CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1930, Page 2

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

Tito Canterbury Education Board met at Christchurch on Friday. Mr W. A. Banks presided, and others present, were: Messrs J. W. Preen, J. G. Gow, W. P. Spencer, S. B. Evispn, It. Wild, G. W. Armitage, W. Johnson, J. J. Hurley, .S'- Smith, H. J. Bignell, and C. S. Thompson. ... . Resignations accepted included: Afrs F. M. Hodge (Greymouth) and slrs M.- Dale (Hokitika). It was resolved to send a letter of. appreciation to Mrs Dale, Hokitika, who is retiring after long service. It was decided that appropriate letters be written to the following schools expressing the Board’s appreciation of the agricultural work being carried on : Gore Bay, Kakapotahi, and Koiterangi Upper. ,

Reports were received from teachers regarding the regular attendance for long periods of Ivy Bergman, Kakapotahi (eight years) and 1 Ella Abbot, Ruru (14 years), including the Technical School, also Lindsay Saundercock, Waikari • (7j- years). It was-de-cided that the usual certificates and prizes should be awarded. The selection of probationers had been held over pending receipt of further information from the Department regarding number to be allowed and successes at recent examinations.

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTOR,

Mr W, H, Johnston . reported i For the month 13/11/30 to 16/12/30 my work covers some <W,en schools on the West Coast; 22 schools in Cam terbury; and during the .last week assisting Messrs Brown and Smith in judging the work of schools throughout the district for McFarlane Shield and Ashburton County awards.

West Coast Schools:—These consisted of the southern group from Hokitika to Waiho. With the exception of the garden work at Kokatahi which was poor, all the work at the other schools ranged from quite satisfactory to excellent. The class and note book work at Kokatahi too was quite satisfactory. I cannot refrain from drawing attention to the very, fine garden work at Kakapotahi and Koiterangi Upper (two very small schools) and to that of Ruatapu, a grade 3 school. -

Mr Ridling, Inspector of Manual and Technical work, accompanied me on my visits to Ruatapu and Ross; and at my request met Inspector S. J.. Irwin, and Mr Menzies, rector of Hokitika District High School, to discuss and advise in oonnexion,with a new secondary course which Mr Menzies wishes to introduce into the Hokitika ■School. Mr Ridling will,. . no doubt, report in due course but meantime I should like to pay my 'tribute to his helpfulness and valued advice during the three days I was with him. It was agreed that Mr S. J. Irwin (Inspector) be requested to .assist Mr W. H. Johnston in the final judging of schools in connection with the West Const A, P. and I. Associations’s Shield. Competition. .

TEACHERS LEAVE,

" A report on the cost to the State •Jin granting; leave of absence to scriool , teachers compiled as the result of " a ■recent discussion, set out that from June, 1929, to May,. 1930, 332; teachers were granted leave through sicKness and 125 had been given special ler •*, an average of twenty-seven and ten per month respectively. * The value of services lost through sick leave was £4283 and through special leave £lß6l, a total of £6144. The cost to the State due to teachers being on leave was assessed by a' comparison of the salaries lost by permanent teachers with the salaries paid to relieving Webers. Permanent teachers lost £1279 through sick leave, while £2579 was paid to relieving teachers, a loss to the State of £I3OO. In eases of special lenve, permanent teachers cost £1396 and relieving teachers were paid £ll6O, a gain of £236, leaving a net cost to the State of £1064.

Referring to the report, the chairman, Mr W. A. Banks, said that the figure £1064 could not be considered as being excessive and he considered that the board should acknowledge the fact and let the matter rest there. The report was adopted. FOREMAN’S, REPORT.

Mr Geo. Bignell reported as follows

Waitnha School During the month the painting of both the interior and exterior of this School building, outoffices: and woodshed, was put in hand and finished.

ICumara:—At the teachers resid-

the repairs and renewal of fences completed and minor repairs were carried out to this residence. The painting is new in hand and will be finished in a few days. Weheka New School:—I have placed an order for the timber for this building. When this is in readiness a commencement will be made with the erection of this School. Pukekuro:—The painting of this School building and outcCices was put in hand during the month and completed.

Arahura Rond:—The renovations to this School are now in hand. Two large window frames and sashes of the

modern tvpes have been fixed, the \ front of the School re-weatherboarded and the new ventilating frames and sashes in the back wall for cross-ven-tilation. When the renovations to the School are completed it is my intention to put the work at the head master’s residence in hand. Kumara Junction :-The work of draining and levelling this ground was put in hand during the month and finished. I had a drain out around the whole boundary, the site

levelled and the paths gravelled. This School Ground is now much improved with this work and the Committee are very grateful to the Board for having it done.