CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1921, Page 4

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD

The Canterbury Education Board met on Friday at Christchurch, present— Mr E H Andrews (Chairman), Hon. J Grimmond, M.E.C., and Messrs W. A. Banks, J. Maze, G. W. Arnutage, J. Jamieson. A. Pcverill, T. Hughes and W. P. Spencer. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs H- • • Bienoll, C. S. Thompson, and J. Cow. Mr Martin tendered his resignation as Chief Agricultural Instructor for the District to take effect from the end of February. Members of Committee ex pressed, appreciation of the "or, com bv Mr Martin during the last b* years. Agreed that Mr Martin’s resignation be accepted "d regret, and that the Secretary be instructed to write congratulating him on receiving such an important appointment and thanking him for the good work lie has done during his term ot service under the Canterbury Education Board. Mis Constance Graham, Cookery Instructress at Grevmoutli and Hokitika sent in her resignation as she had been appointed to an important position at the Christchurch Hostel. Members ot Committee referred to the pioneering work Miss Graham had done on the Const. Agreed that her resignation be accepted with regret and that she be thanked for her successful eflorts in placing the Domedia Science. Class on the Coast on such a good basis. Agreed that the Supervisor’s action in securing a grant from the Department for the purchase of 50 vices for woodwork bodies be approved. A letter was received from the Department approving of a Summer School at Grrymoiith which would include a refresher course in physical Drill lint declining to make a special grant to cover the cost of expenses in connexion therewith. A letter was also received from the Secretary of the Teachers’ Institute bearing,on tlie matter. After some discussion it was agreed that as 192') had been a very broken year and most of the schools had been closed a fortnight earlier on account of measles, that tlic holding of the school be postponed from the orignal date and held the 12th. to the 22nd of December 1921. The supervisor was instructed to have all details made out lor the August meeting of the Board. The supervisor's report was read and adopted. It was agreed to make application to the Department for a grant for cookery tables at Grevmoutli. H was reported that Miss Blackmojre, CVioktery Instructress at tbo Normal Centre bad been seriously ill and would not be fit for duty for some time. Agreed (1) that the Secretary be instructed to write to Miss Blackmore expressing the Board’s sympathy with her in her illness and trusting that she will soon be restored to health.

Mr White (Truant Officer) reported that owing to the prevalence of measles and whooping cough many of the schools had been thoroughly disorganised. A number of visits had been made to schools in tho district, but not to outlying schools, owing to many of the pupils-being absent through sickness.

Intimation was received from the Department that the Minister lteing satisfied that infectious diseases of an epidemic character had lx>on prevalent during the year 1920 to the extent of affecting 10% of the roll number in a large number of schools, the average attendance for the year would be reckoned as ou that of the .higher quarter during the year 1920; when computed on this basis, tlie additional assistant if any must be appointed provisionally and no increase in salary on account of the operation of these new provisions would be paid until the Ist. April, and then only if the requisite average attendance should have boon maintained during the first quarter of 1921.

.Resignations received find accepted, included : Greymoyth: Miss B. Robinson, Assistant Mistress. Grey mouth: Miss C. Kempthornc. Assistant Mistress. Hokitika, D.H.S. : Mr J. Brunton, Headmaster. Mikonui: Mi*s A. E. Kelly, Afistress. Moonlight: Miss ,T. C. Gosling, Mistress. AIR RIDLEY’S REPORT. I beg to report as follows for the month of December : I have continued teaching in High Schools fit Greymouth and Hokitika on Alondays and Tuesdays and have visited the following primary schools—Kokiri. Stillwater, Stafford, Arahura Road, Hokitika. Ross, Hari Hari, Do Fontaine, Pnkekurfj, Wnitahn, South Spit, Kokatahi liower and Upper, Koitorangi, Ngahcre, Totara Flat, Arahura, Hatters and Blackball. AVe were pleased you were able to see some of our schools under favourabde circumstances. The proportion of commendable work holds through, and while I have reported sucli a good opening in September all such of the gratifying results are due to much extra work in remedying effects of blasting weather in October and November The High Schools have not made the same recovery.

Hari Hari who had nothing on my visit in July, and now have a garden established in all features supplied me with the following rainfall records which are indicated:—August 5] inches Sept. 5 inches; October 12 inches; November 22mehos, Ist week of December 1 inches.

Regulation individual reports are herewith. SUPERVISOR’S REPORT.

I have to report that the principal work of the month has been the sending out and receiving of all annual returns required by the Department with regard to the work done at each primary school and eaeli technical school in the district during the year. All requests for material and apparatus to be. supplied for the ensuing year have been received and it is hoped to he able to get all parcels made up during the month of January as most of the material is in stock.

I visited the West Coast of the 14th of December, went to Hokitika with Mr Ridley, inspected the gardens and apparatus at Hokitika and went through Air Rrunton’s returns prior to his departure for AVnimate. I visited the Greymouth Technical School where the classes were in progress, and assisted tho instructors with the making up of their returns, examination reports etc.

