EDUCATION BOARD.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 21 May 1914, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD.

YESTERDAY'S MEETING

The North Canterbury Education Board met yesterday. Present: —Messrs T. W. Adams (chairman), C. H. Opie, G. Reunie. J. Jamieson, J. Studholme, W .A. Banks, H. Boyd, K. H. Andrews. BUILDING COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The Building Committee reported, inter alia, that the application for more space at Anama could not be entertained at present. A tender for a new school at Beckenham had been accepted. The Technical College was granted an etxension of one month for the use of the room at the South Belt School. The matter of definite information regarding the'master's house at German Bay was held over pending the settlement of the question of the new school cite. With regard to the application for a new school at Hororata, it was decided to ask the committee whether it would not be an advantage to place the new building in the locality of the Road Board office. The suggestion to move the jaorsley Downs School to Bentley's Corner was tentatively approved oy the Board. Plans were to be prepared and tenders called for work at Redcliffs.

THE OVERCROWDING PROBLEM,

In seconding the adoption of the Building Committee's report, Mr JJamieson said he would like to direct the Board's attention to a few facts that ho had put together relative to the much-taiked of subject, the overcrowding of the schools. He pointed out that tho majority of tue pupils were on tho rolls of the schools in the metropolitan area, where the numbers had gone up in leaps and bounds. For instance, ETmwood started eight years ago with about 350, and to-day its roll number was 663. Linwood was another case. The new school was opened six years ago with a, roll number of about 300. To-day it was 565. Seeing that it had been laid down by the Education Department that uo main school should contain more than (unless provided with separate infant schools, as was the case with Christchurch East, Woolston, Richmond, Linwood, aiid Sydenham), he considered they should, if practicable, endeavour to bring the accommodation in tho __city and suburban schools up to tiio o'UO standard. The speaker referred to the area of school grounds, and said that if this matter had been considered more carefully' before granting a new school district for Elmwood, there would not have been any need for the abuse of the Board by the school coinmitteo as had taken placo recently. However, he considered the Board should approach the Department with the object of getting another acre of land if possible for Elmwood. Hβ hoped that steps would be taken to relieve tho overcrowding at Opawa and Waltham, and also at Semeriield, New Brighton, and other places. He advocated the replacement of various old schools which had outlived their usefulness and needed bringing up-to-date, and he then dealt with, the schools in sparsely populated districts. "These schools/ he said, "are situated in. sparsely populated districts, where pupils have to walk or ride, in many cases, three and four miles, and it is obvious thaf the relative upkeep, by reason of the smaller attendance, is greater; nevertheless, their wants are worthy of every .consideration. Wo read much in the papers concerning the Education Board and its administration, but it would be more to the point i if the critics would endeavour to ascer- { tain what financial assistance the Board receives from the Department, to carry out necessary works.. I venture to state that instead of condemning the Board, they (the critics) would at least give us credit for an honest attempt to comply with varied requests according to our funds. "Furthermore, why is there not more attention directed to the wasteful expenditure in connexion with the Technical College? Mark you, I value technical education, but 1 emphatically oppose the reckless expenditure in palatini buildings, etc., to the detriment of our primary education system. New -Zealand is a democratic <rountry, and the majority must be considered; that being so, we must guard our primary schools jealously, and use every reasonable facility to secure from tho Department such financial assistance as will enable many urgent and necessary improvements to be effected."

Mr Opie supported the. previous speaker, dnd the report was adopted.

APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE'S REPORT. " The Appointment Committeo reported, inter alia, that the following appointments were recommended: — Culverden, Mr W. H. Jones; Gebbie's Valley,! Mrs R. Dingwall; Marshland, Miss L. Turner; Christohurch West, Miss D. Manifold; Christehurch EasE (South belt), -Miss C. A. Moro; Kaiapoi. Mr B. A. McKeown and Miss A. A. Lynskey; Papanui, Miss G. Cullon and Miss F. R. Tutton; Springfield, ■Mr M. 0. Moore; Wninui, Miss E. R. Choat.

The following resignations were received and accepted:—Ashburton, Mrs V. Willis; Linwood, Miss A. Fahey; Rangiora, Mr B. A; McKeown.

> After consideration of the information given by Mr Ensor to the Buildings Committee with regard to tho number of children of school age in the Okuku district, it was agreed to recommend the Board to re-open the school on the usual conditions, and to instruct the architect to have • the building renovated and—the necessary apparatus supplied. The report was adopted.

HIGH SCHOOL BOARDS. The following representatives on the High School Boards were elected:— Akaroa, Mr W. K. Virtue; Ashburton, Messrs J. Tucker and W. B. Denshire; Rangiora, Mr H. Boyd. NEW ELECTION DATE. If was resolved that the date for : 'o fresh meetings of householders who failed to elect committees should be June loth.' 1914. THE ELMWOOD COMMITTEE. The Elmwood School Committee wrote protesting against their election, alleging incorrect counting of the rotes. It was decided to call a fresh meeting of the householders for June loth. iUl'i. GENERAL. Tho resignation of Mr C. D. Hardie as a Board's representative on tho Christehurch Technical Association was accepted. Mr S. C. Owen was appointed to the position. An enquiry from the Department was received, asking what steps the Board was taking to celebrate Day. Mr Banks said he thought it would bo advisable if Arbour Day was celebrated on the King's birthday. Mr Studholme thought Empire Day would do, on June 3rd. This suggestion was adopted by the Board, and it was decided to notify School Committees to the effect that Empire Day and King's Birthday be celebrated together. THE ANNUAL REPORT. I The annual report of the North Canterbury Board of Education to the Minister of Education was considered. [ After referring to the constitution and election of members, the report weufc on to state that the total expenditure on buildings exclusive of the cost of sites was £14,891 •Jβ lOd, made up as follows:—Maintenance, £11,104 8s 8d (including many improvements and 65----penses of the architects' department) ; replacing worn-out schools, £2400 3s 9d; new buildings, £1386 12s od. The total expenditure on sites, including * ra inin X college site, was £5270 7e 6d. The Board had in-

curred heavy .expenditure on improvements and repairs to school buildings, and had been unable to keep its expenditure' within its income. Tho amount received from tho Department for maintenance and rebuilding was £9455 7s 10d, whereas the amount expended was £13,504 12s sd, showing an over expenditure of £4049 4s 7d. "It is obvious," paid tho report, "that this over-expenditure caacot continue without the Board, getting into very serious trouble, and that either a larger maintenance grant must, ba made by the Government or the Board must refuse many applications." During April the Board mado an inspection of twenty-three schools in tho district, and the schools and grounds generally were found. in good order. The number of schools in operation at the end of the year, including twentyfour aided schools, was 218, classified as follows:—Grade 0, 6; grade 1, 2t>; grade 2, 52; grade 3, 29; grade 4, 51; grade 5, 20; grade 6, 8; grade 7, 6j grade 8, 8; grade 9, 5; grade 10, 7. The average attendance for 1913 was 87.28j as comnared with 87.03 in 1910, 88.99 in 1911," and 88.85 in 1912. Tho number of teachers at the end of 1913 was 648 (145 being pupil teachers and probationers). The expenditure on salaries and allowances to teachers engaged in primary departments was £84,689 os 4d; grants to committees and incidentals, £6805 4s 4d. The salaries paid to teachers in secondary de-partments-amounted to £3001 12s 7d. ■ I ' ■