EDUCATION BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1789, 7 November 1919, Page 11

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Canterbury Education Board met this morning, there being present: Mr E. 11. Andrews (chairman), the Hon. J. Grimmond, M.L.C., Messrs C. S. Howard, C. 11. Opie, W. P. Spencer, W. A. Banks, R. Maze, G. W. Armitage, J. Jamieson, A. Peveriil and T. Hughes. APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS.

The board confirmed the following appointments: — Ashburton, Miss F.. M. Pringie, assistant mistress; Belfast, Mr A. E. Werry, headmaster; Chrlstchurch IJist, Mr A. E. Barr, supernumerary; Chrlstchurch West, Mr W. S. Pratt, assistant master; Doric, Miss 0. M. Durie, mistress; llalswell, Mr G. Whitelaw, master; Heathcote Valley, Miss E. A. I-argc, assistant mistress; Kimbcrley, Mr fr. Dcmpsey, temporary master; Shirley, Miss E. 1,. Ferguson, assistant mistress; Somerflcld, Mr S. A. Clark, headmaster; Waikakahi. Miss .1. I. Clarke, mistress; Wakanul, Miss A. Thompson, mistress; Willowbridge, Mr R. E. Wood, master. In the cases of Belfast, Christohureh West and Somerfield, it was agreed that the appointments should date as from the reopening of the schools after the mid-summer vacation. The following resignations were received and accepted: — Akaroa, Miss I. Morrison, assistant mistress; Chcrtsev, Miss E. M. Eeverscdge,.mistress; Chrlstchurch West, Mr S. A. Clark, assistant master; Grey D.H.S., Mr A. A. Adams, headmaster; Halswell, Mrs M. A. Guiney, mispress; Ikawai, Miss A. Thompson,' mistress; Kaiapoi, Mr Thos. Douds, headmaster; Lvttclton West, Miss H. Fraser, assistant mistress; Opawa, Miss E. A. I-arge, assistant mistress; Prcbbleton, Miss E. L. Ferguson, assistant mistress; Winchmorc, Miss M. E. Pcnnall, mistress. TRUANCY.

Mr Blank, truant officer for Canterbury, reported that 178 names of children had been sent in and 106 ordinary notices and 33 of a final nature had been issued to parents.. Court proceedings had been taken in 18 cases, and fines, from 2/- and costs to 20/- and costs, inflicted. Proceedings had been taken in respect of the irregular attendance of children at the Ashburton Technical School. In connection with these cases, 13 convictions had been recorded and one case had been dismissed.

Mr White, Truant Officer for the "West Coast, reported having visited 41 schools, and having made a large number of visits to the homes of pupils. Forty-five truancy lists had been received. Seventy-three ordinary notices and seven of a' final nature had. been sent out. Two summonses had been taken out, and the parents in both cases convicted, but without fine. The reports were adopted, and it was agreed to request Mr Blank to supply the board with a list of the- schools from which he was not receiving lists of irregular attendance. NEW SCHOOLS. The chairman reported on the proposal to remove the Awaroa School to Mitcham, but did not recommend that this be done, owing to the smallness of the building and the cost of removing it about 15 miles. It was decided to apply to the department for a gTant for the erection of a new school at Mitcham. It was decided that a two-roomed school be erected at Rokeby, and that an application be made to the department for a grant. The board decided to adhere to its previous decision to purchase the site in Ford Road for a new school at Opawa, this being considered the most suitable and central site.

It was agreed to apply to the department for a grant of £315 to purchase an additional three-quarters of an acre to enlarge the Somerfield School ground. AGRICULTURE. The board decided that Mr 11. C. Watson, the master of Tiuwald School, be congratulated on the outstanding merit of the nature-study course at his school, and that the teachers of the following uchools be commended for the extended improvements made to their respective school gardens: Fairview, Makikihi and Gleniti. Also that the headmaster of the Orari School be complimented for the great improvement made to the school grounds and residence garden. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. . The Manual and Technical Committee reported that it had received a letter from the Auckland Education Board proposing to give domestic science instructresses an opportunity of attending for one year a special course of instruction provided at the Otago University. The supervisor reported that he had gone into this matter thoroughly, and arrangements could be made to .allow two of the board's young instructresses to attend the course, to cover the cost of which application could be made to the department for a grant. The board decided to apply for the grant accordingly. It was agreed to apply to the department for a grant for a woodwork building for the Oxford manual training centre, on (he same lines as the plan submitted in connection with the Aniberley centre.

A DEPUTATION. A deputation,, consisting of Messrs .1. G. Heruman, A. F. Drayton and H. J. Marriner, representing the Chamber of Commerce, waited on the board with a request that it should make' arrangements for the distribution, amongst senior scholars of primary schools, of an address entitled "Education, Industry and Reconstruction," delivered by Mr S. E. Dickinson, headmaster of St. Andrew's Presbyterian CoHege, Christchurch. The deputation pointed out that, in view of the present industrial unrest, the address was of the highest possible value. It had been printed in pamphlet form, and the council of the Chamber of Commerce wished these pamphlets to get into the hands of the senior scholars and their parents throughout Canterbury.

The board decided to accede to the request of the deputation. Mr Jamieson offered a prize of £1 ]/- to the scholar writing the best essay on the address. THE NORMAL SCHOOL. The report of the Normal School Committee stated that the resignations of Mrs .1. W. Wagstaff (assistant mistress, girls' department), Mr S. J. Irwin (assistant master, model school), and Mr W. S. Wauchop (assistant, master), and had been received and accepted. Mr J. (!. Poison had commenced his duties as vice-principal on November 1. The committee had agreed to request the senior inspector and principal of the Training College to submit a joint report on the question of retarded children, and the establishment of such a school as had been suggested by the department. The chairman of the committee and Mr Howard had been appointed to ascertain what could lie done with regard to overcrowding at the Normal Miyfoal Training Centre. After injecting the building and going into the. matter thoroughly they recommended that an application be sent to the department for a grant to build a woodwork and cookery room on the site of the present woodwork room (two-story building), no other site being available for the purpose. The report was adopted, but it was decided that the question of building a woodwork and

cookery room be referred back to the committee, to see-if another site coukl not be obtained. Mr Banks pointed out that the school ground was far too small, and, now that the old building had to be replaced, the opportunity should be taken of increasing the size of the ground. The Ashburton School Committee wrote complaining that the Ashburton district wasjiot properly represented on the board, and advocating the division of the south ward into two wards. Mr Banks said that the board had always looked after the needs of the Ashburton district, which was ably represented at present by Messrs Hughes and Armitage. The chairman said that an extraordinary expenditure had been made in the Ashburton district during the last few years, and so he considered the letter was ill-advised. He was sure there was no parochialism in the board. The letter was received. A vote of £lO was made to the Boys' Gordon Hall to assist it in its annual campaign to induce boys to enter secondary schools. It was decided to forward the ground plan of the proposed new technical school at G rev mouth, with a request that the building be proceeded with.