CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1926, Page 4

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Tlie Canterbury Education Board met at Christchurch on Friday'. Mr T. Hughes presided and there were plso present. —Messrs AY. A. Banks, G. W. Armitage, AA r . H. AVinsor, J. A. Gow, E. H. Andrews, C. S. Thompson, R. AA T ild, AA T . P. Spencer and IT. J. Bignell. Appointments confirmed included:— Cobden, Miss E. Dwyer (infant mistress). Resignations received and accepted included:—Kokiri, Miss J. Curtain, solo teacher; Alan a 1 mi, Miss M. Nightingale, sole teacher; Runanga, Miss E. Dwyer, assistant teacher; Tcremaknu, Miss E. Davidson, sole teacher. JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIPS. The Appointments Committee reported that letters had been received from the Nelson Board regarding the age limit for Junior National Scholarships, and the confining of entries to primary school pupils. A sub-commit-tee, consisting of Messrs Gow, Bialiks and the Senior Inspector, was deputed to draw up a report on the matter. Mr Banks reported that the committee had considered raising the age limit for country schools, but on looking at the results of the examination it had been found that country children had been able to gain scholarships. The report was adopted. Dunganville.—Residents asked that a full-time Waclier. he appointed. It was resolved to write to both Dunganville and Marxden to ascertain whether conveyance to either school was pratieable.

South Spit.—Department asked for further information regarding places of residence of pupils to be conveyed to the Alain School. It was resolved to obtain this information.

The Department asked the Hoard to await result of any legal action that might bo taken by the Teachers’ Institute regarding the limitation of headteacherships of Grade IIIA schools to male teachers. It was resolved to recommend the Council to recommend legislation with the object of debarring candidates applying for positions for one venr, when they had refused an offered appointment.

Air AY. I). Alackay (Attendance Officer, West Coast), reported having visited 13 schools, visited 19 parents and sent notices to 10. It was resolved to send a letter of thanks to Messrs Newman Bros, for assistance given to the Attendance. Officer. Airs H. Barrowmaii was recommended for appointment in dressmaking in connection with the Hokitika District Gigli School Secondary Department. It was pointed out that the Department had asked the board to appoint gTaded teachers to those positions which were now filled by unclassified teachers. It was resolved to notify the latter that unless certificates were obtained this year the hoard would be compelled to consider the termination of their eng igcments. AGRICULTURAL WORK.

Mr XV. IT. Johnston's report for April and Alav:— I beg to submit mv report on the agricultural work of the AA'est Coast schools for the month, of April. A'isits have been made as under:—Camerons, Awatima, Te Kiuga Stillwater, Upper Koiterangi, Koitcrangi. Upper Jxokalalii, Lower Kokatahi. Puma, Kaiata, .lihiketown and GreyinouLli.

Outside work is practically at a standstill on account ol the wretched weather. The rain has been so continuous that the ground is thoroughly sodden. I managed to ‘snare’ n line day .to get the Awatuna plot in order, and at Kokiri the committee helped early in the month, by dping the rough digging. Plots are being turned over, as weather permits, and sown down in oats or vetches for green mi.umre. During the winter season teachers are advised to devote the allotted time to indoor lessons, and get the notes intelligently written up by the pupils. Following the Easter holidays a course in Forestry was carried out at Haunter by the Forestry Department's officers. The weather was ideal, and those of us who were privileged to attend derived material benefit irom the instruction given. It is hoped that tiie next course will be more largely attended.

During arch and April I have Irwn Imsv getting the results of the \\ ost C(<:isL schools’ potato growing compotition. 1 append a. separate report and enclose a lew snaps of some of (lie host

. crops. BUILDING COMMUTE!'. A telegram was received from the Grevmoutli Committee reporting the total destruction of the school gymnasium and dental clinic on the morning . of the 9th of .May. The report presented by Mr Id’. J. liignell who conducted an enquiry into the cause of the fire; was adopted. Letters were received from the Committee urging the necessity of rebuilding:—l'liel sued, shelter sheds for hoys and girls and a dental clinic. It was resolved to accede to the request for re-erection

of fuel .slic'd ; to apply to the Department for a tyrant to cover the cost of building two shelter sheds, and to instruct the Foreman to erect a dental clinic to replace the one destroyed by lire, the Committee having guaranteed to meet expenditure incurred in connection with the latter. - The teacher at ilarihari applied for tho erection of a residence las it is his intention to lie married in September. It a/as decided to approach -tire Department for a grant for the provision of a residence. An application was received from the teacher at Stafford for:—A grant towards clearing of residence grounds of gorse and repairing of fences, and the papering of two rooms. It was resolved to authorise the repair of fences and tile papering of two rooms; the teacher to bo'.advised to ppply to the

Commissioner for clearing of gor.se from grounds. TEACHERS’ POSITIONS. - A report was submitted ns follows:—! “At the end of last year, 147 stu- [ dents left the colloge. Thirteen of . these were from outside districts, thus i leaving 134 Canterbury students who required positions. The latter can be accounted for approximately as follows: Appointed January 18 Appointed February 9 Appointed March u Appointed April 9 Appointed to other districts 9 Regular relieving work 32 Intermittent relieving work 17 / Unemployed 17

Total 134 i: Jn considering tlie complaints of ex-students who are unable to obtain positions immediately they leave College. it should be mentioned that in Canterbury the average number of appointments of all grades is about 2o monthly. It will he seen, therefore, that in ordinary circumstances it is impossible to place 134 ex-students in vacant junior positions within the first mouth or two of the year. Other reasons for non-appointment are (1) .the

comparatively loir gradings of some of the students; (2) n disinclination on the part of some students to take positions away from their homes; (3) and the desire of others to remain near the University to enable them to complete their degrees.

“Ex-students have also complained of inability to obtain even temporary work. AA’hilc one would like to give every student something to do,, there are various circumstances that must ho of necessity be taken into consideration, such as the locality of the teacher’s home, his or her suitability for the particular vacant position, and the rights of others more entitled to‘consideration.

“The student coming out of College under a bond to teach a certain number of years in a given time is admittedly -in an unsatisfactory position, but it is difficult to see how this state of affairs can be" remedied without altering the whole method of appointment of teachers.” ! Air E. H. Andrews said that many students wore out of employment because they would not lenve the town and go to the country districts, and they had oidy themselves to blame. There were others, however, who had low grading and were unable to obtain positions before a fresh hatch of students left the College and obtained positions. The 'marriage bond should be removed.

Air R. AA’ild was of opinion that the Board pampered the teachers too much. They went to Training 1 College with their eyes open, and must bo prepared for such, a situetio.il as .had arisen. The publication of the report would do good in making it widely known that the teaching profession was overcrowded. He did not think the Board was justified in going out of its way to find positions for these fmemployed teachers' in any way that entailed greater cost to the country. No commercial business could possibly carry on if" it undertook to find permanent employment for every apprentice and the entrants to every other profession, doctors, lawyers, and suchlike all took their chance of finding room for themselves. To cancel the .bond because a girl tgacher wanted to get married was equivalent to giving her a bonus of £3OO to get married and every other young woman m the country would be entitled to the same consideration. Arr AY. A. Banks said that teneners would not go to the country, and it was no fault of the Board if tlve,\ could not find positions in the city. Ho did not consider that the Board should trouble over those who did not get places. Air C. S. Thomson said that the bond against women teachers marrying should be removed. ALiny girls out of employment would get married, hut their swains were unable to find the money for the bond, and the girls were unwilling to break it themselves. The report was received.