CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1931, Page 2

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23

A meeting of the Education Board was held at Christchurch. Present; Messrs W. A. Banks (chairman), J. G. Gow, W. P. Spencer, C. S. Thompson, R. Wild, S. Smith, ,J. W. Preen, W. Johnson, J. J. Hurley, G. W. Armitage, and H. J. Bignell. Appointments confirmed included : Ahaura: Miss O. M. Dalton, assistant mistress...

Hokitika: Miss V. AT. Mortland, assistant' mistress. Rimangn : Mr E. J. Newland, headmaster. Resignations accepted included: — Blackball: Mr H. F. North, assistant master (Chathams). Pukekura: Miss A. Wright, sole teacher (marriage). Woodstock: Mr A. Pringle, headmaster (England). Totara Flat: Miss N. L. MiKechnie, sole teacher (Hawke’s Bay). The Buildings Committee reported that th© Education Department had approved a grant for the provision of a residence at Taylorville, and for the purchase and clearing of a site for the reception of the building. A protest against the use of foreign office requisites by the Education Board wp<s made by Mr R. Wild, who Bald that he noticed that a pen on the table before him was made in America, In his opinion, only British articles of this description should be used by the Board. The motion was seconded by Mr W. P, Spencer. Mr C. R. Thompson said he thought the motion wns too drastic. Would it /he w'ffi, he asked, to spend 3s on an article made in Britain when a similar one made in America might be procured for Is? The motion, how ever, was carried.

Hokitika: The Department advised that High School Funds could not he used for country scholarships.

MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS. An emphatic protest against the appointment of married women teachers was made by the Board. The matter was at first discussed in committee, and on the board resuming Mr W. Johnson suggested that the board place on record an emphatic protest. The continued appointment of married women teachers, he said, was acting to the detriment of single women. Auckland and Otago had been protesting strongly in the matter for some time. Canterbury had taken steps from time to time, but only in a slipshod manner. Realising the depression of the present period, it was now the board’s opportunity to take a definite stand, and face the Department. In New South Wales the Minister of Education had taken the position firmly in hand, and had prohibited the appointment of married women teachers to positions for which single women teachers were offering. It was t|m© that similar steps were taken in New Zealand, and the board should epdeavour to foroe the hand of the Department through the Government. “We have been battling with this thing for years,” said Mr W. Spencer. “I do not agree with Mr Johnson that our methods have been slipshod, but I will say that we have been weak. For my part, I would refuse tci appoint the married women.”

Voices: We have no option. Mr C. S. Thompson moved that the board draw’the attention of the Education Department to the fact that it had been forced to appoint four married women teachers, some of whom were in circumstances where their husband# were able to keep them, and that the board enter an emphatic protest against having to obey the law as it exists. Mr Thompson added that some of the married women teachers were among the best under the ‘board’s jurisdiction and in instances where the husband was not able to provide, the board should endeavour to retain its married women teachers. Mr Johnson pointed out that there were instances where it had cost the State £4OO to fit single women for the teaching profession, yet married women had been appointed to fill the vacant positions, debarring the single women. Mr Thompson’s motion was carried unanimously. FOREMAN’S REPORT.

Kumara Teacher’s Residence : This has .had a thorough overhauling. It was necessary to replace a portion ot the weather-boards, barges and cape. The windows were overhauled and made good where required. After the repairs were completed the painting of the exterior of the Residence, outbuildings, front fence and gates, was put in hand and completed, Grey Main School: During the month the painting of the interior of the boys and girls out offices was put in hand and completed. The renovations to the class rooms at this school will ;be done later on. Arahura Road School: This school has had a thorough overhauling. Some

new piles were placed under the outer walls of the school. A fair portion of new l joists were required, the ends of the old ones being quite decayed. The front school has been re-wea-ther boarded and the weather boards repaired on the remaining portion ot the school. New windows of the modern type have been placed in the two class rooms to give cross ventilation. The repairs to tills school are now complete with the exception of the spouting and downpipes. Thin 1 hope to have clone in a day or two. The painting of this school and out offices will [be put in hand in due course. Arahura Road Residence: 'Hie authorised work of erecting a new hath room and repairs to this residence, was put in hand and finished. The painting will be proceeded with when the painters are painting the school.

Weheka New School: The joinery for the new (school is now being made and will be finished in a day or two. 1 intend to commence the erection ol this school directly the timber is in readiness. I have placed the order for this timber with the Okurito Forks Sawmill; this being the nearest mill to the school.