EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 8

EDUCATION BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, held on Wednesday morning, was attended bv Messrs J. Wallace (chairman), G. Livingstone, G. W. Wood, R. H. Todd, L. Sanderson, .J. 11, Wilkinson, and me Hon. D. T. Fleming. APPLICATIONS FOR SUBSIDIES. The Hillend School Committee applied for a subsidy for the concreting of paths at the school and a square to drill on. —Referred to architect, with power to act. The Sutton School Committee applied for a subsidy for topping trees at the school at a total cost of £6. —Agreed to. A number of recommendations from the architect were received and approved. A number of applications from committees were referred to the architect, CORRESPONDENCE. Mr T. Read wrote offering to give two Wires ol land at Huddlestons corner as a site for a school in place of the Spottis Cieek School.—The Matakanui School Committee protested against the decision to remove to Spottis Creek one of the existing rooms at Matakanui. They stated that if they got six more children two teachers and two rooms would be required.—lt was decided to thank Mr Read for his offer, and to reply to both letters that the board had gone into the matter very carefully and could lot see its way to alter its decision. Replies were received from the Henley and Taieri Ferry School Committees regarding the proposal to remove tho present Henley School to a site on the Main road and till ■ closing of the Taieri Ferry School —lt w is decided to inform the Henley Conimi tee that the board was considering the wfa ile question of amalgamation, and asking if the committee bad any suggestions to offer. Petitioners for a new scliooi at Windsor Park wrote taking exception to some of tho statements made by tho senior inspector in his report on the petition, and fishing that their application for a school be reconsidered. They claimed that there were

not 17, but 28, children of school age in the district.—The matter was referred to the senior inspector to inquire into further. Mr John Wilson, Eauder, applied for an acre of land on part of section 21, block 11, Tiger Hill, near Omakau Railway Station, as a site for a new Anglican Church.—lt was decided to reply that the board had no power to sell the land, but was prepared to consider leasing it, Mr H. Fawcett, appointed head master at Waikouaiti, was granted permission to cut down trees close to residence subject to the architect's approval. The head master at Tuapeka Mouth was granted permission to let the school resi denco for 12 months on the usual terms. The Livingstone School Committee's application for an increase in tho allowance for incidentals was referred to the Committee on Allowances. The Evansdale School Committee wrote complaining that, although tw;o rooms of the school are now used and two teachers employed, the payment for incidentals is at present based upon the attendance as for a school of 21-35 (a sole-teacher school). They asked for an increased grant.—To be informed that the committee would get an increased grant next year. The department wrote notifying that the City and Guilds of London Institute has completely reorganised its syllabuses for the teachers’ examination in woodwork and model work, and that the new conditions are such as cannot readily be complied with by New' Zealand candidates. The department is therefore considering the advisabJity of conducting its own examinations in these subjects in future. The proposed syllabus and regulations were forwarded and suggestions invited up to August 51. —The letter was received. An Order-in-Council of May 31 last, listing the class-books that, up to December 31, 1824, teachers in public schools shall be authorised to require their pupils to purchase for school use, and providing that, during 1923, no change is to be made in the class-books the pupils have already procured, was referred to the board’s Book Committee.

SECOND DAY. The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was continued on Thursday. RESIGNATIONS. The following resignations were accepted: Thomas R. W. Coutts, head-master, Anderson s Bay; George A. Turner, head-master, BaJclutha; John Finlay, head-master, Blacks ; Norman P. Lory, head master, Hawea; David F. L. Campbell, headmaster, Pine Hill; Horace Fawcett, headmaster, Normal Model I; Cuthbert F. Arnold, head-master, Windsor; Margaret Kay, sole teacher, Ardgowan; Alfred R. Richardson, sole teacher, Awamangu; Ellen Shea, sole teacher, Brighton; F. J. Brook, sole teacher, Patearoa; Beryl O. Cooke, sole teacher, Stony Creek; Mabel E. MTntyre, sole teacher, Tarras; Jean PI. Whitefield, sole teacher, Spottis Creek; Frances Gray, assistant, Dunback; Angela Hastings, assistant, Forburv; David Forsyth, assistant, George street; Eliz. P. Dunn, assistant, Musselburgh; Isabel M. Walter, assistant, Waikouaiti. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made: Arthur O. Buchler, head-master, Kaikorai, vice W. C. Allnutt resigned; George A. Turner, head-master Oamaru South, vioo Wm. M ‘Laron resigned; Thomas R. W. Coutts, head-master, St. Glair, vice H. C. Jones promoted; Horace Fawcett, headmaster, Waikouaiti, vice F. Hilgendorf promoted; Cuthbert F. Arnold, head-master, Hampden, vice John Melville promoted; John Finlay, head-master, Lowbum, vice Gabriel M. Luke promoted; Norman P. Lory, head-master, Waiwera, vice W. Eggelton resigned; Grace I. Taylor, sole teacher, Henley, vice P. J. Palmer promoted ; Emily B. Sincock, solo teacher, Hyde, vice Robert W. Moir resigned; Elsie J. Watt, sole teacher, Otokia, vice A. Spears promoted; Percival R. Kennedy, sole teacher, Ratanui, vice C. 11. Taylor promoted; Ida M. Rabbidge, sole teacher, Sandymount, vice J. W. Armstrong resigned; Ellen Shea, sole teacher, Waipiata, vice S. G. M.‘Donald resigned; Jane 11.

