OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 66

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was commenced on the TBth, and was attended by the Hon. Thos. Femgus, the Rev. P. B. Fraser, and Messrs D. Borrie, A. M'Kerrow, W. Scott, G. C. Israel, Jas. Mitchell, D. T. Fleming, and W. Snow. WOEKS COMMITTEE'S BEPOBT. ! The Works Committee recommended that the following claims for half cost of repairs be granted: — Broad Bay (fencing, etc.), £4 7s 6d; Clyde (fencing, etc.), £4; Macandrew Road (fencing, etc.), £6; Kaitangaba (improvements to residence), £5 10s j Wairuna (fencing), £8; Walton (gravelling, etc.), £4 10s; WaiEbikoi (gorse cutting) Tiiat the board adhere to ita previous decision in connection with the Obepopo Committee's renewed application for the total cost of renewing the asphalt around the schoolmaster's residence; that the Architect be instructed to carry out the repairs to the Anderson's Bay, Oaverahaan, and Milburn .Schools; that the trustees of the Purakanui Templars' Hall Company be informed that the board cannot see its way to accept the -offer made to hand over the hall and fumature to the board free of cost ; that the application of the Alexandra School Committee for increased class-room accommodation be referred to . the inspectors to report when they next visit tihe district ; fliat h. renewed a(pplication be made to the Government for increased accommodation at Mxisselburgih Sahool; that the offer of the Tokomairiro School Committee to contribute £22 towards the cost of erecting a septic tank be accepted, the committee to pay the amount in three yearly instalments; that a number of repairs and improvements be made at the Moray Place School. The report was adopted. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN. Mr Pryde (secretary) took the chair, and called for nominations for the position of ] chairman. i Mar J. Mitchell nominated the retiring chairman, the Hon. Thos. Fergus. They could not do better than appoint Mr Fergus, who had proved himself to -be a thoroughly capable and energetic chairman. 3lr Snow seconded the motion, which, after several other members .had spoken in favour of the re-eletion of Mr Fergus, and of his qualifications for the position, was caored unanimously. ' Mr Fergus then took the chair, and returned thanks for the honour done to him |by the members. He bad always tried to mote out justice. He referred to his connection with the board, and said he always had had pleasure in workinijr with the other members of the beard. He had seriously intended to give up all connection with tie board. He briefly reviewed the work of thp past yea<r, during which educational matters hid gone forward smoothly and with goodwill amoag the members. ME FLEMING WELCOMED. The Chairman extended a hearty welcome to Mr D. T. Flaming, the newlyelected representative of the South Ward, who liad come to the board's table to fill the position made vacant by the retirement of the Hon. -Thomas Mackenzie. Mr Fleming briefly . returned thanks, j SAWYERS' BAY SCHOOL SITE. Mr G S. M. M'Dermid, chairman of the Sawyers' Bay School Committee, waited upon the board as a deputation to advocate the advisability of the board acquiring the freehold of the present site of the Sawyers' Bay School, and to point out the absolute necessity of providing additional school accommodation. The Secretary explained that the site comprised two acres leased from the Church Board of Property since about 1873. The lease had been renewed in 1895 for 21 years. The Church Board could not sell the land without an act of Parliament. Mr M'Dermid pointed out that the- site was admirably convenient, and the committee thought it would be a wise «t«r> if the board would acquire the freehold. The area was rather small. Land was increasing in value in the district/ It would be well if 'the board could also acquire a vacajit section adjoining the present site. The accommodation was inadequate. The infant room was overcrowded, ard there i was a prospect of an increase in the numI ber of children. | The Chairman, informed Mr M 'Derm id that the committee's request was a matter for the Minister of Education to consider. The board could make representations to the department to provide funds to increase the school accommodation. The board would give the request consideraMr M'Dermid thanked the board and retired. At a later stage it was resolved to leave ' the matter of the department acquiring the vacant 6ection in the hands of the chairman. - THE STIRLING SCHOOL. 'The Stirling School Committee wrote protesting against the reduction in the staffing of "the school caused by the removal of a teacher to the side school at Barahar. Mr Scott: Well, there ia no remedy. The school is staff ed according to the act. ■ The Secretary pointed out that the present system of staffing would probably continue* in force until January 31 of next year. Mr Fraser moved that the matter n^. held over in the meantime, and this was agreed to. HEOMOAXA MATTERS. The Cleric of the Reomoana School Committee wroto. piotestinir acrain^t the chairman's method of conducting school business. He had repeatedly refused to attend committee meetings, and had questioned th© clerk's right to call such meetings. It was asked that the board deposo the chairman, otherwise the committee would write to the Education Department in connection with ths, matter. Tlie board decided that iit would await further developments in connection with Reomoa.ua School, and held over this letter in (the meantime. The Education Department forwarded a petition it had received from residents of Reomoana, calling into question the legality of the election of the School Committee there. The Chairman stated that the board had already dealt with this matter. The letter was received.

GENEBAL. The Director or the Dunedin Technical School asked that the Technical School bs added to <the list of schools at which scholarship-holders might atte-n-d. —Mr Frasex said that the request was quite a reasonable one, though, if granted, • it was

not likely to be greatly taken advantage of. In order, however, to prevent any invidious distinction being made, and to keep the doors of the Technical School open to any student who desired to attend, he would move that the Technical School be added to the list of schools accordingly.— Seconded by Mr Scott and carried. „ , , _ ... The Stony Creek School Committee asked permission to lease the old school residence in the district to a. farmer there. It was to be a temporary arrangement.— Lease approved of, at a peppercorn rental. Th© Secretary of the Musselburgh Committee wrote asking if it had power to grant permission to those concerned to give Bible lessons in the school once every week in school hours.— After a discussion the board resolved that the committee be informed that it has no power to grant permission to give religious instruction in school during school hours.

