Canterbury Education Board.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1922, Page 4

Canterbury Education Board.

The Board met on Friday last at Christchurch. Present—Messrs G. W. : Armitage (chairman'), W. P. Spencer, ■T. Hughes, J. Maze, J. Jamieson. AV. A. Banks, E. H. Andrews 11. J. Burnell, and’the Hon J. Grimmond. M.L.O. Appointments made included, Miss E .CreaghV sole teacher at Dobson; Miss B. F. Orr, assistant mistress at Runanga.. Resignations accepted included Mr C. Edga.r, assistant master at Cobden; Mr G. M. McKenzie, assistant master at Greymouth; Miss A. M. Crowley, sole teacher at AYaikuku (retiring on superannuation). 1 Mr F. E. O’Flynn (Runanga) wrote expressing disappointment that lie had not been given a chance for the Ranoiorn position and his intention of looking outside .Canterbury for a transfer. Organizing teacher for West Coast. A letter was received front the Depairtment, agreeing to the Board’s proposal to appoint Mr R. W. Maxwell, M.A. Appointment to be made accordingly. Seddon Memorial Medal. —A letter was received from the Seddon Memorial Committee, expressing the opinion that it is not advisable to alter the regulations framed by the Committee in 1911. It was agreed to inform the Greymouth D.H. School Committee accordingly. BUILDING COMMITTEE. *

Hokitika.—A letter was received from tlu i Committee again urging the improvement of the ventilation of the school and various other requirements. A report was also received from the Foreman to the effect- that most of the work had already been done or was being carried out.

Ruatapu.—An application for two new tanks was referred to the Foreman with power to act. Totara Flat. —An application for new tank, spouting, repairs to building and garden fence was referred to the Foreman for attention or report. Upper Koiternngi.—A letter was received from the Department asking for information as to the position regarding the proposed school in this district. Mr Bignell reported that he had interviewed the Inspector whohad promised to send a, report. Further action was held over pending receipt of this report. The Foreman’s report for the month wan received and adopted. METHODS OF APPOINTMENT.

The Appointments Committee reported that a, number of committees wrote, protesting against the present system of the appointment of teachers. It was resolved to send copies of the letters on to the Minister and to point out that the matter was a continual source of friction between tic; Beard and committees, the dissatisfaction being general, and further, that in the opinion of the Board the present principle of appointing teachers was detrimental to the l est interests of education. Tlic Board also decided to forward a copy of the resolution to all school committees. OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. A letter was received (ro"i the Education Department reminding the Hoard that it was required to see that all teachers made and subs, rihef an oath of allegiance (or oath of affirmation) to bis Majesty the 1- >ng, am l

points out that after April Ist no person shall be employed as a teacher unless lie does so.

The secretary said that the oath or affirmation of allegiance had to be taken by April Ist. The papers ha ’ only just come to hand from Wellington. Mr E. H. Andrews moved that a circular with form attached be sent <n every teacher employed by i Board. Tlie secretary said the oath could bo taken before a .T.P., solicitor, chairman of Education Board, or chairman of school committee. Tbe motion was carried. Mr Andrews said the Board should protest against the short notice given by the Department. Only a fortnight was allowed to get the forms hark from over 100(1 teachers, and the forms bad to be sent- to even’ remote part of the district. The Department should have given more time. He moved that the Board should protest against the short notice given by the Department. Seconded by Mr Thompson and carried. AGRICULTURAL.

Mv W. ,T. Johnston reported as follow*/:—I beg to submit my monthly report on the Schools’ Agricultural work in the Westland District for the month of February and March.

The appearance of the plots after the summer vacation is somewhat disappointing, as the weeds have generally taken possession. The outsid work for the month has been a; general tidying up, with here and there, a little harvesting. During my visit T have tried to get and give reasons for failure, and have made suggestions for improvement.

From what I have seen up to the present I judge that the potato crop will he somewhat disappointing. This is mainly due to the very wet season. -Received.

SWIMMING AND LTFE-SAVTNG. The new regulations just issued provide that Swimming and Life-Saving Classes will not be recognised for the year 1922-1923. In reply to a letter from the Board stating that the Board bad already entered into certain obligations with regard to these classes, the Department has agreed to pay swimming capitation for classes conducted till the end of March. TECHNICAL CLASSES.

The Manual and Technical Committee reported that the new instructions provided:—(l) That no classes will he recognised which are of low edm-’ tional value; (2) students must he under eighteen years of age; (3) classes must not be less than twelve for technical work, and not less than eighteen for continuation work. This meant that practically all 'technical cl oases for country centres would have to close down. The committee recommended that a statement embodying the following be sent to the Department:—

That in view of the serious disability the Department’s new regulations are likely to entail on country technical schools and classes,

This board respectfully asks the Department to reconsider its proposals with regard to the recognition of classes for the ensuing year, as the j instruction to .be penalised is really i the most valuable. Again while ad- | mitting that the Department must ? go in for the strictest economy alt j

the present time, it would seem unfair that country districts should have to bear the brunt of the bur-

den whilst the larger centres will be only slightly affected. It would also seem a weak policy to destroy with a stroke of the pen a superstructure which has taken years .to build up, and which has been built up largely by voluntary efforts and voluntary subscriptions. To say tbe least the buildings, material, dud plant v ■ deteilorate, but the worst point is that when times again become normal the pioneering work will have to be done afresh.

Mr W. Spencer, the chairman of the committee, in moving that the suggested resolution be forwarded to the "Department said that the supervisor’s report had stated olenrly what was going to be the effect of the Department’s new regulations, discouraging technical and continuation classes carried on at small centres throughout IF Dominion. It appeared that it would have been a wise step if the Department had first consulted boards ol •education and boards of managers of technical schools and classes, who are conversant with the carrying on of these classes, and the results that accrue from them, before deciding on such a drastic measure. It was now some twenty years since technical education first took shape in the Dominion! and throughout all these years a system had been gradually built up which was now beginning to show beneficial results. In the early days some bard pioneering, work was done; by enthusiasts, and much voluntary effort and money had been expended, till to-dav every small town in the district could boast of its technical school, where every effort was made to cater for the educational requirements of the communiy. Who can measure the amount of good that was being done? In many district 1 - the technical schools form a part of the social life of the community, and it could scarcely he believed that the Minister of Education was in sympathy with the destruction of a- project ' which at present provided the only machinery for oarrying on postprimnry education, a scheme the Minister was so enthusiastic over. It was difficult to see where the saving woulo come in when the deterioration that would take place in' buildings, equipment and plant was considered. Again when the work was resumed after the breach, as taken up it must be, there would be ehormous leeway to me up. This Dominion could not afford to lag behind older countries in the matter of technical education; her isolation demanded that she must he in advance of other countries, and that was the tendency to depopulate the country and over-populate the towns. The Department’s step was a retrograde one, not even defensible on the score of economy,, because it was false economy, and tbe board, as protectors of education, should; do all in its power to frustrate the proposition. The Hon J. Grimmond, in seconding the motion said that the Department’s proposals would seriously affect many schools on the West Coast. Mr T. Hughes said that country schools would be Ibe biggest sufferers. The Department’s proposals were false economy.

The resolution was carried unanimously.