CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.
The Canterbury Education Board met at Christchurch on Friday. Present Messrs W. A. Banks (chairman) J. G. Gow, S. R. Evison, W. Johnson, J. W. Preen, S. Smith, C. S. Thompson, R. Wild, J. J. Hurley, W, P. Spencer, H. J. Bignell, and G. W. Armitage.
Resignations accepted included: — Ahaura, Miss E. N. Ellis, assistant mistress (marriage); Blackball, Miss M. I. Burton, assistant mistress.
FOREMAN’S REPORT.
Pukekura School—The re-building of the two new out-offices and repairs to the .school building were put in hand and finished during the month.
Upper Koiterangi School.—This school has had a thorough overhauling. It is was necessary to replae a large portion of the weather-boarding, caps and barges. All windows were fitted with new openers. New gates have been erected and the fences repaired. A few minor repairs were done to th shelter shed and out-offices. After tlie repairs were completed the painting of the interior and exterior of the school, out-buildings and ga : tes was put itl hand and finished. Lower Koiterangi School.—The authorised repairs to the verandah floor and the renewing of the spout ng on this school was put in hand and finished.
' Whtaroa' School.—The painting of the interior and exterior of this school and all out-buildings was put in hand during the month and completed. Kumara Teacher’s Res dence.—At this residence the repairs to fences are now in hand and will be finished in a fetv days. Harihari School.—The painting of both the interior and exterior of this school, out-buildings and gates was put in hand during the month and finished.
Arahura Road School.—The renovations to this school are now m hand. I have the window frames nearly ready for installation; as soon as these are finished I hope to make good progress with this work.
Arahura Road Teacher’s Residence. Directly the work at this school is finised I will put the authorised work at this residence in hand. BUILDING COMMITTEE. Harihari—The Committee wrote asking the Board to allocate a grant towards ground improvements carried out at the school. It was resolved that Mr H. J. Bignell be empowered to vote a sum. not exceeding £lo.' Stafford—lt was resolved to inform the Department o'f the condition of the old schodl build ttgs in this district atid tb seek ilistifficttohS regarding their disposal. WelieknA telegram was received from the Hon. Minister advising that a grant hod been approved for the erection of a school building. Leave of absence was granted Mr S. Lorking Greymouth Cllness), Miss E. Dale Hokitika, two weeks illness, Miss F. Hay, Kumara, till end of year, ilness, Mr J. Hickson, Waitalia 10 days exams. Hokitika :—A letter was received from tlie Department agreeing to the payment of 15s per day until the end of the year for conveyance of pupils from Blue Spur. Kokatalp.:—A letter was received •from the Committee asking that a hew contract be arranged as from the beginning of next year. It was resolved that the Committee be asked to invite tenders, on: receipt of which further consideration to be given to tho matter.
Greymoutli:—A further letter was reeived from the Conmrttee protesting against removal of S. 6 boys to the Technical College. It was resolved to refer the matter to the Director on his forthcoming visit. SICK LEAVE. . Concern at the amount of sick and general leave granted to school teachers throughout the Dominion was voiced. Mr R. Wild quoted from a table compiled by the Department of Education showing the percentage of teachers off duty in each district from June, 1929, to May, 1930, Tile table was as follows Auckland, 36.4 j Taranaki, 40.2; Nelson 17.4 Canterbury, 82.1-Hawke’s Bay, 29.1; Otago, 30.8; Wanganui 82.0; Southland, 36.9; Wellington, 43.9. The figures for New Zealand was 84.7. Mr Wild said that Canterbury came sixth on the list. Wellington was the worst, as there were no less than 43.9 per cent of the number of teachers em ployed had sick leave for a week or more during the year.
Mr G. W. Armitage: Do the salaries go on?
Mi’ W. A. Banks (chairman): Yes, 'for a month.
“I think it i.s advisable for leave to be scrutinised more carefully. How would a business man carry on “under the same circumstances?” said Mr Wild. “A third of them are off for more than a week.” “That sounds too sweeping,” remarked Mr S. Smith. “The position is that a third of the teachers are off for about five per cent of the time.” “NOT A HALF-DAY.” Mr Banks was asked by members how much leave he had off while teaching. “During twenty years as a head master, I did not have half a day off,” Mr Banks replied. Nelson was to be congratulated on having only 17 per cent off, continued Mr Banks. The Wellington figure was tremendous.
Mr C. S. Thompson: What can we learn from these figures ? Does it mean that teachers’ health is better m some districts than others ? The chairman: It must be that. Unless the inspectors in some districts work their teachers harder. It seems a pity that there should be so much leave. It will be one of the puzrdes (for the new Bill to provide relieving teachers. 1
“The curricula are being loaded up more and more, and we know that many of the troubles giving rise to leave are nervous,” said Air Wild. “It should be given serious consideration, but not by the board.” Air AV. Johnson said that the board was aggravating the trouble. He quoted the case of a teacher who was given six months’ leave. Air Thompson pointed out that the matter was decidedly one for the Canterbury Board. AVliat directly affected the children was the concern of the board.
Alcssrs -Banks, Wild and Thompson were appointed to find out the cost to
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Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1930, Page 2
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969CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD. Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1930, Page 2
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