EDUCATION BOARD.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12750, 23 March 1910, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Education. Board was resumed yesterday morning. Present: Messrs A. T. Maginnity (chairman), W. Lock, J. Munson, J. W. Fair, T. Eaigent, W. N. Franklyn, J. D. Beuke, and F. W. Smith. The Secretary of the Board was appointed truant officer in connection with the Fern Flat School. Tho Inspectors' reports . for the month were received. The annual report of the Inspectors was considered. Mr Beuke, in moving its adoption, complimented the Inspectors on their excellent report. He expressed the opinion that where there were Jio truant officers, school teachers should [be appointed for each district. He approved of compulsory attendance at schools, and agreed with the remarks of the Inspectors thereon. Mr Lock seconded the motion. He favoured the freedom of classification, and thought that teachers should have power to promote scholars who showed special qualifications. •He deplored tho poor attendance at. schools, and said parents should take more interest •in their children. . ' - Mr Smith thought the question of attendance should receive consider^ ation by the Board, and he thought the Board should adopt some stringent measures to effect an improvement. Mr Franklyn agreed that the report was an excellent one. He : agreed that old school buildings should be rebuilt. The attendance, at schools in lihe Nelson district was excellent, and compared favourably with other parts of the Dominion. .■<•- ■ ■ [ The motion-w as carried. •••':\. The Chairman suggested, that all schools showing an attendance of less than 90 per cent should be communicated with to ascertain if there was any reason why this standard should not bo reached. "■- Messrs Beuke and Fair agreed with the suggestion, which was embodied in a motion. Mr Franklyu moved an amendment that eighty per cent be substituted for ninety. The motion was carried, 3lr Franklyn voting no. It was resolved that copies of the amended provisions of the. scheme for the promotion of teachers be forwarded to each member of the Board for consideration. Consideration of the memorandum by the Chairman oir the subject of school hours, tabled at last meeting, was adjourned until next month. • The Motueka Committee wrote favouring the proposed exchange of secondary teachers between Motueka and Takaka. (The Takaka Committee wrote previously disapproving of the proposal.) Mr Franklyn moved, and Mr Beuke seconded, that no further action be taken. — Carried. Mr A. T. Maginnity intimated that he would be a candidate for a seat on the Victoria College Council a& representative of Education Boards. . ■ It was resolved to inform the Bainham Committee that they were not entitled to an assistant teacher. Appointments were approved as follows : — Upper Stanley Brook, sole teaoher, Miss Mead; Marahau, sole teacher, Miss J. B. Allan; Foxhill, assistant, Miss J. Pettit; Inangahua Junction, sole teacher, Miss W. J. Dempsey ; Kaituna, sole teacher (Miss Franco having taken a position in the North Island, fresh applications to be invited) ; East Takaka, sole teacher, Miss Dwyer; Lyell, sole teacher (resolved to inform the Committee that the' person recommended was competent, and asking that they approve '.•he appointment). The following resignations were accepted: — Mr B. La very, Puponga; Miss A. Bettjemann, Birchfield; Mr J. R. A. Gifford, Burnett's Face ; Mr J. o' Shea, Upper Matakitaki; MissE. FJintoff, Whakarewa. In regard to the appointment of first assistant teacher at the Nelson Girls' School, it was resolved, after some discussion, to invite applications for the position at a salary of £210 per annum. For the position of teacher at Burnett's Face, it was resolved that the names of Misses Black and Bettjaanin bo forwarded to the Committee, the Inspectors make enquiries in regard to -i male applicant, whose name is to be forwarded if same are found satisfactory. The Board rose at 1 p.m.