EDUCATION BOARD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2994, 3 February 1917, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD

—4 iIBST MEETING OF THE YEAR. The Wellington Education Board, with which is now 'incoijorated the Marlborough Education Board, held its first meeting for the current year yesterday. The Hon. J, CJ, W". Ait'ken presided, and thero were also present: wessrs. It, .A. AVright, M.8., W.' H. Raid, M.P., W. Allan, A. AV. Hogg, i'. moss, T. Forsyth, J. Kebbell, G. T. London, E. P. Kisbworth, and A. .vl'Kay. Mr H. Penny (Marlborough) telegraphed expressing regret that he was unable to be present at tlio meeting. Mr. AUan moved: "That the question of proficiency examinations be considered by the board at the next meeting, with a view towards raising the age limit in country or devising some other method of dealing with the matter." :- •.; > ■ ** r - Fiel f in seconding ihb ■motion, said that there wasno'doubt the country schools were, labouring '■ under a disadvantage. • A? e m otmi lvas carried. Mr. T. Forsyth mentioned the. fact that only Wo of the Junior and Senior fsafcional Scholarships recently awarded had been taken by scholars at'the secondary school, and all the rest had gone to the colleges. This, he said, raised the question as to whether the tuition m the secondary schools was a r S shf a s th 6 PUP ' ls t0 Wb ftese The Chief Inspector of Schools (Mr. 11 me J?™P P°, m I etl out that practical y all the scholars who won the scholarships were from the primary schools, and the only advantage. they received was a year's additional tuition at tne colleges. A letter was received from the Education Department intimating that all children boarded out by the State were to be regarded as "necessitous cases " as far as free school books were concerned. The Department wrote stating that it ■ had authorised a grant of £600 for * I } c i d ™ t,on t0 tho Marnui Sch °°], and Moo 13s. as a grant for furniture for the training college. As to the Lansaowne School, the- sum of £99 17s had been authorised for an open-air class-room, but the application of a grant for a shelter shed had beeii de- : chned. j_ne statement of finances, after-pro- ; yimng for the paysheet, showed: Build- •■■ ings account, debit, £1184 35.-8 d • ' general acount, credit, £763 9s. lid' • technical account, debit, £288 15s *8d • ' manual account, credft';"£?o-t'll's" od' • secondary account, debit, £613 17s. id. \ teachers' salaries account,-debit, £32 16s. 9d.; contractors' deposits account credit,. £41 19s. Total debit'balance f January 31, 1917, £1109 13s. Id. -,