CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1917, Page 3

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD

Thursday & Friday," May 3rd k 4 h

There were present : —Messrs 0. H, Opie (chairman), W. A. Banks, T. W. Adams, J. Grimmond, J, Jamie3on, A. Feveri‘l, E. H. Andrewes, 0. S. Howard, G. W Armitage, W. M. Hamilton and J. Maze.

A return was placed on the table of tbe cost of maintenance and repairs -of the sffiools in the various old districts per capita of scholars from August 1, 1916, to February 28, 1917, such return to include wage?, etc,, but not for wotk authorised, but Btill uncompleted.

Wes'land’s proportion of the building vote was £9OO, and only £212 has been spent.

Tba repor; of the Agricultural Committee recommended that a letter of congratulations be sent to the teachers of tbe Blackball School oomplimenting them on tbe excellent work that they had done in the past in connection with the teaching of Nature study at the ochool; that the sum of £7 be granted to tbe Oobden Committee for fencing in the ground to be used for experimental plot?. It was agreed that applications be called for. the position of assistant agricultural instructor to be located on rhe West Coast, applications to close within a fortnight and the matter of making the appointments to be left in the hande of Messrs Banks Hamilton and Opie. A letter bad been received from the chairmen of the Rosa and Rnnanga School Committees asking the Board to undertake the cost of fencing school gardens. It was resolved that the matter should be left in the hands of Mr Bignel'l to see that the work is catried out, it being understood that tbe Board would provide the cut of material, provided the committee did the work of feneiug. A claim.for a teacher's expenses for travelling to tin agricultuml clisses recently held &,t Hokitika was declined as the applicant bad already received the allowance made to other teacheis. A letter was received from the Department to the effieot that in the case of puoile of H<gh Schools whose coursts are Dot adopted to the purpose of the intermediate examin3t on, bat who are candidates for eanioc tree places on nomination of the principals, subject to the recommendation of ihe Inspector of Schools, would be leverted to, but they might still be required to qualify by examination in English and arithmetic.

The Education Department wrote declining to authorite the appointment of a probationer for the Ross School, in place of Miss L. Turner, the grounds of refusal being that the resignation of a probationer does not create a vacancy • and also that all appointments of probationers in any year muse be made before April 1. Leave of absence was granted for four weeks to Mias O-mer?, Hokitika-

Mr White (Wect Co at Truant Otficer) reported having received absent*, e lists from twentj-two schools su cs Inn lbbt report, in connection with which forty-one ordinary notices had been sent to parents. Thirtv-five personal visits had been -nade, »nd the follow ipg schools visited Greymouih. Cobden, Marist Brothers, Ro a, Mananuj, South Beach, H.k'tika and Hokitika Catholic.

A letter was received from tb e Hokitika School Committee making very strong repieseDtations ns regards the need of a local truant offiser .beug appointed. The matter having already been deiit with by ilia Board,, it ,was resolved that the letter be received and no further action laKan.

Inspector Martin reported— At the time of writing my list report, tbe Teachers’ Training Class at Greymoulh had not commenced work, though In point of fact it commenced on the 29th Marcb\ This dais, numbering 108, was easily the biggest class I have bad the privilege of conducting, and it is safe to say that many of tbosi present left with an enthusiasm they never before had for Nature S;ndy. Judging by evidence from many source?, I think I am cornet in saying that the Board did wisely ia holding these classes. I devntei the lest two days to school garden studies, and the outcome of this is that already 12 primary schools have taken up the study of agriculture in the Hokit ki and G ey districts making a total of 16 taboo! while both the D.H. Schools have applied to have the Rural Course established. I thick it would be wise to congratulate the Blackball School on the quality of the Nature Study done there. The stiff consis s cf teachers, all of 'whomßra exceptionally keen and exceptionally conversant with the subject matter, and merit a word of encouragement. In my opinion, they constitute the strongest staff ; u this subject that I have met witb. I wish to inform the Board that the capitation earrel was £24 8/6 wh : eh more than p".id cost of material and my travelling expenses. I was also able to hand back to the Board £8 of the money claimed in respect of boarding allowance, payment of which, on investigation, seemed not to be warranted.

I would again urge on the Board the necessity for providing an Instructor for the Coaßf. It would be a pity to held up tbe High School work any. longer as it willj interfere with the

efficiency of the yeai’s work, if it does not damp local enthusiasm somewhat. The Coist ia guaranteed self-support-ing.—Received, It -wes resolved to build a new School between Aiit ka and Kotuka to serve Jacks Mill and Kotuku, The Board agreed to purchase a site for new school for £3O at Cameions and to build tbe school. Toe erection of a residence at Waitaha is to be put in band, It weß resolved to draw the attention of Goldsborough Committee to the Inspectors statement that the residence which is unoccupied, was deteriorating. It wa= resolved that Dill mans school be closed and application be mpde for permission to sell the building Minor requests for Kanieri, Woodstock and MaDanui were granted. Ruatapu smail requirements and repairs were referred to Mr Grimmond to deal with. The Foreman is to effect repairs to school bmldings at B.ue Spur and Humphreys, 1 The recommendation of the Foreman foe minor repairs, £5 and renewal of fencing £ls at Kanieii was approved. Copy of Foreman’s report on fceaoher’s residence at Woodstock md request for condemnation of the residence is to be sent to the Department.

Average Exp. Amount June gr. per oxj>ended 191G. pupil h d N. Canterbury 3190 20,760 3 1 S. Canterbury 1289 5.611 *1 7 Grey .. 313 1,807 8 4 Westland .. 212 1,159 3. 8