THE SCHOOL WORLD

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1102, 15 April 1911, Page 14

THE SCHOOL WORLD

A WEEKLY REVIEW. NOTES FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY. Teachers and others interested in the administration of education arc invited to contribute notes for publication in "The School World." These should be addressed to the Editor. "The School World," Tun Dominion. Wellington, and posted to roach this office not later than Wednesday in cadi week. Correspondents desivine enlightenment upon any Question in connection with . the school work, or the general administration of the education system, are invited to submit these points to the Editor for elucidation and reply. Where anonymity is desired, it will bo strictly observed.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Kami."—(l) Teachers "C" and the Senior Civil Service Examinations are in some respects in the same class from an educational standpoint, though the comparison is not n sound one, as each has a different purpose. The first section of. the B.A. degree, with certain prescribed subjects necessary to pedagogy, is accepted as a qualification for the Teachers' "C" certificate, and from that point of view the standard may to considered to bo higher. The Teachers' "JJ" is the minimum qualification now accepted by the education authorities for employment in the profession. (2) You cannot proceed tp a degree without first having "matriculated," i.e., passed the entrance examination of tho university. ' J3) The answer to join , third point is governed by the regulations of the Department -concerned.

"Kowliai."—(l) Under an amendment, adopted last session, of that section of the Education Act which deals with' school attendance, it is now compulsory for children of school age to attend on-five whole days in eacli week, holidays excepted. (2) Education Boards have no power to make regulations "enlarging or over-riding" ■ the provisions of the Act. Any regulation which, in effect, does so, is ultra virop. (3) The teacher is entitled to ask for. it note oi excuse or explanation for absence. The Act not only insists upon regular attendance at school "whenever it is open," but also states upon what grounds a parent may apply for and receive from "the committee, the chairman, and one other member thereof, under the hand of the chairman or cleric," or from "the head teacher," a certificate of exemption from the whole or part of the compulsory attendance. Legally speaking, if the cause of absence does not fall within the list set forth in the Act, the parent or guardian .can be prosecuted for a-brcach of the statute These "grounds of exemption", include "sickness, danger of infection, temporary or permanent infirmity, severe stress of weather, sudden and serious illness of a parent, or other sufficient cause." An additional ground of exemption is "if the road by which the child has to travel to school is .not sufficiently passable." He may also apply for exemption if the- distanco which his child has to travel by road is over two (if under ten years of age) or three miles (if over ten years of age); if ho is under regular and efficient instruction elsewhere; if ho is over the school age (fourteen years). From the foregoing it will be seen that it is in the in tercsts of parents that the teacher. ■• should be , afforded a written explanation of absence. The formalities prescribed by the, Act.need not ■. be rigidly adhered to so long as the teacher is perfectly satisfied that thn cause of absence is a reasonable, one, and that the written explanation of the parent is in good faith. If the teacher is not satisfied, or is denied a. satisfactory explanation, the provlsons of the Act can bo enforced. (■() Any parent who is dissatisfied with tho decision of a committee or head teacher in refusing to grant an exemption certificato may appeal to the Education Board against such decision, and the board (whose decision shall be final) may overrule or confirm such decision.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS. AN INTERESTING POINT. A correspondent, "Inquirer," submits' for elucidation' the following ' points in connection with school committee elections (the annual elections are on April M):(a) May-two from the same houso legally occupy seats on a school committee? The particular case is that of a father residing with his married son. Both voted at the last meeting of householders, and both now occupy seats on the committee. . (b) Have boarders at an hotel the right to exercise a vote at a committee election? Clauses 108 and 109 of the Education Act (in the Consolidated Statutes) define the qualifications respectively of electors and members of school committees. With regard to the qualifications of electors, Clause 105 reads as follows:— "Every householder of a school district is qualified to voto at any election of members of the school committee for such district: Provided that in the case of husband and wife any. qualification possessed by either of them shall be deemed to bo possessed by each of them. Therefore (question a>., the father who resides with his married son is not a. householder within the meaning of Clause 103, and is not qualified to vote as such at the annual election. Neither has hn any qualification to sit as a member of the school -committee, for Clause 109 states that "every resident householder in a school'district, and no other person, is qualified to bo elected a member of the school committee," except paid employees of the Education Board, of the Education Department, and of the school committee. If it is Irtio that both the father and the married son voted and were elected members of tho committee in question, then that election was invalid, and could have been declared invalid had the irregularity been reported to the board. AVith regard to question (b), hotel boarders are not qualified to vote or to bo elected. Even sawmill hands residing in wharves havo been declared to have no qualification. • TEACHERS' INSTITUTE. WAIP.ARAPA BRANCH. The Wairarapa branch of the Teachers' Institute held a general meeting at Mas■terton on Saturday morning last, Ihero being a fair attendance of members. The president, Mr. C. N. Haslam, occupied the chair. The business of (he meeting was to receive tho report of the delegates who attended the Into Institute Conference held at Hokitika. The two delegates (Messrs. Fo>s and Burns) were in attendance, and between them save an interesting account of the business transacted by the delegates in council. A heaity vote of thanks was accorded the speakers, and on the motion of the chairman it was dpcided to hold the next general meeting of members at Carterton on Saturday, May 20. RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. LAISSEZ-FAIRE AT TIPATAKUKU. A very lengthy discussion took place at n recent. meeting of the Tipakuku School Committee (Hawke's Bay district), on what was stated to be tho unsatisfactory manner in which the religions instruction is given by tho different ministers at the school. This year, again, ministers have only been on two occasions, and the school has been open eight weeks. A motion was passed that as tho Rev. Mr. Robertshawc had only missed on two occasions since the lessons were started, ho be asked to take charge'of the matter, and arrange with other ministers so that the lessons are given regularly every Friday. The secretary was instructed to' write to the Eev. Mr. Robertshawo stating that if the matter were unsatisfactory in the future tho lessons would bo discontinued. ALLEGATIONS AND DENIALS. A COMMITTEE, A BOARD, AND SHABBY BLINDS. The chairman of the Wnnganui Education Board (Mr. F. Pirani) recently raised the ire of the Campbell Street (Pnlmerston North) School Committee, by. publicly and adversely commeating upon

