EDUCATION BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 21 (Supplement)

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. At a meeting of the Southland Education Board yesterday morning the chairman, Mr P. A. de la Perrelle, presided over the following members: Messrs F. G. Stevenson (secretary), J. Robertson (senior inspector), J. D. Trotter, A. W. Jones, S. Rice, H. Smith, J. C. Thomson, W. Carswell and G. Johnstone. DEPUTATION FROM MATAURA. A deputation from Mataura School Committee consisting of Messrs Major and Coombes waited upon the board with the following petition signed by a number of residents in the district urging that the main building be immediately enlarged by the addition of sufficient properly equipped class rooms to accommodate the pupils of the infant classes. In addressing the board, Mr Major explained the reasons actuating the residents in drawing up the petition and said that some form of redress was desired. Mr Coombes also spoke, saying that he considered the removal of the infant school very necessary. Considerable danger existed in that the children had to cross a bridge and the railway line. The headmaster, moreover, could not carry out his duties at the two schools satisfactorily. Time was wasted in going from one school to the other. A new residence was desired for the headmaster. Mr Perrelle said that the board had decided to renew the application for alterations. Mr Jones stated that he considered it was sufficient to have the mistress at the infant school and the headmaster at the central school. He believed that the time was coming when a mistress would be more capable of looking after a kindergarten than a headmaster, as she would be more specialized. It might be a good idea to leave the schools separated. The cost of the buildings, £1750, was too much to be thrown away. He suggested that the board look into the matter carefully. Another member of the board stated that it was inadvisable to have tiny tots playing with the bigger children. As he considered the buildings to be worth more than £1750, it would be outrageous to ask the Government to scrap them because it was too far for the headmaster to visit. He agreed with the previous speaker that a mistress was more capable of looking after the children. Mr Trotter stressed the danger of modern traffic. Therein lay the danger of having the infant school separated from the main building. Mr S. Rice considered that the railway crossing was very dangerous. He stated that he would like to see both buildings under one jurisdiction as it seemed that supervision would be more complete. Mr Jones said that he thought the proposal was not a very sound one. The chairman assured the deputation of the board’s sympathy, but said he did not feel justified in scrapping the school. He suggested that application be made to the Department for permission to sell the place. The petition was signed by a large number of tax-payers who shared the brunt of educational facilities throughout New Zealand. Personally he sympathized with the residents, but as a member of the board did not favour the scrapping of the school. It being decided to forward the petition to Wellington, the deputation thanked the board and withdrew. COMMISSION REPORTS. A commission instructed by the board visited Bluff on Tuesday, 22nd instant, and conferred with the school committee on (1) the purchase of Lot 1, Block VIII., Township of Campbelltown East as an addition to the school grounds; and (2) repairs to culvert in front of the school gate. After discussing the matter with the school committee the commission recommended that subject to the approval of the Department the Public Trustee be offered £B5 for the property. With regard to the committee’s application for repairs to the culvert, the commission authorized the Borough Council to provide a new culvert to the school gate. The commission also authorized the council to grade the footpath in front of the school grounds. The commission as instructed by the board visited Taramoa School district on Wednesday, 23rd instant, in connection with a proposal to close the Taramoa School and convey the children to Waianiwa. The meeting, which was held in the school room, was attended by 20 residents. After the members of the commission had stressed the benefits that would undoubtedly accrue by the consolidation of schools and after the settlers had freely discussed the matter, a vote on the question was taken when 12 house-holders representing 13 pupils on the roll approved of consolidation and six householders representing four children, voted against the proposal. After careful consideration of the matter the commission recommended that the Department be asked to take the necessary steps to convey the Taramoa children to Waianiwa. Both reports were adopted.