OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 4032, 23 June 1931, Page 7

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Oligo Education Board was opened yesterday; present—Messrs J. Wallace (chairman), D. T. Fleming, M.L.C., J. Smith, J. Horn, P. M'Kinlay, W. R. Brugh, G. Livingstone, T. H. Wilkinson, R. EL Todd, and W. M. Vooper. ST. CLAIR. . The St. Clair Committee made application for a window on the north side of tlie gymnasium and repairs to the Kennedy Street fence. The architect reported that there was no space available for a window in the north wall, and he did not consider the fence was in such a condition as to ftistify expenditure at present.—Committee to be so informed. MOSGIEL. The Mosgiel Committee asked that the aoard proceed with the central heating of the infant department, for which it nad Raised its one-third share. As the Government subsidy was not available, the architect suggested either coke stoves or aot-air stoves on the same basis as those supplied to Maori Hill.—Referred to architect to consult with committee with a view to supplying hot-air stoves, and it was decided to suggest that coke stoves 'ie installed, the board to pay half cost. KIA ORA. The Kia Oro Committee asked the board to make a grant of £5 towards the levelling of the floor, as the new furniture was not useable to advantage at present. The architect reported that the furniture could ae used on the platforms.—The architect’s report was adopted. GRADE SCHOOLS.

The department intimated that the Minister’s approval was now required to She reopening of a Grade 0 school. If the attendance was likely to be less than S, there was extremely small prospect of ffe-establishment being approved.—The tommunication was noted. SCHOOL AND CLASS LIBRARIES. The department intimated that no farther grant was available for the purchase of books for school or class libraries This year. It was moved: .That the board inform The parties interested that no further grants will be made for libraries. Mr Wilkinson referred to the advantages the city children had over country ehildren in the libraries in the city, and urged that every effort should be made ito assist country children in their reading. The motion was lost, and an amendment So the effect that the grant be available inly to country schools was also lost. CLINTON. The committee forwarded promises from parents showing that 21 children would attend a secondary department next year. They pointed out that two additional rooms would be necessary, as one section had already been in a rented hall for two years. The chairman said the position was pressing. Some of the children had at present to travel by train at a very early hour. It was resolved to send the committee’s communication to the department, with a request that all possible assistance be given. * GLENKENICH. Twenty-five settlers at Glenkenich forwarded a petition asking for the con tinuance of the school, and objecting to the conveyance of the children elsewhere. The petition was received. The board has not considered the matter ®f conveyance, though it has had under consideration the question of putting the School in a more convenient position on the .main road.

FORBURY. The Forbury School Committee asked the board and the architect to inspect the old part of the school building with a view to considering improvements. The chairman: What can we do with this? We cannot spend large sums just now. In reply to a question, the architect said the building was in a very bad state The chief inspector (Mr Bain) said fae rooms were in a dilapidated condition. li was agreed to inspect the building. MERTON-WAIKOUAITI CONVEYANCE. The D.O.T. Motor Sevice wrote stating that it was willing to take the childen from Merton Flat to Waikouaiti in the morning and return in the evening for the usual capitation, or about £4O per annum. The offer was accepted, and it was remarked that under the new arrangement the board would save about £lOO per annum. TAINUI. The Tainui Committee wrote asking that the board waive its claim to £lO 10s, half the cost of supervising the work done at the school by the unemployed. On the motion of Mr Wilkinson, it was decided that the committee be given till December 31 to pay, but the amount could not be waived. HOT SOUP FOR CHILDREN. ’ The chairman said he had approved of a circular being sent to all town schools inquiring how many children would be the better for a bowl of hot soup at midday. Replies from eight schools gave a total to- date of 219. Proceeding, the chairman said that some of the headmasters had brought this matter before him, as they considered that at present some of the children were not getting sufficient nourishment. He thought that in Dunedin they might utilise the board’s cookery centres. The scheme might be tried for a week or two. Mr Cooper: At whose expense? The chairman said it would at the expense of the board. The distribution would be the most expensive item. The nourishment would be taken to the children at the schools, instead of the children going to a common centre. He thought it would be necessary to carry the scheme on to the end of September. Mr Todd: I understand some, of the Schools now supply cocoa to the children. The chairman: Only to children who take lunch with them. We want some-

