EDUCATION BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21850, 29 October 1932, Page 10

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. REPORTS OF OFFICERS. At the monthly meeting yesterday of the Southland Education . Board the chairman (Mr S. Rice) presided over the following members: Messrs W. Bell, Hugh Smith, F. G. Stevenson and J. Campbell. In reply to the board’s application for a grant of £2lO 5/- to cover the post of re-modelling the Te Wae Wae School, the department advised that the amount available this year for the erection of school buildings and residences was so limited that it was not possible to allocate funds for works of this description. The application would receive further consideration when it became known what funds Vfere available next year. On the motion of Mr Stevenson the board decided to renew its application. Appreciation of the valuable work done under the super-vision of the board’s architect (Mr J. J. Gough) in levelling the school grounds was expressed in a letter received from the secretary of the Greenhills School Committee. “We realize the many difficulties that had to be overcome,” the letter continued,' “and we would like to convey to Mr Gough the sincere thanks of the committee and the residents fob this valuable asset to the Greenhills community.”

Maintenance of Schools. A departmental communication stated that the sum of £3064 had been approved for payment to the board for the maintenance of school buildings for the year ending March 31 next This sum was available for and was to be applied solely to the maintenance and repair of schools' and of teachers’ residences, including the repair and renewal of outbuildings, furniture and fences, and also including alterations and small additions to buildings and other similar purposes. The grant also included an amount for the maintenance of buildings used for manual instruction. A letter was received from the Dir-ector-General of Health seeking the cooperation of the board in promoting the sale of health stamps. Full details were given of how it was hoped to achieve this by medium of the schools. The writer said that othei’ means were being adopted to give the movement a definite impetus and it was hoped that having made, an earlier start than last year and without two serious retarding factors—the higher postage rate and the general elections—the efforts of the department would meet w'ith a satisfactory response. The board gave its approval to the proposal. The agricultural inspector in the course of his report stated that with the favourable season experienced pleasing progress had been made with the practical gardening operations and a successful season was looked forward to. The main work occupying his attention at the present time was in advising teachers with regard to the main agricultural experiment to be carried out in the school garden and in the drafting out of the science schemes for next year.

Attendance Returns. The attendance officer reported that during September returns were received from 177 schools. These contained the names of 128 defaulters of ■ all classes, the most of whom, however, were excusable, through sickness and other valid reasons. Thirty notices were sent out where no good reason was given for absence and seven personal visits made in connection with the above returns. Two schools failed to send any return for the month, Gummies Bush and McNab. The 10 schools with the highest percentage of attendance for the month were as follows: Happy Valley, 100; Wendon Valley, 100; Waikana, 100; Scotts Gap, 99.8; Sunnyside, 99.6; Granity, 99.5; Garston- 99; Lora Gorge 99; Pukemaori 99; Redan Valley, 99. Of the 177 schools that sent in returns, the percentage of attendance of 151 ranged from 90 to 100. The average percentage of attendance for the 177 was'93.B2. The report was adopted, members expressing appreciation of the high percentage of attendance. Executive Committee’s Report The following clauses of public interest were adopted in the report of the executive committee:— That the communications from Mr J. Hargest, M.P., and the department, in regard to an application for the erection of a new wing at the Invercargill North School in this district be received, the board to convey to the department its disappointment at the department’s decision and to make renewed application, Mr Hargest and Mr McDougall to be communicated with in the matter and a copy of the letter to the department to be forwarded to the Minister of Education. That the communication from the president of the Invercargill branch of the League of Nations Union asking that the board become a corporate member of the union be received, the writer to be advised that the aims of the union have the entire sympathy of board members and that the board is prepared to become a corporate member. That the communications from the Canterbury and Otago Boards regarding dates for terms and vacations be received, schools in this district to reopen on the Tuesday after the first and second term vacations. That the communication from the Auckland Board concerning married women teachers be received, the Auckland Board to be advised that this board is making a practice of not employing any married woman teacher whose husband is alive and in good health unless a legal separation has been secured and that the board does not intend to make any departure from this practice. That the communication from . the Otautau School Committee inviting the chairman and members to be present at the school break-up at the end of the year to take part in the presentation of the agricultural , trophies won by the school in this district be received, the chairman and the member for' the district to attend. That the communications from the Unemployment Executive Committee regarding works proposed to be carried out in' connection with the schools at Gore, Winton, Nightcaps and Makarewa be received, the action of the board’s staff in arranging for the work to be .carried out to be approved. That the communication from the secretary of the Relief Workers Association requesting that relief workers be paid on their last working day each week be received, the association to be advised that the proposed scheme could not be worked satisfactorily.