\\ hitefield, sole teacher, Wanaka, vice V. Charlton promoted; Ella Stanwell, 9ole teacher, Whare Flat, vice R. A. Newman resigned; Fred. J. Brook, assistant, Albany Street, vice A. G. Robertson promoted; David Forsyth, assistant, George Street, vice J. H. M‘Phee resigned; David F. L. Campbell, assistant, Morning-ton, vice W. J. Bennett promoter!; Mary M. Hull, assistant, Alexandra District High, vice E. Bodkin deceased ; Margaret Gillespie, assistant, Balclutha District Pligh, vice Y. Elder resigned ; Alice G. Bodkin, assistant, Clyde, vice Annie D. Dunn promoted; Isabel M. Walter, assistant, Hampden, vice M. M'William resigned; Angela Hastings, assistant, Forbury, vice M. E. Rose resigned;'; Catherine T. O’Donnell, assistant, Teaneraki, vice E. M. Walden promoted; Mabel E. MTntyre, assistant, Arthur Street, vice E. Wilson promoted; Beryl 0. Cooke, assistant, Forbury, vice D. Y. Thompson resigned ; Eliz. Russell, assistant, Maoandrew Road, vice J. W. Traynor promoted. VACANCIES ON SCHOOL COMMITTEES. The following reports with reference to vacancies on school committees were considered : Kahuika. —It was reported that a full committee could be obtained now, and a request was made for official recognition.— Agreed to. Katea. —Mr Wood is absent from the district, and Mr Allison does not desire to act. —Mr T. Bishop to be sole commissioner. Puketi.—A proposal that Mr Sheppard be added fo the number of commissioners was agreed to. Pureldreki.—A notification was receiver! that Mr Caley declined to act.—Received. Tarras. —Tho Board was notified that Mr Peterson did not desire to act, and it decided to ask Messrs M‘Kay, Munro, and Colgan to act. Upper Junction.—A full committee is available. A request for recognition by the Board was agreed to. Pukeuri.—A recommendation in favour of the appointment of Mr H. M'Kenzie to complete the committee was agreed to. Ida Valley.—A recommendation that Messrs S. M‘Knight and James Scott be appointed commissioners for the year was approved. BALCLUTHA HIGH SCHOOL. The Hon. Mr Fleming moved:—“The board having fully considered the question of starting the new High School at Balclutha at the beginning of next year, that time appearing opportune from the fact that there is now a vacancy in the headmastership of the Baldutha District High School, and that while the number of secondarypupils attending the school is now 97, with the prospect of a substantial increase next year and the separation of the primary from the secondary is advisable as soon as possible, that while there may possibly be accommodation temporarily for the two schools in the present buildings the hoard is of opinion that such an arrangement even as a temporary expedient would not prove satisfactory as the dual control, apart from the congestion would lead to friction. The position might be met in a temporary way also by the erection of a temporary class room alongside the present building used for technical purposes, but this would further reduce the restricted playing area, which is not advisable. The board, therefore. comes to the conclusion that the most satisfactory course to pursue is to continue the District, High School until new buildings for the High School be provided on the site now in process of acquirement. In view of the unweiklv nature of the present combined school and the large number of pupils in the secondary department the board considers the establishment of a High School necessary at the earliest possible moment, and urges the utmost expedition in the completion of the acquirement of the land still required and the erection of the necessary building, and that the department he communicated with in terms of the foregoing, and be asked to concur in the postponement of the High School as suggested, and to expedite matters as much as possible.” The motion, which was seconded by Mr Wood, was carried. SCHOOL SITE AT WARRINGTON. A report was received from the Chief Inspector (Mr Fleming) on a petition by the residents of Warrington for the removal of the Evansdale School to a site recommended by them in Warrington.—The report was unfavourable to removal at the present time for reasons given. The report was approved, and it was decided to take steps to acquire a site suitable for a school. GENERAL. The architect recommended that repairs be effected to the teacher’s residence at Owaka, and also that a new tank and Waste pipe for a sink be installed at a cost of £4O. —Approved. John Melville (student) asked to be recommended for transfer to the Auckland Training College at beginning of next year, his parents having removed to Auckland.— Agreed to. The Tuapeka West Committee applied for a new fence at the teacher’s residence. The architect reported that tho cost of the material stated by the committee as requisite would be £lß.—Held over for further information. The Oamaru North Committee applied for a shelter shed for pupils’ bicycles to replace the provision previously made by it and utilised by the board for another purpose. The architect reported that the cost would be £32. — It was decided to erect one shed at a cost of £l6. . . . , The department wrote intimating mat it had sanctioned a grant for the purchase of a school site of four acres at Fembrook. —Received, tho Chairman remarking ti at the full grant had been made on this occasion. The Waitepeka Committee wrote asking for asphalting round the school and playshed, and also for an alteration of the school desks. —The committee to he asked what sum it would contribute towards the cost of asphalting. The application regarding the desks was referred to the architect. The headmaster of the Strath Taieri School wrote stating that he was willing to contribute £lO towards the cost of installing a hot water service at his residence if the board would guarantee compensation if lie left the house within three years. -Held over for a month pending the receipt of a recommendation from the architect. The Walton Committee reported that llie school was entered at the beginning of the current month, that books and papers were scattered about, and offensive writing done on both inside and outside walls of the

school. The matter had been placed in the hands of the police.—Received. An application by the Momington C immittee for hat and ooat hooks for classes in the gymnasium, at a cost of £7 10s, was referred to the architect to act, and an application by the same committee for an extension of the existing asphalt at the rear of the school was referred to the architect # for a report. A further application by the committee for the opening of the entrance doors outwards and for tie erection of a porch at a cost of £l4, towards which the committee offered to contribute, was referred to the architect to act.