CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1917, Page 4

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

■ The Board met at Christchurch on Friday last.- There were present:—Messrs C. 11. Opie (chairman), T. W. Adams, H. H. Andrews, W. A. Banks, J. Griiumond, W. M. Hamilton, C. S. Howard, J. Jamieson, J. Maze and A. Peverill. The appointments committee recommended appointments including Oreymouth, Miss S B Struthers, assistant mistress (second division), Goldsborough, Miss C. M. Jones,, mistress; Okarito Forks, Miss A. Sweeney, mistress on capitation basis and N subject to usual conditions. were agreed to. Resignations accepted included Ra Fontaine, Miss G. J Park, mistress ; Okarito Forks, Miss K. K. Donovan, mistress. The New Zealand Educational Institute wrote urging the board to support the movement,fot the early closing of hotel bars. It was resolved to give full support as requested, Mr Opie remarking that he considered it necessary in the interests of the younger people in particular. From what he had seen in Wellington on a lecent Saturday evening, he was quite satisfied that it was in the interests of the Dominion that the hotel bars should be closed at an early hour each evening. The Department forwarded a circular approving of the suggestion of the National Efficiency Board that in order to assist in inculcating in the minds of boys and girls a strong national sentiment, the ' American system of saluting the flag when entering school should be followed. It was agreed to give effect to the proposal .

School Commissioners were appointed for various schools where Committees had not been elected, including:— Awatuna—Mr C. Dennison. Callaghans—Mr S. Havill. Jackson— Mr T. Eeamy Dunganville—Mr W. Larcombe.

The Standing Committees were re-appointed, Mr Grimmond being appointed to the Building and Agriculture Committees and Mr BiguelFfco the Appointments and Agriculture Committees. BUILDING COMMITTEE.

The Committee’s report included the following'applications and recommendations, which weie agreed to - The Bruce Bay Committee applied for the erection of new closets at the school.—Recommended that the Committee be authorised to erect two out-houses, cost not to exceed £2O. Mr Grimmond reported that the Minister adhered to his previous decision to grant the subsidy of £ for £ on the money raised locally for improvements at the Blackball school. —Recommended that the work’be put in hand as soon as the promised by the School Committee is received or guaranteed. The Hokitika Committee made various requests in connection with the school and grounds.— Recommended that half cost of the labour of erecting two shelter sheds be granted, the Committee to have permission to obtain the material from the old gymnasium which may be demolished if unsafe and insanitary. The application for repairs to fence round the tennis court to be declined. The drainage of the school grounds, the ventilation of the class rooms, and the

clearing of part of the grounds to

be-referred to the Foreman For report. The Board to grant the material for necessary' fencing between the caretaker’s cottage and

the play-ground, provided the Committee supply the labour. The Department wrote granting £iro for the erection of a residence at Waitaha for the teacher.—Recommended that the Foreman arrange to have the work carried out at once.

■ The Westland County Council forwarded a copy of a petition re- . ceived from settlers at Wataroa protesting against the removal of the school. Inspector Valentine reported that owing to the removal of a family the need of removing the school was not. now so urgent. —Recommended that the removal of the school be allowed to stand over, anci the . Westland County Council be asked for an answer to the Board’s letter asking for a site at the gravel reserve. Foreman to report regarding painting and repairing of school buildings at Goldsborough. Foreman to attend to repairs to gates, chimney and spouting at Blue Spur, Hyloplate blackboard to be supplied.

La .Fontaine Committee to be asked' to attend to out-house. Foreman to arrange to have -Wataroa.School painted when suitable,

Inter-Wanganui School Committee to call for tenders for general repairs to School building, and to submit them to Mr Grimmond. Pukekura School Committee to obtain a price for shifting the outhouse. RESIGNATIONS. Resignations accepted included: — Miss E. K. Donovan, mistress at Okarito Forks.

Miss-G, J. Park, mistress at ta Fontaine. - i ~ Transfers were approved of Miss J. Rooney, from Dunganville to Stvede’s Mill. 31 Miss A. Ritchie, from Dillmans to Dorie. Miss E. J. Donovan, fr£tn Okarito to La Fontaine. • > MissE. K. Donovan, fromOkarito Forks to Okarito. HIGH SCHOOL PAYMENTS.

The Department wrote, advising that the Akaroa and Greymouth High .School Boards had no legal authority to supplement the salaries of teachers engaged in secondary departments of Districtx High Schools. It was suggested that the two Bokrds should approach the Department with the view ofobtaiuing statutory autlia.rlty to make such payments. In the cases of Hokitika and Waimate, the .legal authority extended to the payment of teachers engaged in secondary departments only, and therefore the employment of a pupil teacher in the primary classes whose salary was provided by the High School Board could not be regarded as legally justifiable. A letter was received from the Hokitika District School Committee, asking that the nresent arrangement —payment of pupil-teacher in the primary department —might be allowed to stand until the end of the year. Mr F. White (West Coast Truant Officer) reported having received twelve absentee lists, most of the schools having been closed for holidays. Eleven ordinary notices and two of a final nature had been sent out and a number of schools visited.

Inspector Valentine submitted inspection reports in .the'following schools— Goldsborough, Blue Spur La Fontaine, The Forks,! Okarito ( Waiho, Wataroa, Inter-Wanganui, Ppkekura,Waitaha, Mikomii, Rimu Catholic, Kanieri Catholic, Humphreys. A Mr W. Brock, Senior Inspector, reported in regard to the question of school hooks, that no .change of books was contemplated, so far as the inspectors were concerned. Should the Department be in a position to continue the supply of the “ School Journal,” there was little need for a miscellaneous reader. The journal supplied abundant reading matter, and there never was a time when parents were put to so little expense on the score of books.

A circular was read from the Education Department, suggesting that as a means of improving the efficiency of small schools, whereever possible arrangements should be made for the conveyance of pupils or for the boarding of pupils away from home, also the establishment of part-time schools. It was agreed to reply that the Board would he glad to establish part-time schools where practicable, and that the Board distinctly favoured the conveyance of cjiildren to school, a system which in isolated localities could be more generally taken advantage of if the Department would increase the payment and allow the children to travel on horseback or by bicycle.