EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 14

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. On Wednesday the ordinary monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was held, there being present Messrs J. Wallace (in the chair), P. M’Kinlay. R. iu. Todd. J. Mitchell, L. Sanderson, J. Horn, M.P.j J. Smith, J. H Wilkinson, and the Hon. D. T. Fleming. The Architect reported that the work of removing and altering the residence at Ranfurly was finished and satisfactory. Alterations and repair work at Sawyers Bay were finished, the remodelling of the infant rooms at Musselburgh was practically complete, and the residence at Green Island had been renovated. Repair work at Macandrew Road was finished, roofing work at Oamaru South was in hand, repairs at Weston were finished, and the residence at Kurow had been renovated. Repairs were complete at Otiake, the residence at Totara had been renovated, and the work of renovating at Hyde was almost completed. Interior painting had been carried out in the Training College, asphalting had been carried out at Tahakopa, and workmen had left for Kahuika to take down the school hall and erect a shelter shed. Residents had held a meeting of protest, and the men had been withdrawn. Painting and papering had been done at Balclutha, repairs had been carried out at Kensington, Port Chalmers, Sandymount, and Green ' Island. Improvements at Ravensbourne were in hand, asphalting work was in hand at Broad Bay, Concord, West Taieri. Maungatua, and Kokonga, similar work at Beaumont, Edievale, Crookston, and Clinton was to bo started shortly. Asphalting work was in hand at the Sara Cohen Schoolinstallation work was nearly complete at Waipahi. and was complete at Clinton. Renovation work was in hand at Mount Cargill. The report was adopted. Tho Tapanui Committee applied for repairs to gates, etc. The Architect recommended that half cost of two turnstiles and the gate to the glebe be granted and full cost of a new 10ft gate at Technical School frontage.—Granted. The Henley Committee applied for the spreading of rotten rock on school grounds where the water lies. The committee thought that the board should bear cost as it put the school there against the wishes of the residents. The Architect reported that he would require to inspect the property. —The Architect was instructed to inspect the work and report to the board. The Kensington Committee applied for a new washhouse for the janitor’s residence. —Granted. The Head Master of the Albany Street School applied for furniture for the office of the infant department mistress. —Decided that application be made to the department for a grant. The Kaihiku Committee applied for half the cost of drainage work at the school. —The matter was referred to the chairman.

The Table Hill Committee’s application for repairs was approved. The Waihola Committee’s application for a stove was approved. It was agreed to erect a new dividing fence in the playground of the Macandrew Road School.

The Forbury Committee’s application for a new fence round the janitor’s residence, which was blown down in places by the easterly gale, was approved. Owners adjoining the Waitati School to be approached in regard to the bad condition of the fencing. The Architect’s recommendation regarding the interior of the Roxburgh School was agreed to. The Table Hill teacher’s application for a small cupboard was granted. The Waihola teacher’s annlication for electric light in the residence was granted. The Musselburgh Committee thanked the board for improvements to the infant room, and reported that a school fair was being arranged to raise further funds.— Received. Satisfaction with the activities of the committee was expressed. On behalf of the Howard League for Penal Reform, the secretary (Mr H. B. Elder) wrote stating that his organisation had been for some time interested in the work of industrial schools throughout New Zealand, and now took the liberty of suggesting that certain proposals would greatly improve the present system. As some difficulty would be experienced in meeting the increased outlay, the Education Department was urged to enlist the help of voluntary organisations and appoint an advisory committee. The proposals included the bestowing on industrial schools names which did not bear unpleasant associations, the appointment of house mothers and special teachers, and the improvement of general instructional conditions. —Decided to forward the letter to the department without comma