the neglect of the. committee to make \ application to the board for new blinds I for tho school, those at present in use it being dilapidated. He said, further, n that this sort of thing was in keeping v with '.such that went on at the school. 'J Tho committee replied with a letter ask- I ing Mr. Pirani, firstly, if ho had been s correctly reported, and went on to say:— ( "If the remarks were correct would 'J you Ire more definite in your charge, and 1 say to whom you refer. You and the r members of the board must he fully t aware that the. committee have again and again asked for assistance from the board, but have, in most cases, been refused. I may say that the committee, as far as ], I hey are concerned, consider the remarks ( quite uncalled for, therefore hope- you ( will see your way to withdraw the stilts- , ment or substantiate it" . Mr. Pirani, at the last meeting of tho c Wauganui Board, stated, iu reply, that | no school in the district was treated bet- ( ter than the. Campbell Street School. Ho t again said that it was a disgrace for any • committee to allow the blinds to remain , in the condition the Campbell Street ones ] had bsen for years. In the past four t years a sum of ,£375 7s. 3d. had been i spent at the school. He would send the f following reply to the committee's letter: r "It< was the duty of the committee to c make application for new blinds several t years ago, but no move was made in that c direction, and it was not until Messrs. ; Guthrie and Bennett visited the school and drew attention to this neglect that the subject was brought before the board. It is neglect of that sort that I refer to." ' (

