EDUCATION BOARD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2942, 30 November 1916, Page 9

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING

The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken (chairman), Messrs. A. W. Hogg, R. A. Wright, M.F., William Allan, Thomas 'Forsyth, G. London, T. Moss, E. P. Rishworth, B. H. Penney, and A. M'ivay were present at the monthly meeting of the Wellington Education Board, held yesterday. The pay-sheet for November totalled £17,400 19s. 9d., and the general account amounted to £303 i} 10s. 7d. There was a debit balance on November 29 of £2331 lGs. 10d., as against a debit balance of £2496 17s. 2d., on October 25. The authorisations (including, sites), amounted to £3779 10s. Teacher-Students and the War. The student who is training to he a school teacher is of more value to-day than he was three years ago. This was made apparent in a, communication that came before the board from the Board of Advico yesterday on the ni&tter of the teacher-student and the war. The chairman' explained that Training College students who accept remunerative work as teachers in the recess have had in the past to refund a proportion of it to the .college. So to avoid having to do that many of the male teachers had taken up work other than teaching. Some had even gono into the fields at harvest time, and earned.money that way. Now they did not wish the students to. go into the fields or other avenues; they wanted them to teach, owing to tho marked shortage caused' in the ranks of tha teachers by the war. Tho question was, whether the board should not 'approach the Department and ask that the student bo allowed to retain the. whole of the money earned by. teaching. '.'"■'■'. Mr. T. Forsyth thought it was surely only a fair thing. In any case, tho salary never exceeded 12s. 6d. a week, which was,littlo enough. The chairman: "You must remember that they are getting their training at the same time." .-•■•''. On tho chairman's motion, it was decided that tho Department bo approached on the matter. Art in the Schools. A letter was received from the Technical College Board asking the board to consider the advisability of placing the instruction of art in the State schools under the Technical Board, which had gone carefully into the matter, and, with a knowledge of what was done in. other centres, a strong committee had reported on the subject. ■ On the motion of the chairman, it was decided that tho matter bo referred to the City members of the board, and the' chief, inspector to consider and report upon. The Blenheim School Committee wrote requesting the appointment of a truant officer, and, in support of that request, informed.the board that the attendance had fallen away. Tho inspector and late secretary of the former Marlborough Board, together with their own officers, seemed to* be against the proposal. The chairman moved that no action ibp -taken. This was defeated, and on the motion of Mr. Pennev it was decided to appoint a truant officer for the Marlborough District at a salary of £30 a year: ' . Tenders. For the erection of an open-air classroom at Lansdowne, the tender of Mr. ■W. H. L'aughton was accepted. ■ Tho tender of Mr. f.' S. Jackson for the first section of the new school at Ohariu was accepted. The tenders for the erection of a new. residence at Pirinoa were considered to bo too high, and none, ivero accepted. That was tho.case with several other works, and in still other instances no tenders were • received' at all. . Flood at Tuamarina. By the recent : flooding of the Tuamarina Stream, m'■ Marlborough, the schoolliouse and residence were both invaded by water. The board has decided to devote the. sum of' £30 to the Tuainarina River Board for the. purpose of raising- tho stop-bank at the danger point, ' -'■'.': Regarding the schools at Seaview and Starb'orough, the' board has decided to place the Seaview school midway between the two places named. Last, Meeting of the Year. The last meeting of the board for the year'was fixed:to be held on December 15/, '." .-' ' ' •■'■