ASHBURTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19197, 10 October 1930, Page 3

ASHBURTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

At the monthly meeting of the Ashburton Technical School Board, yesterday, Mr R. Galbraith presided. The principal, Mr R. J. Thompson, reported that all girls attending the evening classes were allowed to leave at nine o’clock on account of the present power shortage. Applications had been asked from students wishing to join the shearing class. This would commence on Monday, November JO, and if sufficient students enrolled the class would continue for three weeks. The annual school sports would be held on the oval on Tuesday. October 28. The General Council of Education, at its last meeting had advised the Education Department “ that as soon as the financial arrangements could be made a conveyance allowance would be granted to secondary school pupils as in the case of primary schools.” Two other recommendations of the council which affected Ashburton were: (1) “That the council recommends that the consolidation of Elgin, Newlands and Dromore schools at Fairton be effected without delay,” and (2) “ that in order to obtain certificates of secondary teaching, one of the requisites be a University degree in subjects approved by the principal ” (of the Training College). ’lnis provision, the principal contended, if brought into effect, would go a long way towards improving the qualifications of secondary and technical teachers in general .-übjects. At present it was found that often the subjects taken in the degree course were of little or no assistance to the applicant for a position in a technical school. A wiser choice of subjects for the degree could easily be of equal or greater cultural value than some chosen at present., and at the sam-* time would be a much better ground work from the view point pf the practical teacher. The Education Department approved of the appointment of Miss Evy Belcher. M.A., as teacher in general subjects and drawing pending the arrival of Miss 1. Chamberlain. The question of indemnifying the board against claims by teachers in case of accident was discussed and the principal was authorised to secure particulars concerning the costs of an accident insurance policy. The chairman reported fi credit of £277 4s lid in the general account. The principal brought up the matter of the cost to parents in conveying their children to the school. In the case <.f pupils attending the primary schools the Education Department made an allowance of 6d per child travelling from a distance of from three to five miles, and Sd over five miles, but in the case of secondary and technical schools no allowance was made. It was resolved to suggest to the Department that an allowance be made by the board to assist the parents who have, to pay large amounts for the conveyance of their children to the technical school. Messrs Hillier and Hayes were appointed a visiting committee for the ensuing month.