BOARD DISCUSSES PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18339, 16 December 1927, Page 7

BOARD DISCUSSES PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

BUILDING REQUIREMENTS UNDER DISCUSSION. The Canterbury Education Board met to-day; present—Messrs C. S. Thompson (chairman), W. A. Banks. J. Maze, G. W. Armitage, W. H. Winsor, J. G. Gow, E. 11. Andrews, T. Hughes, W. Johnson and R. Wild. Appointments and Resignations. The following appointments were made: Jnchbonnie, Mrs J. I. Askenbeck, sole teacher; Lakeside, Miss D. G. Dallard, sole teacher; Pareora East, Miss A. B. Moir, infant mistress: Southbridge, Mr G. B. Couch; second assistant; Waimairi, Mr T. J. C. Wilkins, head master. The following appointments were confirmed: Arundel, Miss I. F. Bremner; • Christchurch JEast, Miss A. C. O’Brien: Hapuku, Mrs I. Doyle; Mount Somers. Mr W. A. 11. Sharpe; Caro, Mr F. C. Freeman; Southburn, Miss I. H. Cowie. The following resignations were accepted: Ataahua, Miss XV. J. Tod; Domett, Mr A. P. Keys-Wells; Hinds, Miss E. O. Gunn; Hokitika, Miss I. E. Wallace; Horaebush, Miss M. A. E. Robb; Kokatahi Upper. Mrs E. J. Kelly; Pleasant Point, Mr T. J. C. Wilkins; Prebbleton, .Miss G. E. Adam; Rakaia, Little. Miss I. «B. Sloccmhe; Richmond, Miss D. G. Andrews; Ruapuna, Miss M. C. Iverach; Southbridge, Mr F. A. Strack: Sydenham, Miss G. C. Cullen; Waimairi, Miss G. Aitken; Woolston, Miss R. Opi6.

It was decided to send letters of appreciation to Mr A. P. Keys-Wells, Domett, Miss Wallace, Hokitika, and Mrs Kelly, Kokatahi Upper, in view of their long service. Elmwood School.

The Buildings Committee reported that correspondence had been received from the Elmwood School Committee respecting:—(l) Proposal to add two rooms to the brick building in lieu of the open-air classrooms desired by all; (2) provision of folding doors between rooms in brick school in place of present tin satisfactory sliding doors; (3) provision of additional windows to provide for improvement of ventilation in the north-western room in brick school. A report was submitted by Messrs i hompson and Winsor and on their recommendation it was resolved: To write to the Department requesting that the board's original application for a grant for the erection of two detached rooms should be given effect to; to authorise the committee to arrange for the provision of two sets of folding doors to replace existing slidmg doors in brick school, the committee to contribute £24, subsidy from the Department £24, the grant from the board £l2; total estimated cost, £6O; to sanction the cutting of a window in the north-western wall for improvement of lighting and ventilation. The report was adopted. Rangiora School.

The Buildings Committee reported that a report had been presented by Messrs 7 hompson and Johnson respectmg their conference with the Rangiora School ( ommittee on the rebuilding of the infant department. The report stated that the committee had expressed a desire for the detached type of building, and on the recommendation of the members, it was resolved to instruct the architect to forward that plan to the Department and to appl\- for consent to allow the grant already made to be used for the erection of four open-air rooms. The report was' adopted. Over-crowded.

The Buildings Committee reported that a report had been received from Messrs Armitage, Gow, Hughes and Maze, members appointed bv the board to confer with the Timaru West School Committee for the purpose of formulating a plan for the relief of the overcrowded conditions at the school. The deputation recommended that the board should strongly support the school committee in its claim for the new infant room, and it was resolved that the matter should be referred back to the sub-committee with a view to ascertaining definitely how many children at present attending Timaru West could conveniently attend the Timaru Main School, on receipt of this information the Department to be informed of the position. It was also resolved to ask the Department to advise the board of the extent of its power to enforce the transfer of pupils from one school to another.