thing more than that. Proceeding, the chairman, said ‘the matter * was one of some delicacy.. The Salvation Army 'at South Dunedin was supplying soup to three schools at- present. In anything the board did, it did not wish to interfere with present arrangements. Mr Wilkinson said the board ought to show this interest in the children under its charge, and the chairman Was to be congratulated on having given consideration to . the matter. He moved —“ That the board authorise the scheme and appoint a committee to supervise and carry it out.” The chairman: I think there are little children who would be the better for some attention. A plate of soup and a bit of bread would be a godsend to some of them. Mr Livingstone seconded the motion, which was carried. The chairman expressed the opinion that in some of the bigger country schools the scheme might also be tried. It Was decided that the committee should consist of the town members of the board. GENERAL. It was resolved to carry out repairs, etc., at Tuapeka West School and residence. A request from Merton for repairs to outbuildings was referred to the architect to act. It was decided to make necessary alterations to the outbuildings at Tuapeka Mouth. The secretary intimated that the number of unemployed teachers at the end of May was 69, all but five having had some relieving work this year. At the end of March there were 83 unemployed teachers. At the request of the department, the board is arranging refresher courses for teachers in districts where the physical instructors are working. One was held at Alexandra on the 15th instant, and another will be held at Palmerston on the 26th. SECOND DAY. The meeting concluded on Thursday; present—Messrs J. Wallace (chairman), •T. Smith, J. Horn, D. T. Fleming. M.L.C., P. M'Kinlay. G. Livingstone, W. R. Bruch. R. T. Todd, W. M. Cooper, and J. H. Wilkinson. REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS. The Balclutha committee applied for improvements to the drains.—The architect reported that while water was a source of trouble, it could not be regarded as a very urgent matter, and he did not recommend the work in the meantime.— The architect’s report was adopted. It was resolved to carry out improvements at Totara, Moeraki, Hampden, Lawrence, Five Forks.

The Owaka Cemetery trustees wrote asking for assistance in renewing the boundary fence between the residence property and the cemetery.—The architect reported that the board’s share of the cost would be £7 2s 3d.—The request was held over in the meantime. The Clyde committee’s application for painting the paling fence at the residence was declined. The Maheno committee applied for a piping culvert in connection with a proposal to fill in a gully by unemployed labour.—The architect reported that the cost of the pipes would be £42. —The request was declined. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. Resignations were accepted as follows: Herbert M. Stevens, headmaster, Tapanui D.H.; Gabriel M. Luke, headmaster, Cromwell D.H.; Isabella T. Currie, head teacher, Pine Hili; Alfred C. Notman, sole teacher, Ida Valley; Janet C. Wilson, mistress, Roxburgh D.H.; Rachel M. Doak, assistant, Teaneraki. The following appointments were to be made:—Luke, Gabriel M, headmaster, Anderson’s Bay; Currie, Isabella T., head teacher, St. Leonards; Stewart, Doris M., sole teacher, Matakanui; Woodward, Roy, sole teacher, Moa Flat; Milne, Lauriston M., sole teacher, Popotunoa; Turner, Marjorie D., sole teacher, Kaihiku;_Notman, Alfred C., fourth assistant, Maori Hill; Weir, Clarice C. A., thirteenth assistant, Forbury; Doak, Rachel M., seventh assistant, Oamaru South; M‘Gregor, Robert A., first secondary assistant, Tokomairiro D.H. OAMARU NORTH. It was reported that the Oamaru North committee had brought before members of the board the matter of better lighting in the infant department, the removal of the hedge on the north side, and better exit arrangements in the main building. The architect was asked to report on these matters. KUROW. Mr Wilkinson reported on the visit of members of the board to the opening of the new school at Kurow. The school, he said, was one of the finest in Otago, and he was satisfied the provision of the school meant a great thing for the whole of that district. No doubt, when the hydro-electric scheme was completed there would be a decrease in the population, but many of the families would remain in Kurow. In years to come the district might be an important educational centre for North Otago, and if children from surrounding districts were to come in. it

