EDUCATION BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 511, 29 September 1915, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD.

TO-DAY'S MEETING. The North Canterbury Education Board met this morning. Present: Messrs C. H. A. T. Opie (chairman), T. W. Adams, G. Rennie, H. Boyd, M. Dalziel, J. Jamieson, W. A. Banks, W. 11. Collins, and E. H. Andrews. Buildings committee. The Buildings Committee reported that a report had been received from Mr Rennie on his visit to Pigeon Bay. The building of a central school could not be recommended at present, and the Pigeon Bay residents were practically unanimous in desiring the present schools to continue. The Kukupa School was in 3ood order, and the Main School had several years of useful life. The report had been adopted, the necessary repairs to the Main School to be carried out.' Mr Collins had reported that it was not practicable to convey the Valetta children to' the nearest school. Mr Collins, Mr Opie, and the senior inspector were appointed a committee to meet the Laghmor and Westerfield residents, for the i purpose of considering the needs of the two localities as a whole, the question of applying for a grant for a school at Valetta to be afterwards further considered. Many minor matters were also reported on. The report was adopted. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE.

The appointments committee .recommended the following appointments: —Ashley, Mr F. W. Moore, master (to take up duty after summer vacation); Napuku, Miss J. E. Bennett, mistress; Southbridge, Miss F. W. A. Williams, assistant mistress, secondary department; The Peaks, Miss A. Chisholm, mistress; New Brighton, Miss M. B. Hounsell, assistant mistress.

The resignations of the following teachers had been accepted: Miss M. McKelvy, assistant mistress, Puaha; Miss M. Campbell, mistress, Greta Valley; Miss V. E. Jessep, mistress, Fyvie. The committee had considered the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce's suggestion that city and suburban school holidays should be postponed to enable the children to assist in harvest operations. In view of the board's resolution to confer with the school committees, it had been agreed to write to the city and suburban school committees asking their opinion on the proposal. Letters protesting against the proposal had been received from the Canterbury Women's Institute and the Canterbury Printers', Machinists', and Bookbinders' Union.

The suggestion made by the Otago Education Board that something should be done to promote teachers absent on military service had been considered. It was agreed to forward to the Otago and Marlborough Boards a copy of the board's letter of the 18th ultimo, to the New Zealand Educational Institute, pointing out that while it did not appear practicable to consider teachers absent on military service as applying for all suitable vacancies in their respective districts, yet that the institute might rely upon the board giving the cases of returned teachers, the most favourable consideration.

The committee also reported that it had agreed to request the chairman of the board to bring the matter of the secondary staff of the Christchurch West D.H.S. before the Council of Education, with the view of moving further in the board's endeavour to give the relief that is so urgently required. The report was adopted. NORMAL AND TECHNICAL TRAINING.

The Normal School and Technical Committee stated that the director had reported on a visit to the manual training classes at Kaiapoi, and on the instruction carried out at both Kaiapoi and Rangiora. Pleasure was expressed that the Kaiapoi centre was largely used by rural schools in the neighbourhood. A circular memorandum had been received from the Department to the effect that Training College students absent on military service, or appointed as substitutes for teachers so absent, would be allowed to count the present year of training as completed. A report had been received from the senior inspector to the effect that both he and his colleagues were emphatically opposed to the inclusion of bookkeeping among the subjects of the school syllabus, the work in arithmetic being already sufficiently heavy. It had been agreed to inform the New Zealand Farmers' Union accordingly. The report was adopted. ADJUSTABLE DESKS.

Some little time was spent by the board in debating a motion by Mr Jamieson, seconded by Mr Andrews, that single adjustable desks be installed in the new schools which are being built at North-east St. Albans and Breeze's Road. The motion was defeated by five votes to four.