CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1923, Page 4

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

■*♦«> Tlu> Canterbury Education Board met on Friday at Christchurch. Present: .Messrs G. W. Armitagc (cliairnian), AA’. P. Spencer. .1. Maze, \V. A. Banks. .J. G. Gow, \V. rl. AVinsor, H. .J. Bignell, R. Wild and C. S. Thompson. Apologies for absence were received ironi !■;. 11. Andrews and A. Pcverill.

Appointments recommended included Miss M. Nightingale, sole teacher, Mananni: -Miss E. E. Chesterman, assistant mistress at Boss.—Approved.

Resignation,s accepted included:— Miss f.;. A. .Murdoch, assistant mistress, (Weymouth; -Miss li. !•alley, sole teacher. Wataroa.

Matainui:—-Mr Nolan forwarded pnrticulars regarding the two children of school age on whose behalf the application for a household school had been

made. In view of the Depm tmcnt’s suggestion that in the ease oi houscludif schools with less, than four children the instructions should he by means ( f correspondence classes, it was agreed to inform Mr Nolan that untd there should be six children of school ago that would attend, the Board cannot consider the question of establishing a household school.

Upper Koiternngi:—A letter was received from the Department, intimating tlmt after careful consideration it had keen decided that the application for a school in the Upper Koilcrangi locality could not he entertained. It was agreed to inform the residents accordingly. MV Wild was requested to confer with the residents as to the possibiltv of making arrangements, to have the children conveyed to Koiterruigi School. A telegram was received from Mr Bignell, reporting the sudden death of Mr F. White, the Attendance Oilicei stationed on the Most Coast. It was agreed to recommend the Board to forward to Mrs White, a letter of loiulo--1(11(0. ft was further recommended that the position of Attendance Officer on the West Coast he advertised at a salary of £IOO, the officer appointed to undertake the work' on three (lays a week.

.V letter was received Irom the Department. proposing that children belonging to household schools having an attendance of loss than four pupils, should he instructed by means ol correspondence classes. It was agreed to

ask the Department for information as to the methods to ho adooted lor the instruction of young children tumble to read or write, whose parents arc illiterate.

Ciii ortiticalod icachers: Air D. Shirlaw and Mr fJ. I’culingtoii, representing the Teachers' Institute, waited on your Committe - by arrangement in regard to uncci liii( ati'd teac hers in the Board’s employ. A list of such cases was submitted, showing that in only a few cases are iiucertiticated teachers occupying positions for which certificated teachers might apply, and that tor the most uarl good work is being done. 1( was al“o pointed out that for six posiiious coming betore the Board at it: me ■i mg on th - IBlh mst. i.herc aie no certificated applicants, a fact which appears to dispose of the argument that c rl ilirated teachers launot secure

permanent engagement. With regard (:. the Institute's .suggestion that all ii inert ideated teachers in the Bonds service should l;e given notice and the positions advertised, it was agreed that such a step at the present time, wh.cn it i- difficult to secure crrLilicatod teachers, would dislocate the work at many of the smaller schools. A our committee have already approved ol the Senior Inspector’s suggestion that the inicerlilieatcd teachers now employed should lie asked what efforts they arc making towards obtaining a certificate, and that in the case of those not doing satisfactory work »r making no attempt to obtain certificates, the posiliuiis Irmoorarily occupied l.;<* them should he advertised. The deputation expressed ils pleasure at the wav in which L’lo Committee had met the In (dilute Olid that the information gained v. ntiid ennHe them In answer quest i in.muilt more s;il isfai torilv. Crcvinnut.h Tochniinl ivhonb- ’t h 1 ar, hi t cot oiihmit ted a report and estinialo . I .fldl ). for additions to the Tediuteal l-Ugh School. It was r< solved to -end a e.ipy of the plan and c-ti-loato the Tcr-hni'-al School Board cud to apply to the Department for the ue cssary grant. cru.cr.vi: co.MAin tee. Blaekf'.ill Advice was received from (he Department of a grant ol G! ,*? ini' iiiiprnvement of out office .■tccommodat i u 11. Blakelown.—A letter was received from the Committee idling that Department lie requested to reconsider its decision regarding remodelling. It was resolved to comply with the request. Bite - Bay.—A report was received from the Inspector regarding the condition of building, etc. Small repairs wire* authorized, painting material to he supplied. Com mi (tie's attention to he drawn to previous offer ol grant for shelter .shed. Gold-borough.—The Commit tec’s application for grant for clearing gorse was declined, the work being regarded as a local liability. Koiterangi.—A letter was received from the Department approving of condemnation of residence. It was resolved that the Foreman demolish the rooms forthwith. Koitorntigi I'ppor.-—The Depart men I stilted* that it could not make a grant for a srhnd building in this district. Muuanui.—An application was received from the Committee for enlargement- of school and painting of fence and .-l:c*li -r shed, ft was resolved to advise the Committee that ihe attendance did not warrant additions, the Foreman to report on other matters. AVailalia.—The Committee asked for four dozen ovnamental frees and requested ail early visit of the Foreman regarding out-ofliecs and paths. Forcmiiii already instructed.

The Inspector's report on Ihe condition of various buildings was rc< iv-

Waiho. —lt was resolved to offer .CIo towards the erection of a cottage. Department to he asked for a refund of same. Committee to apply for subsidy for ground improvements. Barrytown.—Repairs to tank and ont-lniikliiigs referred to Foreman for attention.

The Foreman’s report for the month was received anil adopted. Representatives oi the Board on High Schools were re-appointed as Follows:—Greymoiitl', Air AA’. R. Kettle: Hokitika, Hon H. L. Afichel. AUDIT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ACCOUNTS.

Mr Chns Kirk, auditor, reported have the honour to present the report on the audit of Sehool Committees’ ac counts for the rear ending 2Sth. l’eh 1923.

’['lire are 370 committees which are required to keep accounts and suhmii them for audit. Of these, the hooks of 3-14 have been examined, six more are held up for further information, and twenty have failed to send the accounts. Amongst- the latter are such important schools as Blackball. Dovleston. Lyttelton. Phillipstown, l’otherham, Sutherlands, Tawai. and Woodstock. The Blackball Committee was an offender last year, and as a. conse,qneiue is not now receiving any incidental gram from the Board. With very few exceptions the Committees appear to be able to carry on comfortably, and in many eases they have quite respectable credit balances. These balances are not savings from the incidental grant, of course, hut are the result of successful local efforts to raise money on behalf of the schools. It may be of interest to state that during the year the Committees of the district under the Board’s control raised the handsome sum of approximately £5300 for school purposes, including prizes.-—Received.