THE SCHOOLS FROM WITHIN. ! l

NEWS AND NOTES. Owing to the advent of the Easter holidays, "The School World" has had to go to press earlier than usual this week. A good budget of news from various districts is to hand. Mount Cook Girls' School. , During the month of March 22 new girls were admitted to the Mount Cook Girls' SchooJ. The.fine weather and the new regulation respecting attendance have.had a pood effect on the attendance of this school.. Eketahuna. At the usual monthly meeting of the Eketahuna School Committee tho headmaster reported as follows: "The average attendance for March was 127, and the average attendance for the quarter ended March 31 was 124. The average roll number for the quarter was 131. The secretary of the Education Board wrote, stating that as the result of a request from the Borough Council, permission had been granted to erect the borough flagpole on tho new school site. College Street, Palmerston North. At the monthly meeting of the College Street (Palmerston North) School correspondence was read from the Wanganui Education Board, concerning. tho .fencing of the grounds. The board offered to place a wire fence along that part where it was needed,' about 81 chainp. The committee considered that a wire fence was net enough and the secretary was instructed to apply to tho board for a close-boarded fenco all round. The headmaster's report .was as follows;— The quarterly returns show a roll number of 479, with an average attendance of 435, the highest being 45t. Tho staff have all been regular and punctual in attendance. Tho new room is completed, bnt the furniture has not yet arrived, although ordered last August. The windows of the new room and skylights in other rooms should be fitted with blinds. A wood shed has also been built. The quarterly examinations are. being held and report cards will'be. sent to. parents before the/ Easter rewss. Tho Campbell Street School Committee's challenge for a cricket match 11 be held, if possible, on the Wednesday following Easter, was accepted. . ■ - Rongotea. Mr. P. Kime, the new headmaster at Rongotea, has taken up his duties. The school is about to receive a coat of paint outside, and the committee are doing their best to also get the inside renovated, it being some 15 or 16 years since some of tho rooms wero painted. It is hoped their efforts will meet with success. The interest taken in school matters here is very luke-warm, and ono would like, to see a general livening up of the people concerned in this important matter. It is hoped that householders will attend.in largo numbers at the annual meeting on April 24, and voice their ideas and sentiments, instead of keeping and brooding over them at home, Ashhurst. The Ashhurst School concert, held last week, was a great success. The concert was opened by Mr. Tom Hart, chairman of tho committee, and Messrs. Pirani and Guthrie, members of the Wanganui Board, wero present. Mr. Pirani called on tho parents to support the attendance of the school,: by-doing which they would retain the services of the present master, Mr. Buchler, of whose abilities he spoke in a- most eulogistic manner. He thanked the. people foiv supporting the staff. Mr. Guthrie. bath as M.P. and member of tho board, expressed his pleasure at being present, and in being able to assist, as the school life of the children was a most important time, as being tho preparation of our future citizens. Mr. Hart returned, thanks on behalf of the staff'for the attendance of Messrs. Pirani and Guthrie, and to the public for generous support. . . . . Bulls, Rangitikei. The. Ivindersniel which was given at Bulls by the children of the District High School last week was a great success. The programme of items, which ■was capably performed,, consisted of the opening soiig, "Happy Ureetirie," given by the whole company, "The Dolls," sung by tho infant girls; physical.exercises by the Cadets; sohodl chorus, "I am' May"; "The Soldiers," a song with actions, given by the junior boys; tho "I Saw Esau," sung by the upper classes; "Chin, Chin, Chinaman," a song with actions, given by the junior boys; "The Geese" (infants' action songj; "Dumb-bells," by the senior girls; "Fan. Drill," by the intermediate girls; part song, the "Canadian Boat Song." . A dialogue, entitled "A Lawsuit," concluded the entertainment. JJurJng tho interval, the chairman, Mr. King, conveyed the hearty thanks of the committee to the. audience for their generous support, and to Mr. Gray and fho members of the school staff for the time, trouble, and patience involved in training the pupils for. the.performance with such successful results. Awatuna East. A most successful school concert was held in the Awatuna Hall (Hawera district) last week, when, despite the adverse weather, there was a record attendance. The programme consisted nearly entirely of items by the school children, as follows:—By the children: Chorus, "Men of Harlcch," club drill and dumb-bell drill, "('lacker song," snug "Chime Again"; Chineso song,. "Topsy Tuivy"; "Sons o the Sea," "Jingle ±Sells," "Nigger Song," and "Good-night." There wero several dialogues; and special items were: Pianoforte duet, Misses Perrett; recitation, E. Farquhar; solos by Misses Cooper and Mrs. Glenn; dialogue, Annie Perrett and Harold Tobeck; recitation, Edward Maginnis; solos, Eva. Smith and Freda Korti; duet, Miss Maud and Edward Maginnis; violin duet, Mr. W. Morris and Harold Tobeck; dialogue, W. and B. Surrey, The chairman of the school committee, Mr. Mnginnis, thanked the audience for their attendance, and also proposed a vote of thanks to the teachers and performers for their able programme. After supper was banded Tound and evidently appreciated by all and sundry, the room was cleared fov dancing, anil about 40 couples further enjoyed themselves till tho early hours of the. , morning. Tho school funds will benefit to the extent of about Xl 3 as a result of tho concert and dance. Puniho, Taranaki. A "basket social," in aid of the Pnniho (Taranaki) School improvement fund, was held in the local schoolroom on Friday night of Inst week, there being a very large attendance. The social consisted of a. dance, followed by a euchre party. The men's first prize (a fountain pen) was won by Mr.M. Hill, and the ladies' (half a dozen cups and saucers) by Miss D. Hill. A spoiling competition was won by Miss 11. Lander, who spelt ten words correctly nut of eleven. The married ladies' naildriving competition was won by Miss M. D. Rogers. The competition was. won by Miss K. Hill, who guessed 260, the exact number being 264. The single ladies' nail-driving competition was won by Miss Maud Gibbons. Tho gents' nail-driving competition was won. by Mr.

W. Gibbons, and tho youths' by Master Leo Rodgors. At about midnight the lad-, ies' baskets were put up for sale, and tho majority of them realised good prices, very few being sold under five shillings. The first prize for tho best dressed basket was.won by Miss M. Gibbons, and the second by Miss K. Mill. Air. J. A. Thomas (having a permit) auctioned the baskets. The School fund will benefit considerably by the social, and the committee is to bo praised for tho way in which they conducted the entertainment.

