EDUCATION BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 565, 1 December 1915, Page 11

EDUCATION BOARD.

ORDINARY MEETING. • The meeting of the Education Board held to-day was attended by Messrs C. H. Opie (chairman), Geo. Rennie, J. Jamieson, W. H. Collins, W. A. Banks, H. Boyd, E. H. Andrews, and M. Dalziel. NEW SCHOOLS. The Buildings Committee reported tha the Ashburton School Committee had reported that the Ashburton Borough Council had offered to transfer to the board reserves 765 and 765 x 3 roods 6 perches, on condition that a new school should be erected within two years from date. It was agreed to reply that the favours the proposal, but in view of the fact that the board will be altogether reconstituted within the coming year, the council be asked to allow their offer to stand over for one year.

A report was received from the chairman of the board and Mr Collins on their visit to Lagmhor, Westerfield, and Valetta. It was recommended that the new school for Lagmhor should be built on Gravel Reserve No. 1604, 3 acres of which it was agreed to ask the Road Board to transfer to the Education Board, 2 acres to be exchanged for reserve originally set apart for a school, and one acre for the land promised by the settlers; that later on, when thesYaletta district should be more closely settled, a school would be required there. To erect it forthwith would have an unfortunate effect on the Westerfield School, where excellent Work was being done with an average attendance sufficient to maintain the services of two teachers. The report had been adopted, the secretary being instructed to proceed witft the matter of obtaining the land as recommended. NEW BRIGHTON.

Tfcfe department "forwarded a copy of the Reserves Disposal and Public Bodies' Empowering Act, under which authority had been given tl*e New Brighton Borough Council to grant a lease of reserve to the Education Board for the purposes of a school at North New Brighton. In reply to its enquiry, the department had been informed that the school would be a side school to New Brighton. -

A letter was received from the committee explaining that the expenditure on filling in school grounds had been undertaken as a result of a promise made by visiting members that the board would contribute half the expenditure. It was agreed to inform the committee that in the circumstances the board's assistance must be restricted to £ for £ subsidy up to £2O. The report was adopted. TRAINING COLLEGE.

The Normal School and Technical Committee reported that the recommendation that the present session of the Training College should end on December 8 and that new students should be admitted on February 23 was approved. It was agreed to give a special certificate to those students, who had taken a course in cookery and had passed an examination at the conclusion of such course.

Mr J. H. Wilson, special instructor, reported that 73 pupils had entered their names for the elementary classes in hygiene, of whom, however, 12 hact made only a few attendances. Of the remainder 61 had been regular in attendance, and had done their work creditably.

TEACHERS' CLASSES. The Chief Instructor in Agriculture reported under date November 12 that the Saturday classes for teachers would close in a fortnight, when each teacher who had made a full attendance would have received 68 hours' instruction. The attendance throughout the year had been excellent, there being 38 on the roll, with an average attendance of 29, as against a roll number of 25 at the commencement. The final examination, carrying the board's certificate in agriculture!, would be held on Saturday, November 27. The report was adopted. APPOINTMENTS. The Appointments Committee reported that a lfetter had been received from the Linwood School Committee agreeing to the board's proposal that Mrs M. Mayne, of Kaikoura Suburban School, should be transferred to Linwood as assistant mistress. The transfer was agreed to accordingly. With reference to the letter from the Minister in charge of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department, it was agreed to ask the Education Department in what direction it proposed to assist discharged soldiers as regards fitting them for the teaching profession. A letter was received from the principal of the Boys' High School recommending the extension of senior board scholarships held by H. O. Askew, G. T. Bellhouse, L. R. Denny, and D. N. Waghorn. It was agreed that, subject to the inspectors' approval, a favourable recommendation should be made to the department. Mr E. Harvey, pupil teacher at the Somerfleld School, was granted leave of absence on the usual conditions in order to enable him to join the Expeditionary Forces. The following leaves of absence were granted owing to illness: Ashburton, Miss E. M. Hayes, an additional three weeks; Fyvie, Miss M. Daniel, an additional three weeks; Loburn, Mr F. H. Warner, an additional fortnight; Rakaia, Miss A. J. McLean, till 31st December; Waikari, Miss A. H. Hughey, a fortnight. The report was approved.