CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1920, Page 4

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

The Canterbury Education Board met at Christchurch on Friday, tile chairman, Mr E. H. Andrews, and all the members, with tiro exception of Mr A. Peverill (who was granted leave of absence) being present. ■ The Appointments Committee’s report was adopted. Appointments approved included: — Miss C. Kempthorne, assistant mistress at Greynioutli, and Mr Guy Murray, sole teacher at Bruce Bay. The Mananui Committee applied to have tlie school painted and water laid oil to the basin in the school porch.— Resolved that the foreman carry out necessary work when next in tlie district.

The Walnroa Committee urged that the new school be erected as soon as possible.—Resolved that the Department be asked for an early decision. It was agreed to ask the Department to approve of a now school in the Humphreys locality, subject to the building (which would be inspected by Mr C. Bignell) offered by tlie residents, being found sufficiently satisfactory. Enquiry to be also made as to the qualifications of the teacher recommended.

Mr Bignell and the Hon Grimmond were requested to report on the application for another school in the Koiterangi district. .

Tlie Blue Spur Committee applied to have the school repaired and painted.— Resolved that tho foreman be asked to have the work done as soon as possible. Inspector McCaskill reported on the implication for the removal of the Bruce Bay school to another site. Ho recommended that the school be allowed to remain where it is, and that the Public Works Department be asked to have the swing bridge put into-thorough repair.—The Inspector’s report was adopted. A letter was received from the N.Z. Educational Branch reporting that the branches of the N.Z. Educational Institute in Canterbury were in favour of holidays in force iri the Christchurch schools, except that ill- South Canterbury where climatic conditions render other arrangements desirable. The Grey Branch of the Institute, favour six weeks at Christmas, one week in May and September, and one week left to the discretion of Committee and headteacher.—The holidays suggested were approved. Mr F. White (West Const Truant Officer), reported having issued 45 ordinary notices and 4 final ones. 11l each of 3 cases in regard to which final notices bad previously been issued, a summons would now be Liken out.

Inspection reports were received from Mr McCaskill on Bruce Bay and Maliitahi. The Department also forwarded copies of reports received on tlie secondary departments of the following private schools:—St Mary’s Convent (Greynioutli). St Mary’s Convent (Westport), and Sacred -Heart College (Christchurch). In connection with the recent School Committee elections, it was reported that so far 26 districts report failure to elect, hut returns are by no means complete. MR RIDLEY’S REPORT. I beg to submit the following as my report for tlie month of April. I have continued to timetable of Mondays and Tuesdays at Grey and Hokitika High Schools and Saturdays Teachers’ Classes, Grey. At each of the High Schools the full Rural Course is followed, and the organisation is much better.

The Teachers’ Class at 'Grey is much more satisfactory, and I would like to make this a. recognition of the spirit in which the teachers are appreciating the provisions nnide and there is evidence of better value from their own efforts. I have also visited the following primary schools: —lnclibonnie, Cobden, Waitaha, Pukckura, Mari Hari, La Fontaine, Ross, Paroa (twice), Kokatahi, South Spit, Hokitika and Greymouth. lnclibonnie are despondent, for it almost seems as if their rgound were poisoned. With the help of their Committee I will make a special effort to give them a chance. Paroa, South Spit, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Ngahere have their gardens down in green manure which from reason of weeds and wet is evidently a better provision for winter than leaving ground turned up in the sod. Cobden are “keeping at’’ the blackberry on their new site in hope of ensuring efficiency of Board’s work in clearing.

I did not see Waitaha Committee, but there are still no gates, and the teacher is much discouraged. I purpose visiting Waitaha and Ross again next month.

La Fontaine is not on my list. I went by direction of Inspector Valentino to find evidence of a most satisfactory garden and really the best development of Nature Study spirit among farm children.

Dominion Inspector Strong is at present visiting the Coast. Inspector McCaskill arranged for me to bo present at part of their conference. This and those indicated in my last report have been of great help to myself. Inspector McCaskill has instructed mo to meet himself and Organising Teachers again next week for purpose of co-ordinating our work. Their interest is very encouraging. I am deferring decision re plains of potato competition ote until after that meeting.

. Mr Ridley’s report was adopted. It was agreed to di-aw the attention of the Board’s foreman at Greymouth to the fact that no gates had yet been provided for the school grounds at Waitaha.