EDUCATION BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 828, 5 October 1916, Page 11

EDUCATION BOARD.

SECOND DAY'S MEETING.

The Canterbury Education Board resumed its sittings to-day, there being present: Messrs C. If. Opic (chairman), T. W. Adams, E. 11. Andrews, G. W. Armitage, \V. A. Banks,

IL J. Bignell, J. Grimmond, »Y. M

Hamilton, C. S. Howard, J. Jamieson, J. Maze, and A. Pevcrill. The chairman raised the question of the time when deputations to the board should be received, and suggested that Thursday was more suitable for the purpose than Wednesday. It was agreed to fix noon on Thursdays as the time.

It was also decided that question time should be immediately after the chairman's statement. The chairman's statement dealt with the matter of differentiation of i education for children reaching 12 i years of age; such differentiation had been adopted in Great Britain, Australia, and America, the general ■ principle being that at this stage the pupil should be given vocational work prepai atory to his future occupation. It was claimed that the International High School met the case of those who expected to leave J school to engage in work. A course of special training could be arranged by consultation of the teachers with the parents and with the boys and girls themselves. As against this it was contended that to curtail the pupils general education at the Fourth Standard would be depriving him of that education which is more important than any other he could receive at that age. The manual and technical instruction now given inspired training of a vocational character. At the age of 11 or 12 neither the child nor the teacher knew what occupation would be most suitable for him. To draft pupils into vocational schools at 11 or 12 years of age would mean that the large majority of pupils would lose the opportunity that should be afforded all who may be fit to go to the High School proper, and subsequently to the University. Care must be taken not to follow the German system, in which there was class distinction. The recommendation of the Council of Education requiring a modernising of the High School curricula in the direction of industrial education would do much to meet the views of those who advocate intermediate schools.

The Council of Education considers that the scientific and practical sides of education should be expanded, whilst not neglecting the literary side. It recommended a course of study in agriculture all the •way from Nature-study in the primary schools to the advanced stages required for the training of teachers of agriculture. Nature-study, along with practical instruction in the school garden, to be included in the syllabus of instruction in all primary schools, and an intermediate course of study of two or three years in agriculture, to be provided in all secondary schools, whether district high schools, technical high schools, or high schools. The course is to be both theoretical and practical, and attendance to be compulsory lor boys between the ages of i 4 and 17. The council holds that it is a serious blunder that boys and girls should be able to discontinue their education "just at the transition period when their minds and their ideas are most rapidly developing." THE STATEMENT DISCUSSED. Mr Banks said that the matter was too important to deal with off-hand, and a sub-committee should be appointed to deal with it and frame resolutions for submission to the board. Mr Howard endorsed Mr Banks's remarks.

Mr PeveriU gave details of what had been accomplished in Australia, eulogising the results of the system. The chairman said that as members had not had an opportunity of considering the statement he would withdraw the statement. i Permission was given him to withdraw it. Mr Peverill moved that the statement be referred to the Appointments Committee for a report. The motion was carried. Mr Andrews moved that a special meeting of the whole board be called to consider the report. He wanted to see a real and essential course prepared for the vacational training of children. Mr Peverill then withdrew his motion in favour of Mr Andrews's, which was carried. It was resolved to hold a special meeting on Wednesday week. RESOLUTION RESCINDED. Mr Jamieson moved the resolution of which he had given notice rescinding the resolution carried at the previous meeting, making the whole board a iinance committee. Mr Jamieson said that the resolution had been carried with several members absent, and in the dying hours of the session. Mr Peverill seconded the motion, saying that a finance committee shoul ! be appointed, and that the committee should place on the table at every meeting a statement of accounts. Mr Howard opposed the motion. Willi a body such as the board, which was spending so much money, every member should be made familiar with the financial position. After considerable discussion the motion was carried. Mr Jamieson then moved that the Finance Committee consist of the chairman of the board, the chairmen of the standing committees, with the addition of Messrs Peverill and Armitagc. The motion was carried. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Director of Education wrote staling that the department was taking no further action in the matter of disestablishing the Kaikoura District High School. The letter was received. The department wrote With reference to the application for

the establishment of a district high school at Cheviot, the council had advised against the establishment of the school, the number of qualilied pupils being too small. The matter of seeing that teachers of military age were enrolled was one for the joard to decide. It approved of the jooks "Scouting for Boys" and 'Peace Scouting for Girls." The letters were received. The Educational Institute wrote inviting members to attend a lecture to be given by Mr J. Caughley, Assistant Director of Education. It was decided that as many members as possible should attend the lecture. The department wrote suggesting that the matter of investment in the war loan should be brought under the notice of teachers; it was decided to send out a circular to teachers in accordance with the department's suggestion.