Buildings Committee. The Buildings Committee reported that the Addington School Committee had written stating that it had an approximate estimate of £4OO for the installation of a heating system in the school, and that it was prepared to raise £l5O towards the cost, and would be glad if the Board would find the balance. It was decided to request the department to state the amount it would be willing to grant towards the proposed installation. In response to the Beckenham School Committee’s representations for additional accommodation, a report -was presented by the senior inspector recommending the addition of one room to the school and the acquisition of a new site in the St Martins district. It was resolved that Messrs Thompson and Winsor should confer with the committee respecting the type of room to be erected and to look into the question of obtaining a suitable site in St Martins. A letter had been received from the Town Clerk asking that as the playground provided for the Beckenham School had never been used, owing to the proximity of the Beckenham Park, the land should be made available as a general playing area, the council to put the ground in order. The matter was left in the hands of'Messrs Thompson and Winsor for a report. In regard to the Puhi-puhi School the committee reported that it had been decided to re-consider the board’s application to the department for a grant for additions to school in view of the following endorsement of the senior inspector:—“The increase in the roll appears to be very sudden and it would appear better to defer this application till the school re-opens after the Christmas vacation. It may be that the numbers may have altered by that time.” It was resolved that submission of an application be deferred until a definite increase in the numbers on the roll was apparent, when the senior inspector would be asked to re-consider his decision.

The department had acknowledged the board’s application for a grant for the erection of an additional room on the open air principle with master’s office at Hornby, and stated that it was prepared to consider a grant seeing that there were seven teachers in five rooms and that the school over all provided only 10.6 square feet per pupil, and that, if the board was prepared to place the proposal higher on the urgent list, a recommendation would be made. It was resolved to reply that as there were only four schools preceding Hornby on the urgent list, the board was'unable to see its way to make the desired alteration. A report was submitted by r Messrs Thompson and Winsor, who conducted an inquiry into the cause of the partial,

destruction of the Lyttelton West School by fire on November 21. 7'he report stated that the commission was of opinion that there was no suggestion of incendiarism and that the fire was due to unknown causes. Owing to the limited funds-- at its disposal for the remainder of the current financial year and to t -e necessity for conserving these for the provision of actual school accommodation, the Department expressed regret that consideration of the board’s application for a grant lor the erection of a teachers’ room at St Albans would have to be postponed until next financial year. As the result of a report from Messrs Thompson and Spencer it was resolved to apply' to the Department for permission purchase about three acres of land from Mr Stanbury for a new school site at Wainui, the proposal to be placed on next year’s list of projected works. In response to the board’s application for a grant for the erection of two shelter sheds at the Waltham School, the Department replied that, in view of the present financial stringency', the matter would have to be postponed until early in the next financial year. A deputation from the Waltham Committee waited on the Buildings Committee regarding improvement of lighting of standards 6,5, 1 and P 5 rooms, erection of a porch to serve as a cloakroom, provision of a teachers’ room, painting of the school roof, and repairs to the caretaker’s cottage. It was resolved that these matters should be referred to Messrs Thompson and Winsor for a report; the senior inspector to be asked to report on the deputation’s request that two rooms should be erected on the site in Taylor Street as the nucleus of a new infant school; the Department to be asked to reconsider its decision respecting the erection of shelter sheds. Application made to the Department of £l5O towards meeting of levelling, fencing and the school grounds at Ardfl^^V The report waS^Pbpted. Unemployed Teachers. The board, on Mr Andrews’s motion, decided to endorse a statement by the chairman of the Auckland Education Board, denying an implication by the Minister for Education that the boards were responsible for the surplus of teachers. Normal SchooL The Normal School Committee reported that, according to the principal, the number of students to be admitted next year would be 288, including six third-year, 134 second-year, and 14S first-year. Mr Masterton, appointed art master, would arrive in the Dominion in January', in readiness to take up his duties when college opened in February. It was resolved to express appreciation of the services of Messrs Johnson and Wallwork, of the School of Art, who had been acting in a temporary capacity during the year. Correspondence was received from the Department regarding the admission of South Canterbury students, it was resolved +.o ask the principal to get into touch with the director and arrange for the admission of South Canterbury probationers if possible. A letter had been received from the Department stating that it was too late to consider amendments to the scale, which the board considered contained several anomalies. Several building requirements to which attention had been drawn by the headmaster had been referred to Mr Winsor. 7’he report was adopted..