Canterbury Education Board.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1922, Page 4

Canterbury Education Board.

FRIDAY, MAY 19th. The Canterbury Education Board met at Christchurch on Friday, l’resent: — Messrs G. \\. Armifage (chairman), YY. A. Ranks, 11. J. Bignell, J. Mira l , (!. (low, John Jameson. C. S. Thompson. T. Hughes, W. R. Spencer, A. Revciill, and Mon .1. Grimnioml. An apology was made for the absence ol Mr F. 11.. Andrews.

Appoint inputs confirmed includ' d .Miss M. Ilackell, as sole teacher at .South Spit.. Resignations received and accepted included.: —M,iss A. Schwebe, sole teacher at Callaghans; Miss M. Ilaisty, sole teacher at Roa ; Mr J. Southward, assistant master at Rnnanga : Miss K. Green, sole teacher, Waiho (lorge. Mr White (Tiuant olliccr for West Coast) reported having received dll truancy lists, in which connexion -Id ordinary notices had boon sent to parcuts. A number of visits had been made to pupils’ homes. There had been a few eases of diphtheria in the district, hut so far this had not affected the attendance to any great extelil. BUILDING COMM ITTFF.

Aiahnra Road.—Am application for a grant towards removal of ouloffice to another part of the grounds, and a renewed application for u tank were referred to the Foreman for attention or report.Camerons. —betters from Teachers’ Institute, Committee mid- Inspector regarding tenancy of school grounds by a member of the Committee was referred to Mr Rignell and Hon Orimmond for report. Ixnnieri.—The Church Trustees stated that rent would he charged and the Department agreed to pay 21 a week for use of Church schoolroom. Jack’s Mill.—An application for a ( heck gate and for keys for cupboards and drawers was granted. Maitiinui.—The Committee’s application for a small additional grant towards erection of shelter shed was acceded to to the extent of (.'2. Waitaha.—Consideration of Committee’s application for a grant for concreting path around the school grounds was held over pending receipt of information as to the amount that could he raised loeallv.

The Foreman’s report for the month was received and adopted:—

Totara Flat.—Repairs to spouting, i»cw tank, repairs to fences, byloplate and blackboards authorised * 2 2.1). Stillwater.—Removal iug interior of school, supplying six blinds, repairs to spouting (220). Dobson.—Architect to prepare plan and estimate for remodelling school. SCHOOL COMMITTFF, FLECTIONS.

.School Committee elections reported incomplete included : Rnrrvtowfi.—One member to lie cloet-

CiihJen.— Two members to lie elected. Recommended Mr Thomas Southern!! and Mr Albert Gunn.—Approved. (Hint.--One member to lie elected. Recommended Mr Charles Evendcu. A pm lived. There arc still I returns to come in. M ISCKLLA.NEO.CS. The European Stud-'iit Relief Committee was given the Hoard’s sanction to. circularise district, high schools on behalf of the fund. The Committee of the Sir Arthur l’cnrsni .Memorial Fond was given permission to approach school children lor funds. The commit tee of the Russian Famine Save the ( hildien Fund were given permission to communicate with schools on the subject of children being given the opportunity to contribute Id per neck for tluee months. It was decided to write a letter commending "Playground Week.” It was decided to extend the Hoard's sympathy with, and approval of, the objects of the Society for Imperial Culture. A special mealing of the Hoard is to la* held on June loth to go into the matter of statf salaries. AGRICULTURAL INSPECTION.

Mr W. J. Johnston reported for April ml May:—

I beg to submit my monthly report oil the Schools’ Agrieultoinl work in the Westland district for • the month of Apri(- May. The month Inis been a broken one on account ol holidays, wet weather and my eoiihuenieiil to Groymout li for a day or two with slight influenza. The schools visited are mostly oil' the milway. and those on or near it, in tl.e soil Hi, might just ns well lie oil it. as the .service is designed with the maximum of inconvenience.

The schools are llumpliieys, Blue Mpiir, Kokaiahi lower), Knkatalii •upper), Koiterangi, I’aroa, Waitaha and Ross.

In mimic of the schools 1 find that the Approved Schemes of Work have been lost, and ns only a limited number of these were printed, I am finding it difficult In make up deficiencies. These schools seem to have no files for official circulars.

The work being done nt I’aroa and Ross is very encouraging indeed. The children of the former school are taking a keen interest in the collecting of gras.cs, and their mounting and naming of them is very commendable. At Ross the work is carried out in a systematic and tlioruugli manner. The keen enthusiasm of the pupils and their eagerness to excel in their work was a roil compensation after my rough bicycle ride of some twenty miles. The front of the school lias been nicely laid out in Mower beds and shrubbery 'borders, and compels more than a passing glance from the visitor.

The results of the potato growing competition are not yet complete, lint they should be ready early next term. The work of the District High Schools is progressing satisfactorily, although that at Groymouth could he mneli improved with smaller classes and an up-to-date laboratory.

The Teachers’ Classes are now in full swing, and so far, both the work and attendance has been quite satisfactory. —Received. AUDIT REPORT.

Mr C. R. Kirk, Auditor, submitted a report'Oil the recent audit of School Coliimittecs’ accounts.

Tliu general accounts of .'ll9 Committees were examined ami in connection wit!i a liumhe'r of scliools supplementary accounts relating to special funds wore also presented for a inlit. Tn this latter connection it is necessary to draw attention to the omission of a number of Committees to submit their supplementary accounts for examination, ft is reouired hv law that the accounts of School iommitees shall he audited by tm auditor appointed for the purpose by the Hoard ; the balance sheet is made out over a certificate of the Chairman to the effect that it “includes the whole of the Committee’s _ finaneiar transactions,” and as a general principle it would appear desirable that when large sums of money are raised publicly for school purposes, there should lie some record of such transaction available to the Hoard and the householders. It is not suggested, of course, that the funds so raised have heoii improperly used, hut the Hoard will no doubt realise that the practice is open to objection and that the attention of Committees concerned should be drawn to their obligations in the matter. A good many Committees have acted under a misapprehension and have readily presented

all the accounts when asked to do so. Others may have separate accounts without disclosing the fact, but one or two, unfortunately, have declined to accede to requests That the accounts should be sent in.

A noticeable feature about the accounts lias been the large sums that have been raised for school purposes by the local residents. This lias meant a lot of extra work for the Committees, and, while it has also ninth- the audit foie exacting, it has been a pleasure In s-c how the local managers of the schools have risen to the occasion and met the ad,verse (iipm.ci.a.l, situation with such success.

Seventeen Committees have (limited to send any accounts whatever, and the Hoard is asked to decide what action is to he taken in respect of these.