Considerable discussion took place on the method of paying teachers, and whether the board or the teacher should pay the cost of cheque stamps. It was finally decided that the cost of stamps should be borne by the board, and that each teacher should receive from the board a number of cheque forms, to be filled in by himself and presented to the bank, which will be supplied with a list of teachers' names and the amounts to which they are entitled. The Sydenham School Committee wrote inviting the presence of members of the board at the unveiling of an honours board and memorial tablet to the late Lance-Corporal N. Sustins. The invitation was accepted. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. The Appointments Committee's report stated that the following appointments had been made:—Arundel, Miss Shirley Beckett, mistress; Christchurch West, Miss H. M. Cowley, assistant mistress; Dunganville,! Miss J. Booney, mistress till end of j year; Ellesmere, Mrs A. Higgs, sew-; ing mistress; and Richmond, Miss Ratabird, assistant mistress. !

Reports were received from Mr J. A. Blank and Mr F. White, the board's truant officers. Mr Blank had issued 71 ordinary notices, five being of a final nature. Two cases had been taken to court in the Methven district, and fines had been imposed. In a number of schools the attendance bad improved considerably. Mr While had received irregular attendance lists from several of the West Coast schools, and a number of personal visits to parents bad been made.

The following leaves of absence I owing to illness were granted:—Ashburton, Miss 11. P. Humphreys, six weeks; Callaghans, Miss I. Campbell, three weeks; Cashmere, Miss G. Suckling, a month; Cobden, Miss O'Brien, six weeks; Christchurch Fast, Miss D. Scay, two weeks; Christchurch Fast, Miss S. L. Robinson, two weeks; Linwood, Miss Berg, necessary leave; Methven, Miss R. Clark, additional fortnight; Pleasant Point, Miss Oliver, iiie necessary leave ;Rangiora, Miss C. M. Ambrose, a week; Rangiora, Miss Thomson, a week; Springfield, Miss L. Dalby, a month; Tycho, Miss L. Chrislensen, until end of year. A letter was received from the Asbburlon High School Board protesting against the establishment of District High Schools at Rakaia and Methven. It was agreed to inform the board of the department's decision that at least 20 proficiency certificate holders must be available befor application for establishment of district high school would be entertained.

The following resignations were received and accepted:—Marsden, Miss E. Parkin, mistress: Marshland, Miss L. Turner, assistant mistress; Opihi, Miss P. Garvcy, mistress; Rangiora, Mr L. G. Austin, assistant master

Leave of absence was granted as follows: Miss M. J. Willis, Bromley, was granted three weeks' leave of absence in order to attend examinations, and Miss McArthur, of Harewood, and Mr 11. L. Wilson, of Kaikoura Town, were given leave for similar reason for six weeks and two separate weeks respectively. Mr W. B. Rule, Christchurch West, was granted leave of absence on the ordinary conditions in order to join reinforcements. Mrs C. Burrows, Westerfield, was granted an addi-

tional two weeks' leave of absence without salary. The report was adopted. BUILDINGS COMMITTEE. The Buildings Committee's report, i which was adopted, recommended that the erection of a new school at • Sydenham be held over until a reply is received from the department re- • garding the providing of funds for ! renewing condemned schools; that the Woolston Committee be asked I how much it was prepared to contribute to the cost of additional land proposed to be purchased; that the j department be asked what steps it | intends to take to provide funds for , the renewal of condemned schools j at Sydenham, Opawa, and St Alibans; that the architect be authorised to call for tenders for the erecj tion of a temporary building to be I used as architect's office, at an estimated cost of £100; that all teachers' I residences in the Canterbury Education District which are let to teni ants be insured. A large number of small building : matters, repairs, alterations, etc, in North and South Canterbury and Westland were also approved. t The committee also recommended that the recommendation of the senior inspector, that it is inadvisable to do anything regarding additions at Allenfon until the site #f the Ashbnrton school had been fixed, should be approved. (Proceeding.)