The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was continued on Friday morning, and was attended by tne Hon. Thos. Fergus (chairman), the Rev. P . B. Fraaer, and Messrs D. Bowie, A. M Barrow, G. C. Israel, W. Scott, Jas. Mitchell, D. T. Fleming, anjd W. Snow.

THE SCHOOLS STAFFS. The following appointments were mada: James A. Jack, head master, Na&eby vice Jas. P. Malcolm, promoted; Cyril N. Lawless, head master, Papakaio, vie© J. R. Wikon, resigned; John P. Hawke, sole teacher, Waipori Lake, vice I. O. Hay, lesrorned; Koaetta A. Bradfield. 'sole teacher, Rough Ridge, vioe J. F. Botting, promoted; Marion ri. S Newlands, mistress, Roxburgh, vioe J. Pilkingtcm, transferred; Agnes Anderson, third assistant, Alexandra, vioe R. Loudon, resigned; Sarah J. Hogg, tfhird assistant, Mos^iel, vioe A. Greaves, transferred ; Lily Sullivan, sixth assistant, High Street; vioe M. A. Taylor, promoted; Jessie Campbell, junior assistant, Normal, vice M. T. Scott, (promoted. The following resignations were accepted: Joseph E. Stevens, head master, Clyde; -Jas. A. Jack, head master, Matakamri; Sarah J. Hogg, sole teacher, Brighton; Beatrice E. 0." Todd, sate teacher, Lauder Railway Station; Agnes Anderson, sole teacher. Kaihiku; Frances M. S. Eegans, sole teacher, Tajeri Ferry; Hannah C. Nelson, mistress, Milbtsrn; Marjory T. Scott, assistant, Normal ; Marion Newlands, assistant, Albany Street; Lily Sullivan, assistant, George Street ; Eloena A. M'Farlane, probationer, Tapanui.

OFFICERS' TRAINING COP.PS.

Professor Malcolm, of Otago University, wrote as follows: — "As secretary of the Military Committee, I beg to draw the attention of your board to tho following 1 request. An r Attempt is » being made to establish an Officers' Training Corps in connection with the University. The object of this movement -is to train students in- military work' and to fit them for the command of bodieG of men so that when these students have graduated fund have obtained professional appointments in various parts of the Dominion they may be qualified to act as officers to the' military organisations of their districts, whether eueh organisation is on the Volunteer system or on a system of universal training. The advantages of such a course of training to the individual student and to the whole community are obvious, and officers' training corps are now to be found in all tho chief- universities at Home. .The other univereity colleges of New Zealand have also begun to establish corps, and TrainingCollege students will, after this year, be required to undergo a similar course of training, so that if this coups ia established here it would be of great advantage to the Duinedin College students. One ai our greatest difficulties is the want of a.suit-a-ble hall for drill purposes. The Garrison Hall is &o much occupied and so far from the University and Cc-llege that its use is impracticable. A hall which would suit our purpose and which is in a convenient situation is the gymnasium attached to the Training College; and if rho i.'oa.rd could see ite way to grant the use of this hall it would be a great boon to the corp« (which, it may be aduJed, includes a number of Training College students). The hours during which it is required are : 8 a.m. to 9 a~m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, or some similar foxir hours per week. We hope that the Education Board will view this matter favourably. — John Malcolm."

The board resolved that if a satisfactory arrangement as to hours could be made, the request would be granted.

OAMARTJ DRAWING CLASSES

W. A. Service, Secretary of the Waitaki Branch of the Otago Educational Institute, wrote pointing out the desirability of establishing drawing clas«J3 at Oamaru dvi ing the current year. There were many North Otago teachers anxious to avail rbem^lves of the ;i<!vantaj;c3 of such instruction, who could not, owing to the unsuitability of the train service, attend classes in Dunedin. — The request was granted. Details of t.he arrangement were left to the inspector.

Gr.XEJUL

A letter was received from Mr Booth (Chrietchnrch) declining the position of first assistant in t.hc* Dunedin School of Art. — It was resolved that the rfrommerwJario.i made by the director of bho Schcol of Art (Mr Ha-wcridgc) that the existing arianijMncnts for the carrying on of the work be allowed to continue be appiovcd of.

.John Cameron was appointed a commis«ioner for th© Glenore school. T)m following committee^ were appointed : Works — Tho chairman (Mr Fergus), and Messrs Snow. M'Kerrow, Scott, and Fleming ; Finance — Messrs Borrie and M'Kerrow. Accounts totalling £8721 4e Id were pas^sd for payment.

In senfccnc-inpr a pr ; son«r at Wellington last week, Mr Justice Chapman mentioned that in cases where a crime had been deliberately committed by a yountr man of respectable parentage and previous good character, the Government v. as considering a plan whereby an offender, if sent to praoJ, might be kept apart from the other prisoners.

It is 2 3r oposed by tin influential committee, representing' art, science, the army, an-d polities,, to erect a monument in the Ohamo -da Mars in Paris in honour of the Frenchwoman in the abstracts