CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1930, Page 3

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

The Canterbury Education Board met at Christchurch on hriday. Present Messrs IL Wild (chairman,.) W. A. Banks, ' G/»;W. •-Anpitage, £. ,_S. T hump-sou. J. G. "GoW, E'AH,.- Andrews, W. H. Winser, W. Johnston. L\ Hughes* W:"P,.Sjiencer,jnKlH. J. Bignell. lU'preseiVtatiy'es' IY)V 1 ‘conferences on Town Planning.were appointed as follows :—Christchurch, Messrs Thompson and Winsor; Timaru, Messrs Gow and Preen : Greymoutli, Air UignAll.

T he following representatives on High School Boards were appointed:— Ashburton, Messrs R. Bell and R. Kennedy; Rangiora; the Rev. W. R. K-itchison, and Mr E. D. R. Smith ; Wailnate, Mr W. Lindsay. STAFF CHANGES.

The following appointments were confirmed :—Arahura road, Miss M„ McMahon, assistant mistress, Mikouui: Mi- K. BnrlTi'op, sole teacher.; Ross: Mr H. Ellery, headmaster; Bunanga: Miss Edna Redder, sub-assistant teacher; Taylorville: Miss E. S. Walsh, assistant mistress; Wataroa: Miss 1). Caldow, assitant mistress. The following resignations were accepted, : -Aliaura, Miss W. C. Doogue; Woodstock. Miss M. A, Varcoe. It was resolved to send letters of appreciation to Mr W. J. Boyce. (Aranui), Mr B. Peiiliiigton (Kaiapoi) Miss

M. V. Taylor fPhillip'stown) Miss J. Ewart fWoolston), and Mr H. H. Allison (Woolston), who were retiring after long service. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. The Appointments Committee reported that the question of, the exhibition of films to school classes was considered, and it was- decided that, before pupils were taken to such entertainments, the films should he approved. It was decided that rdfresher courses in drawing, music, handwork and other subjects that may be requested by teachers should be held during the May vacation. It was reported that a successful display of, children’s work had been held at Hokitika and Greymoutli, and it was decided that the work should he exhibited in Christchurch during the- holidays and later at Timaru. Votes of thanks and congratulations were passed to the (rganisers and exhibitors, and the proprietors of the Soldiers’ Hall Hokitika.

GENER AL. 7,i his report the agricultural ii Hrue tor (Mr AY. H. Johnston) stated that wall thermometers and barometers were frequent,!y being asked for by teachers in all grades of schools. The syllabus required m* 'eorologieal reoords to he taken and recorded, hut how this work was to ’-e done without instruments was difficult to see. ■ To be of any educational value, nunils must take the records themselves, not

merely eonv them from a newspaper

Tt was agreed to refer to the Finance Committee for its consideration the necessity for the supply of meteorological eouinment required at in '“"''iwfiiin with the teaching of geograpliy.

Further consideration was given to the letter Ifrom the Women Teachers’ Association. It was resolved that the Hoard .considered that there was nothing in the letter to warrant an alteration of. its previously-expressed, .opinion on the matter, and that it adhered to its decision, that legislation should he enacted giving Hoards discretionary power when considering .applications from married women teacher'-.

The Department asked, the Beard to establish a class for hearing and speech. defectives iy Ciirjst-liurdi. If was resolved to..advertise for a tea her. A. suitable room had been provided at the Normal School. Tho question of exhibition of .films to school classes was considered, and it was resolved that, before pupils aw takmi to such functions, the films .should lie approved. A memorandum was received from Dr. Maud Fere, Napier, expressing disappointment with the design of th" Board’s latest type of open-air room. It was resolved t- reply that the verandah was added to increase the floor snace. and that experience .had shown th-f- +V "ewer tvne of classroom, sirh ns had Iv-en py-r.+..-i T in wood fr nnuo, was sur-reiv to all other op'ui-air

.nvpu 1- ,Jlf j n . o|*l)iirv

D was resolved that the Board’s staff he. instructed,to prepare a sketch plan, of a teni'V'.rary building that could He erected at- a coni"arativelv low cost.

Hnrfhnri • Tf, was mnorted that a r-vo’-osal had '-orni submitted to tile Department for the institution of a new coT,„ovnnce contract at the rate of ££)() per annum; action was approved.

SnidTlTl TE ASSISTANT TEACHERS.

Mn.C, S. ■ asked = for .i.nforniati n a.s to the., position of substituLassistant teachers. A general discus- • i h ii unemployed tea liei.s followed.

Mr Thompson said that there certainty wa, a y,ieju deal of hardship in the profession, in some cases young women teachers had to help to support widowed mothers. The trouble did.not end- with the , teachers themselves. It was time ' that . something. .should dune to lelieve tlie portion. Could -soi-m of those teachers be employed in scn.ol.s as .supernumeraries?.- if tlie,, had been trained on lines that would enable them to go on to the open labour ma ket aiul get positions there ■ - would not be so bad; but ic must be remembered that eacher.s were trainet. along definite lines. -Air R, AA’ild (chairman) said tlur. the Appointments Committee had considered the position several time's. Representations' had been made to tin Director of Education and to the Minister. Representations had been made a.s to the advisableness of those unemployed teachers being kept in employment, but not at the. comparative!a high salaries they would receive if ap pointed to positions. They received approximately) i£loo a' -year 'until tlun got into positions. The Education Depa rtnient wa« pons.i dering...the..,suggestion. The difficulty was that if ; supernumerary was placed in a, schoc it disorgani'ed the school.

Tlie chairman said that the inimbc of trained teachers in tlie board’s district not-permanently employed at pre. sent was 113. Sixtyreiglit were in 'en.'i'/oraiw employment during March It meant that there were forty-five absolutely unemployed teachers during ...a rch.

Air T. Hii'diPts said that the Department should be asked to find sonn means to relieve the position.

Mr E. H. Andrews said that tinposition was a very difficult one. Tin 1 oard had to train assistants in orde that the positions should be filled. A long as the hoard was assured that to( many were not being trained, lie di not know that it could do much. Mr Winsor said that if Mr Thomson was correct in saying that traine teachers could do nothing else tin; teach the statement was deplorable. .

I tile hardship in early life was not : had thing. It was better in early lif than in middle life. He did not thinl that teachers generally were under i so rio ii s dis ad va nt a ge. Mr Thompson said that there wir something to be said for teachers who were suffering from some measure of hardship under the present system. Mr AY. P. Spencer: Why go to the poor old Government? Why not do something ourselves? Can’t we devise some scheme ? The Appointments Committee was asked to report on the question. FAREWELL TO SENIOR INSPECTOR. Messrs Wild, Cow, Spencer, Armit-

age; Andrews, Thompson, Winsor, Hughes, Ranks, Johnston, . Bigneli (members)'. Kirk, (secretary) and I’ur-L-has (principal of Training College), .11 spdi>e in np'pjeciation of Air Alc.eod’s good qualities. Air McLeod said he had worked in Auckland and Hawkes Bay, and could -say that the Canterbury Education •District "Could hold its own with any. The. most eminent educationists in the Donunion had worked in Canterbury— Jr Caughley. the first Director of Education : libs suc-essor, Air Strong, tin present Director; and Air I5e.ll; assistant Director; had all risen from juvenile rank in Canterbury. I have had forty-three years’ service,' said Air

!cLeod. it is a long time, but stil there are many things I would like to ao hut could not.