EDUCATION BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21821, 26 September 1932, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD

OFFICERS’ REPORTS.

At the .monthly meeting of the Southland Education Board on Friday the reports of the agricultural instructor and the attendance officer were adopted.

The agricultural instructor’s report for the period September 5 to September 16 was as follows:—“The present time is a most important period in our agricultural course, particularly in regard to the. practical work; hence at all schools visited I am giving this phase of the subject special attention. Of particular importance is the planning of the experimental crops and in this connection the greatest care has to be exercised in deciding the lines the experiments arc to take to ensure that the proposed investigational work is not beyond the capabilities of the pupils whilst at the same time interest is maintained and finally, it is hoped, profitable information gained. As in all cases of experimental work it is essential that not only should the experiments be carefully planned at the outset, but that full records be kept of their progress from the time of sowing until the crops are harvested and the results generally finalized. For this purpose a special record book has to be kept by the pupils under the general supervision of the teacher in charge. I have to advise having visited the following schools since last report:—Spar Bush, Isla Bank, Nightcaps, Ohai, Wairio, Scotts Gap, Gummies Bush, Wild Bush, Brydone, Pukerau, Wallacetown, West Plains, Winton, Granity, Rimu and Roslyn Bush.” Attendance Report.

The following was the report for August of the attendance officer: “As the second term holidays intervened during this period the schools closed on August 19 for a fortnight. One hundred and fifty-one returns were sent in. These contained the names of 69 defaulters, nearly all of whom were excusable on account of sickness and inclement weather in the case _ of long distance children. Nine notices and four personal visits were made in connection with the returns mentioned. The 10 schools with the highest percentage of attendance were:—Eastern Bush, 100; Lora Gorge, 100; Pukemaori, 100; Niagara, 99; Sunnyside, 99; Waipounamu, 99; Feldwick, 98.9; Clifden, 98.7; Kaiwera, 98.7; Granity, 98.5. Seven schools returned their percentage as below 80, the principal reason given being sickness. The average percentage of attendance for the 151 schools was 92.55. Five informations were laid during the month in four of which defendant was ordered to pay costs of court only. The other stands adjourned.” The Minister of Education wrote stating that proposals relating to training college students’ allowances were under consideration by Cabinet, and as soon as a decision was reached a public pronouncement would be made.