Tipapakuku, Hawke's Bay. At tho monthly meeling of Iho TipapaUukn (Hawke's Buy) School Commitice Iho headmaster, .Mr. Ouigley, reported that the attendance during the past lour weeks had been vory good indeed, and parents deserved (o be congratulated. With ono or two exceptions all children had made.a full attendance, and it was hoped that this splendid record would be maintained throughout the. year. The report also drew attention to one of the chimney?, which still smokes badly. Messrs. Bcnton and Caley reported on their visit to the school as a visiting committee. Mr. Webb was appointed a, visiting committee for tho month. All arrangements were made for the concert and dance on Friday evening. The committee fully expect that the proceeds will pay the nmim.it owing for the piano. The meeting then adjourned. Waiata, Feildtng. Waiata. is a small district about H miles from Feilding on the opposite tide of Orouii (o Cheltenham, and Kimbohon. It was formerly known as Nikau, but as there is another "Nikau" near Pahiatua, it was thought advisable to chance the name to Waiata. The school is a small one, of about 25 pupils, the headmaster is Mr. ,1. D. Aitken, who has been in charge for about eighteen months, and the chairman of the School Committee is Mr. William Anderson, who takes a keen interest in all school matters. During the last few days the school buildings have been painted, which is a great improvement to their appearance. The inspector paid his "suvurise" visit last week. The first term examination was held this week and the results have been on the whole satisfactory. Arrangements are being: made for a school concert early in May, for which the children are .steadily practising, and a short farce by the local "grown-ups," which ought to be a success. Parts are being taken by Mrs. and Miss Balmer, Hiss .Stewart, and Messrs. Stewart (2), and Ailken. Tho first rehearsal was held in the school on Monday evening. NEWS IN BRIEF. The Stratford School Committee has resolved to build a glass-house as an aid to the study of plant life. It is expected to cost between .£GO and .£7O. The IJahotu public school held its annual picnic last week, and enjoyed a fine day. The usual games and races were indulged in under the auspices of Mr. D. Anglesa, the chairman. Whiteman's Valley School, at present in charge of Miss Harrison, of Christchurch, is, like the Wallaccvillo School, on the down grade in the matter of diminishing attendance. A few months ago tho roll number stood at 19, whilst to-day there are only 11 scholars all told. One family of eight has gone to Tasmania. There were, at the end of last quarter, 33 children on the roll—lß boys and 1" girls—at Mangaroa School (Upper Hutt). The average for the March quarter was 25, not a good one, but the children were away on the hills picking blackberries for tho city folk to buy Mr. Harding, of. tho staff of the Levin District High School, is calling a meeting of the teachers in charge of schools, in the. district to discuss the expenditure of certain money donated by the New. Zealand Jhigby Union for (lie encouragement of school football. The meeting will be held at the High School next Saturday week. The boys of the Belvedere School are being provided with a miniature range, which is being erected on (he propcrly of Messrs. Stevens Brothers, who have kindly placed the ground at the disposal of the school committee for the purpose. The new school at Wairoa (Hawke's Bay) has an- average attendance of 200. The local committee find it difficult to get. money to meet the many needed.requirements for the school, a fact which residents of tho district should carefully note. _ The tennis courts at tho Fitzherbert School, which were laid down this season, have not been opened for play yet, but the working bee in connection with vhc fencing of the courts were very busy last week, and it is expected that I lie work will be completed next Monday. Very soon after that arrangements will 1)8 made by the club for Iho opening to take place. The schools at Normanby, Opaku, Mere Mere, Taihape, and flaetiiii, having been closed on account of measles or scarlatina, the Wanganui Education Board has decided that' when schools are temporarily closed teachers must report themselves to the board and be available for relieving work, attendance at observation schools, etc., as the board may direct. Reporting 'to the Wanganui Education Hoard at its last meeting, Mr. F. Ptirnell stated that after Easter it was proposed to organise, classes for teachers .it Wagannui and Palmerston North in science and agriculture. There seemed to bo no reason why the classes should not be combined with physical training instruction. If teachers were prepared to devote tho last week of their summer holiday for the purpose of attending the annual camp, the board should (he recommended) favourably entertain applications for leave of absence, during the first school week of the year for this purpose (where possible). ■ . PERSONAL NOTES.

Mrs. E. H. Evans, of Mangaroa School, has retired on superannuation, alter teaching for 33 years under the Wellington Board of. Education, 31 of which wero spent in the Mangaroa School. He will be succeeded by Miss Banks. .Mr. H. C. Fenton, who for the past twelve months has filled the. position of assistant at the Egmont Village School (Taranaki), has received notice of transfer, and is leaving the district at Hie end of tho month. His loss will bo very much regretted in the district. ■ Mrs. M'Millan, at present in charge of Piniiwhakau School, is leaving.at the end. of the month for Tututawa. The Tututawa School Committee sent a unanimous invitation to Mrs. M'Millan, who, subject to the board's consent, accepted it. While at Funiwhakau she has done good work, as evidenced by the fact that in the last annual report of Tnranaki schools (1910) Puniwhakau School received special mention.