EDUCATION BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1969, 28 January 1914, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING; ; Tho first meeting in the New Year of tlio Wellington Education Board was hold yesterday. Them woro present.: Mr. l<. Leo (chairman), Sir Walter Buchanan, Messrs. A. W. Hogg, J. Robhdl, Moss, W. Freeman, W. Allen, and. W,;.11. Fwkl. Notification ivas received from tljo Government of n grant of £100 for nd<iilions at Shannon. An increase from £300 to £350 was also notified for Training College incidental expenses; £30 for a shed for opon-air teiciuna; at Maraimi, and £50 for improveineirts at Parnnaraumu. An application was received from Sir. A. .Mackay and others, for tlw estahliehuiout of a school at Upper Taucru, for whicli buildings wore available, Sir Walter Jtachanan explained that tho ten or eleven children available for tiio proposed school were about six miles from Hit* nearest school. Air. HoKR said that the country was sheep country, and three families had ten children who would be sent to the school, Imfc there was little possibility of a larger number being sent. Ail that was required was a teacher, but a young lady could not be expected to (io there. Possibly, if someone, could he induced to live in part of the buildings secured it would bo suitable. It was difficult to Ret a teacher accommodated in tho district. The matter was loft in the hands of the inspector. Sir Walter Buchanan moved that tho resolution of the board, passed on No-1 vember 2a, 1913, in relation to tho ap-1 plication for removal of the Bideford School bo rescinded. He was in favour of a removal, aitd said the site selected was a very good one. When the river was in jlood the children should not bo asked to go to the present school site. Mr. Lee. said that the question was whether tho school building was worth moving. Sir "Walter Buchanan allowed his first motion to -stand over, and moved that the Clerk of Works should bp instructed to visit tho school and report as to the cost of removal. The offer of the Methodist Cliu.rchroom for temporary occupation as a school-room at Mnranui, at a rental of 17s. (id. per week, was accepted. Eastern Him School." A letter was received from tho Department stating that it did not approve of the proposals •ro the Hutt eastern building extension. Tho chairman (Mr. E. Lee) explained that in the past the Eastern Hutt SchooMiad boon, used asi a side school to tho .Western-Hutt School. It was lvovr proposed to make it a main school and all standards would bo tnuctht, instead of only Standards 1 and II as in the. past. By tlio proposed change it was thought many pupils would go from the one school to the other. Ho meet increased requirements it had been proposed to increase the Hutt Eastern accommodation, but tho Department failed to agree. It was decided that the two schools should be opened next week and tlin board would observe how many changes there were, and would note tho need for extension if it arose. School Amalgamation. Tho amalgamation 01 Te Aro and Mitchelltown schools was considered, rind tho committee set up by the board to deal with the matter reported that, in accordance with tho authority conferred by the board, it hold a conference with t!|c Te jA.ro and, MiteheUtown committees. 'iAs a vostili ot'tliat conference, and of correspondence with the- respective rommitteos, the board's committee decided to': complete tho amalgamation on the lines indicated in the report recently before tho board. Further, it received ami considered-'a comnnmicalion from tho MiteheUtown Committee, Betting forth certain conditions which that committee desired the board to observe in the event of its insisting on amalgamation. After full consideration of tho matter, the committee took tho necessary steps: (1) to complete tho amalgamation of tiie two schools as from February 1; and (2) in compliance with tlio request of the Mitchcll- ■ town Committee] and after consnltaton with the To Aro Committee, to ap- ! point Mr. Malcolm, now headmaster of the Mitchell town School, to the master* ship of.the combined schools. Other matters of secondary importance had ■ been suitably arranged with tlio respec- , tive committees. The committee) had I deferred for tho consideration of tho board tho question of the name of the • combined school. Tho committee re- ■ commended that the schools bo formally 1 closed as from January SI, and tlio i combined school re-opened as from Teb- ■ rliary 1. ■ The chairman (Mr. B. Leo) said that ! there had been a good deal of discussion ' between the two committees and tho board, and tliG school committees had > agreed to amalgamate, at any rate, for ■ such time as might be necessary. They ■ hud made conditions which tho board • J had fallen in with, the- main condition • being that tlio liondmastor of Mitchell' ' town should remain as headmaster of ; the amalgamated schools. Ho thought, ' personally, there wore others having ' more claims on the board than tho'pre- ■ sent headmaster of MiteheUtown. Sir. Malcolm was a good master, and a capable man, and the eommitteo made it a ' special condition that their teacher • should remain with them. The cnminit- ' ten set up by tlio board had fallen in 1 with this desire. There wore other ■ conditions with, regard to building re- ■ quirements. etc., also that tlio name 1 of tho school should be fixed. There were two opinions on this, in favour of ' ,Tc Aro and Wellington West, and it ' was left to tho board to fix. Tho in--1 RUeetor thought they siliould not rename ! tlto schools at all. T« Aro would bn* no me tho .main school.. and-Mitchcll- ; town the side school. '..It was suggested that the two school, committees should 1 continue to act till their time expired, ' and then one committee emild bo apI pointed for t'lie whole school. Tlie committees Sell in with that, and if any ' important' matters arose they were to ' consult one 'another. Everything hntl now been sottied, except tlio condition of the name. It meant a- great savins; to the State, namely, £1600 for biiildiiics, and over £300 a year for the stnfl'. Tlio : arrangements had been carried out quietly and amicably. Of Ronrsc, the matter of the nnmo.. could como up again, and it could still be open to any change. It was decided to adopt, the eomniit--1 ten's report, also to leave tho naming of : the school for the present.