The Engineering Class- under Mr Mitchell has kept up its attendance well during the year and some good work has been done by the students as evidence by the results of examination, and the display of practical work. The attendance at the Commercial Class has not been as good as in former years, but this may be accounted for by the fnc-t that after Miss Mclntosh left at the beginning of year, the school "as dosed down for about three months, and in the meantime the students had made other arrangments and did not coo back. A circular has been sent out to all pupils who have gained Proficiency Certificates setting forth the advantages to he gained by attending the school and it is hoped that there will lie a big influx of students at the beginning of February. The Engineering Hoorn is well under way .and Mr (1. Bignoll hopes to have it, completed about the beginning of February. I think it would he advisable to have all the plant transferred as noon as the new room is completed so that, the work may he carried on under more ideal conditions than at present*. The Woodwork and Cookery rooms at Hokitika and Greymouth are in good order and condition, The work done towards renovating the (Ireymouth Manual Training Building greatly enhances its appearance. Some splendid work has been done by both instructors at these centres during the past year. It, is a matter for regret that Miss Graham is severing her connexion with the Board. She has doin' yeoman service on the Coast hv way of placing the classes in the good position they are in at the present time; her place will be bard to till. I would recommend that an application be .sent, to the Department asking for a grant for cookery tables at Greymoutb, tbe ones in use are out of date and unsatisfactory. Alt' Bignell. Mr Ridley, and 1 visited the school gardens at Stillwater, Ngahere, Aha lira and Blackball, where there is evidence that both pupils and teachers are enthusiastic, and that some fine work is being carried on often under very adverse conditions. Mr Ridley has created a great interest in the school garden work, especially in the experimental part with regard to the selection of grasses suitable for the Coast. I met representatives of the Institute with regard to the proposed Summer School. It was pointed out that as 1920 had been a very broken year, and that as most of the schools had been closed for a fortnight earlier, on account of measles, it would be a most injudicious procedure to attempt to bold a Summer School at, the beginning of the 1921 school year.

]t wits agreed that it would also bo an iiusuitithli' tinto to hold ii school during the winter months especially its it was intended to hold a refresher course for drill. It was finally decided to ask the Hoard to postpone the. holding of the summer school, till the 12th Dec 1921 as being the most suitable time. The Proficiency examinations will he over by that date and it simply means closing down the schools a little earlier. It would he a good time of the year for holding the refresher course in drill, and it might he possible to secure the use of the racecourse for the occasion. BUILDING COMMITTED. A letter was received from the Cameron’s Committee again urging the erection ol a teacher’s residence, and it was resolved to renew the application to the Department. It was decided to reply in answer to the Department’s cn<|uiry, that Die price of the proposed school site at Watnroa was regarded as reasonable. The foreman was authorised to accept an offer for the purchase of his motor car, a new “Ford” to he obtained for his use. abpucationS RECEIVED. Blackball Headmaster--C. A. Boyle (Ross); A. R. Holloway (South-brook); B. C. Penny (Reefton); W. Stirling (A mint).

Greymouth, assistant mistress—Grace M. Aitken, Annie C. Cornwall, C. Duncan, E. G. Dwyer, G. Af. McKenzie. V. AfcTvenzie, Airs A. Wise. HOKITIKA, (Headmaster Salary £370-£410.) Brad stock, Leonard C, aged 41, Grade 47, for last lb months Headmaster Mackenzie; Was 7 years at, Bovs’ Training harm. Nelson, with previous experience. Henderson, Alex C, aged 30, Grade 41. For last 7 years Ist. Assistant, Waimatc. Irwin, Major G. B, aged 30, Grade 33. For noarly 5 years heatnaster at Methven, with previous experience. Irvine, Thos. A, aged 49, Grade 31. For last 8 years at Fendalton. Previously 14 years at Dunsandel. Malcolm, Robert, HI, aged 45, Grade 31. For last year headmaster at Kaiapoi; 7 years at St Albans and 10 years at Sydenham. Maxwell, Robt, AV., A, a*c<l 30 Grade 46. For 1 year Arodel School, T. C.; for over 3 years Assistant, Addington. Westerfield nearly 3 years. Morinnd, Titos. A-> A., aged 38, Grade 38. For 1 year Organising Teacher ; nearly 4 years at Shirley and 7 at Irwoll. Penlington, Henry F., 0, aged 48, Grade 93. For last 5 years, Assistant Richmond, Headmaster at Leeston 8 years. Pearson, Robert S., C/P D aged 42 Grade 33. For last 4 years Ist Assistant Normal School; For over 3 years Head teacher, Alodel School and for 9 years at Fernside and Poyleston. Smart, John T., C/I, aged 47 Grade 50. For last 13 years Assistant Alnst,er Temukp, with previous experience. Wilson, Jas. F., C, aged 43. Grade 37. For last 10 years, Ist. Assistant Greymouth, with previous experience.

Wilson, Henry L. B, aged 44, Grade 33. For over 5 years headmaster, Kaikpura D.H.S., was nearly 3 years at Kninpoi with previous experience. AVilkinc, Thomas Jas., B, aged 36, Grade 45. For 2} years AssistantSonterfield: 2 years headmaster Waddington, with previous experience. Wilkinson, Henry F. 8.A., aged 35, Grade 42. For last 8 months (not one year), headmaster at Granity; 3 years Ist. Assistant West-port-, and 4 years at Yaldhurst. Hokitika Assistant Afaster, Salary £940-£27o.—Seobock, Albert C/P, aged 20. Probationer Hokitika 2 years, Training College, 2 years. Now relieving at Leithfield. Wataroa, Solo Teacher, Salary £220£270 and £4O House allowance: Penney B. C., O, aged 20, Pupil Tea-

cher 3 years, Christchurch Training Col logo 2 years. Rawstorn, Albert John, C., aged 22, Grade 100, Pupil Teacher, Tiniarw Main 2 years, Training College 2 yrs.