might be possible to establish a district hjgh school there. The school was a credit to the board and to the department, al ?d the people were very pleased with what had been done for them and proud of their new school. It was decided that the school committee be thanked for the arrangements it had made for the opening of the school, and that Mr T. A. Munro be. thanked for the interest and practical sympathy he had shown in the matter of procuring a site and in the building of the school. TECHNICAL SCHOOL. The board was asked to fix the date for the election of the technical school managers, also the date on which was to be held the election of parents’ representative. —It was decided that the date he September 21. RATANUI. Mr T. Glass, Ratanui, wrote forwarding a petition stating -that the wives of householders had been debarred from voting at the School Committee election, and asking for a fresh election. It was stated that when Ratanui matters were before the board at its last meeting no mention was made of the wives of householders being debarred from voting. The petition was received. QUARTERLY ALLOWANCE WITHHELD. The board’s auditor wrote submitting a list of committees which had failed to submit their accounts. He also reported that one committee had declined to forward particulars of its locally-raised money. It was decided that, in these cases, the board’s quarterly allowance be withheld until the auditor’s order is completed. ECONOMY COMMITTEE. The Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) wrote on May 25 stating that hie < olleague, the Minister of Education (Mr H. Atmore) had advised him of the Otago Board’s suggestion that education boards should be represented on the Education Economy Committee. “ I have noted the request,” added the Prime Minister, ‘ and shall be glad to bear’ it in mind for consideration at the appropriate time.”

The chairman said he had replied as follows:—“As there is a rumour here that the Educational Institute has been promised representation, I would now respectfully suggest that the primary education boards at least receive the same consideration.” AWAMOKO. The Awamoko Committee wrote asking if it was compulsory for at least one teacher to remain at the school during lunch hour.—lt was resolved to reply in the affirmative.—The chairman said that

this question had arisen on previous occasions, and the board’s ruling had been that where there were two teachers in a school one of them should be in charge of the school ground in school hours.

GENERAL.

Accounts amounting to £19,617 Us Id were passed for payment. It was resolved—" That the Accounts Committee, with Mr Horn, be asked to bring up a report regarding the financial position of the board and its transactions, with a view to effecting economies.”

The Director of Education wrote stating that as a result of his recent visit to Kurow he had decided that the department could not approve of an additional trip to take the infant children home in the afternoon. The additional cost of 7s per day was not warranted, as the children could be kept busy with games, etc., by the teachers until the departure of the usual train.

The department having intimated that it could not grant more than the present rate of 16s 8d per school day, the Gladbrook School Committee approached the contractor, who agreed to reduce his contract price by lid per day, and the chairman sanctioned acceptance for a period of one year, the board to pay the additional sum (about £9 3s 4d per annum).

The highest tender for the lease of the Kokoamo glebe was that of William Hedley, £5 per annum, which was accepted. Committees were completed by the appointment of the following gentlemen:— Macandrew Road, A. Hunt; Waianakarua, R. C. Gibson and John Rawcliffe.

The Minister intimated a grant for remodelling one of the rooms in the Oamaru South School. The Oturehua Committee intimated the success of the first clean-up at the Golden Progress minej* which made it certain that extra men would be put on shortly. it considered that the school attendance would now be assured.

. The Technical Education Association intimated that the annual conference would be held in Wellington during the AuguetSepteinber vacation.—The chairman was authorised to attend, or to appoint another member to attend in his stead. Mr Andrew Barr, Blue Spur, wrote objecting to the Lawrence School Committee removing the Blue Spur School library.—Jt was decided to leave the mattter in the bands of the chairman and the secretary to make inquiries.