EDUCATION IN 1916.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11892, 29 December 1916, Page 5

EDUCATION IN 1916.

WORK AT CANTERBURY COLLEGE. PORTION OF NEW BUILDING SCHEME COMPLETED. In the domain of secondary and University education the most striking features cf the year's work liavo been the completion o 1 portions of the new building scheme initiated by the Canterbury College authorities. 'The new library building was officially opened on Mart> 30, and m Juh the handsome new administrative block in Montreal Streetwas opened. The Board oi Governors has under construction, and nearly completed, a new physics laboratory, a new common room and quarters for male students, and a new lecture wing, fronting on Rolleston Avenuo. To complete the bull ling scheme so far as the western quadrangle »s concerned, all that will bo needed wili be the construction of arcades linking the various units together in the approved cloister stylf peculiar to collegiate and ecclesiastical architecture. The board decided, during the year, upon fairly extensive additions to the biological laboratory, but this work will bo commenced in the new year. In connect ion with tho Boys' High School, a site for a hostel has been purchased in Lower Riccarton, and ft building to accommodate fifty students is in course of' erection. At tho Girls' High School the playr ground accommodation has been increased'by the purchase of two adjoining sections, which will be put into commission early in the new year. _ The most important success gained b* a student of Canterbury College duririG: the year is the appointment of A. O. Ponder as n Rhodes scholar. During tho year a serious loss was sustained b\ the Boys' High School b v the death of Mr T. H. Jackson, B.A. London, a very highly valued member of the school teaching staff. While tho roll of senior students .i*> Canterbury College his been reduced by enlistments to a very great extent, the deficiency has mado good to some degree during 1916 by an unusually large influx of junior students, and the secondary schools have also attracted more than their normal annual increase in number of pupils, an indication -perhaps that tho benefits of secondary education are being more appreciated than formerly.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS. WORK OF THE NEW BOARD. Mr C. H. Opie, chairman of the Canterbury Education Board, on reviewing the events of the past year from an education view-poirit, said that the ehief happening of 1916 was the amalgamation of the North Canterbury, South Canterbury, Grey and Wetland Boards into one large board called the Canterbury Education Board, whose jurisdiction also extended over tho Chatham Islands. The change in Administration should increase the education advantages for the smaller districts. The expense of administration would not be affected very much, but the new system would result- in highly trained teachers accepting positions in the outlying districts (and that Avould increase the standard of education in such districts correspondingly. Formerly, teachers in West land and in South Canterbury had been side-tracked, and nad little hope of advancement outside their own districts, but now they would have equal chances of securing appointments as those teachers in the same grade in the larger centres. Teachers formerly on leaving the Normal College, fought shy of going into the country areas, but their previous objections would now be removed. The new board consists of twelve members, continued Mr Opie, and at the time of the first election 'there had been a fear that, the West Coa-st would be disenfranchised, but that had not proved 'to be the case. However, the General Council of Education were taking steps to have the Education Act altered so as to ensure that the West Coast would always have two representatives on the board, and that two extra members should be elected for Canterbury, in order to provide that the large area north of the Waimakariri should bo represented. A prominent question during the year had been the incidental allowances to school committees. The Canterbury Board had given every possible penny to the school committees, and it remained for Parliament to vote increased and adequate grants to the school committees, the members of which deserved every consideration. Tlie death of Mr W. H. Collins had removed an ardent educationist, added Mr Opie, and the removal of Mr George Rennie to Auckland was a distinct loss to Canterbury. One cannot speak of the old year without referring to the magnificent work done by tho teachers and scholars on behalf of tho Patriotic and Red Cross Funds, efforts deserving the higher commendation. During 1917 the board hopes to proceed with the erection of a new training college, which is much needed. The present building will be required for the various departments of the practising school and for 'the offices of the board. About forty to fifty teachers will bo finishing their training in 1917, and these will then be availablo for service. On account- of the war regulations dispensing with the services of | twenty teachers the board expects little difficulty in meeting ordinary demands for teachers, as well as filling tho vacancies caused by so i: any teachers going to the front. During the year it is proposed to erect new echools at Sydenham, St Albans and Ashburton. There had been a difficulty in making provision for new schools, and tho board has determined that the Department must pay the full cost of all necessary school sites or additions thereto.