who were suffering from some form of illness (chiefly sore throats and heavy colds) the general attendance was very satisfactory-. The outbreak of diphtheria seemed almost to have spent itself, as the number of cases reported was very much reduced. The report was received. REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS. The architect’s recommendations regard ing repairs and improvements at a number of schools were adopted. These included the following items: Small tank at Wai-

kouaiti residence and repairs to fence at school ground; improvements to septic tank at Lawrence; payment of Kaitangata Committee s claim for a refund of £l3 10s 6d tor work authorised some time ago; supply of two galvanised iron tanks at Owaka; new fencing and repairs to fencing at Kia Ora; improvements to ventilation of the woodwork room at Oamaru. REQUEST FOR NEW SCHOOL. Messrs Ktanger and W. Young waited oil the board in support of the request that a school should he established at Clarendon. Mr Stnnger said that at the present time there were 14 children of school age at Clarendon, and t-ix under school age, all of whom lived outside the thicc mile limit. The residents would find the building themselves if the board provided a teacher. So iar as they could see there was little prospect of the attendance going down in the immediate future and lie considered the average attendance would lie very nearly 20. Some of these children —those who lived oil the other side of the lake —had seven or eight miles to go to school. The chairman said that on the information which the board had before it at present there was little prospect of establishing a school at present. He recommended the deputation to make a formal application in the ordinary way, alter which the senior inspector would be asked to report on the proposal. The board would do its best to meet the wishes of the residents. The deputation having retiied, it was decided to "hold over the matter pending the receipt of the formal application. GENERAL. Several residents of the Ngapuna district wrote again protesting against the validity of the election of the school committee and expressing dissatisfaction with the action of the board in upholding the election. The board decided to adhere to its previous decision. A request by the Ardgowan School Comlittee to remove the galleries from the classrooms was declined. Mr M. A. Kinney wrote asking that the school at his house (four miles from Hyde) should lie recognised us a household school. —T he senior inspector was asked to report. It was decided to make a grant of £2 2s to the Workers’ Educational Association and that Mr Fleming be the board’s representative on that body. It was decided to inquire when the public baths at Balelutha would be completed with a view to the board making arrangements for swimming classes at tho school. Accounts amounting to £27,835 2s 7d were passed for payment.