Tho meeting was concluded on Thursday, when there were present: Messrs J. Walt lace (chairman), J. Horn, M.P., R. H. Todd, Jas. Smith, J. Mitchell, P. M‘Kin-‘ lay, L. Sanderson, J. H. Wilkinson, and the Hon. D. T. Fleming. RESIGNATIONS. The following- resignations were aq; cepte-d : —H. Colquhoun, headmaster. Weston; P. R. Kennedy, sole teacher. Flag Swamp ; Brian E. Dickinson, sole, teacher, Oturehua ; Douglas R. Blyth, first) assistant, Green Island; Jane Pilkington, infant mistress, Macandrew road; Janet) H. Wilkie, assistant, Leith Valley; Marion M. Graham, assistant, Clinton; Mary S ; Malloch, assistant, Otepopo; Lucy R._ WiL lett, assistant, Papakaio; Jessie” S. Glen= garry, assistant, Sawyers’ Bay; Irene L : Kennard, assistant, Tuapeka Mouth; Mabel Anderson, eighth assistant, Mussel* burgh; Evelyn Gray, assistant, Kaikorai, APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were ratis tied:—Geo. A. Turner, headmaster, Moms ington ; Jas. G. Forbes, sole teacher, Pura= kanui ; Anne C. Fraser, sole teacher, Gim* merburn ; Ruth I. Kelcher, sole teacher, Tarara ; Vera L. Bateman, sole teacher, Taumata; Hercules Colquhoun, first as, sistant, Forbury; Brian E. Dickinson, third assistant, Green Island ; Leith V. Bag, ley, infant mistress, St. Clair; Emma J, Hare, infant mistress, Alexandra District High ; Ada M. R. Willocks, fourth assist, ant, Forbury ; Mary J. Godney, sixth as, sistant, St r lair ; Janet H. Wilkie, tenth assistant, " eorge street; Jas. H. Moir, subs, assistant, Tokomairiro District High; Thomas Thomson, sole teacher, 'vlerton; Stina B. Renz, infant mistress, Tokomai. rlro District High. TRANSFER. The following transfer was confirmed : John K. Thomson, woodwork instructor, headquarters, from Balclutha to Dunedin. APPLICATIONS. The Waipahi School Committee’s appli, cation for new furniture was granted ou the architect’s recommendation. In reference to Brighton School Com, mittee’s application that in view of the increased attendance, the hall be used in, stead of the school, the, architect reported that the school was actually much larger than- the hall, and that he did not con, sider the change necessary. The application was, therefore, refused. The recommendation of the senior inspector and the architect that application be made to the department for the erection of a secondary room and a science laboratory on the Roxburgh school glebe, was approved. The architect recommended that the application of the Oamaru South Committee to have the out offices of the school connected with the town sewerage system be granted, but stated he was unable to give an estimate of the cost at present.—The architect to furnish a report to be forwarded to the department. OWAKA SCHOOL.

The 'senior inspector and fhe architect recommended that no application for an addition to the Owaka school be made at present, as the attendance did not warrant it. Further recommendations were that the lighting and ventilation of the present upper standard room be improved, and the floor made level, and that such alteration as is necessary be made to the furniture in the rooms of the headmaster and the mistress as will enable them to exchange rooms, and so relieve the overcrowding.—Agreed that the recommendation be received and approved, and that the committee be informed accordingly. CLIFTON SCHOOL. A letter was received from the Education Department stating that if a small separate school at Clifton would provide education for the children of the district, it would be preferable to establish such a school. An inquiry as to how many children would be likely to attend was also embodied in the letter.—The Chairman said he would be visiting the district next week, and it was agreed that he furnish a report on the situation to the board. ATTENDANCE OFFICER’S REPORT. The attendance officer (Mr J. E. Ryan) reported as follows: —“I find there is quite an epidemic of severe colds prevailing at present, and the weather conditions' of last week seem to have made matters a lot worse, in consequence of which there have been very low attendances. Many of the large schools had as many as 150 pupils absent, on Tuesday last, and several had considerably more absent on the afternoon of that day. The infant department naturally suffered most. At Macandrew road school on Tuesday, I found that there were 81 pupils absent, all suffering from severe colds and other forms of illness. Many of the other schools are similarly affected.” The report was adopted.