THE SCHOOL WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1217, 28 August 1911, Page 3

THE SCHOOL WORLD.

A WEEKLY.REVIEW,

NOTES FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY

Teachers and others interested in ttio administration of education are invited to contribute notes for publication in "Tile School Worid." These should bo addressed to the Editor, "Tho School World." The Dominion". Wellington, and posted to reach this oflicc not later than Wednesday in each week. Correspondents desiring enlightenment upon any question in connection with tho Bchool work, or the general administration of the education system, arc invited to submit these points to tho Editor for elucidation and reply. Where anonymity is desired, it will be strictly observed.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "S.H."—Seo Dominion of August 5. "Country Dominic."—The Minister has promised to introduce this session an amendment dealing frith tho matter. "G.IV-—Suggest an inquiry of the Education Department.

MEASLES AT PARIHAKA. SCHOOL COMMITTEE ALAEMED. In the course of a letter to tho Taranaki Education Board, the chairman of tho Pungarehu School Committee recently reported that there had b?en an epidemic of measles among the children. £lo continued: "We did not close the school, as tho outbreak started among tho Maoris, and the whole school came into contact with them before it was known what was tho matter. I should like your instructions about the Maoris residing in Parihaka attending school. It is reported that typhoid is in Parihaka, and I see by the papers that it is in Puniho. Tho Maoris arc always visiting back and forward, and I think they should not be allowed to como to school wliilo there is sickness about. There seems to be a strong objection to children from Parihaka attending our school at any time. If there is no sickness they are generally infected with vermin, which is most objectionable." The board decided to send a copy of the latter portion of tlw letter to the Education Department, with a suggestion that a Native school should bo established at Parihaka.

A "SUBTLE" LETTER. TEACHERS' TRANSFER EXPENSES. At its last monthly meeting, the Taranaki Education Board had before it, from the Taranaki branch o! hie Teachers' Institute, the following resolution passed at tho last meeting of the institute: "That owing to the great expense incurred by many teachers when being transferred from one school to another, the board be respectfully asked to make arrangements whereby such expense should be paid." It added: "The Department has given power to boards to transfer teachers, and the institute thinks that it is only just that the Department should supply the boards with funds to carry out the transfers. This is usual in other Government Departments." One speaker remarked that .tho request was an absurd one. In most cases transfer meant promotion, aud it was only right that the teachors should pay their own expenses. Another commented upon the "subtlety" with which the letter was written. In order to apply to tho Department tho board would have to sanction the general 'principle. If the Department did not agree to supply the boards with funds, the institute would turn round and say to the board, "l'ou have confirmed the principle, so you must now pay the transfer expenses." If instead of instituting tho transfer system tho board had gone on in the old system of calling for applications for positions, the teachers would still have to pay their own expenses. When a teacher was promoted it was not fair that the transfer expenses should be paid. Similarly, when a tcacier was disrated the expenses should not be paid. But when the board transferred- a teacher to. serve its own ends,' and for the benefit of tho ohildren, without altering the teacher's status, then the teacher would bo justified in asking for consideration. It was therefore resolved: "That tho board docs not approve of the general principle that the expenses incurred by teachers when transferred should bo paid, but admits that there are rases when tho matter should be eonsideied."

FROM THE FOUR CORNERS.

NEWS AND NOTES. Measles havo been very prevalent at Groytown, and there have been 105 absentees".

The average attendance for the first seven weeks of the quarter at Lansdowno School is 160, and the roll number 180. The miniature target for use at tho school has como to hand.

Tho spring school of instruction in elementary agricultural and nature study for Wairarapa teachers will open at Greytown on Monday, September i. Teachers from a largo number of the Wairarapa schools are expected to bo present.

Tho Hawke's Bay Education Board is to bo asked by the Woodville District High School if it will allow the installation of a kinematogrnph in tho school if the committee were able to do so.

A resolution from the Taranaki branch of tho Teachers' Institute—"That this institute views with regret the growing tendency of tho board to allow certain matters likely to embarrass teachers in the execution of their duties to.be mado public through the medium of tho press" —was simply "received" at the last meeting of the Taranaki Education Board.

An enjoyable little "library" social was recently held at Tane for the purpose of enabling the settlers of the district to inspect the new school library. Jlr. Judd, chairman of the committee, was thanked for the trouble taken by hini in fitting up tho school with a library, and Miss It. Weisner, schoolmistress, was with a gold brooch, in appreciation of the esteem in which she was held.

An attractive programme is bom* prepared for the Maryborough School co-n----cci't, to be .held on Augnst~3l. The items will include duets, tj'ios, quartets ,and choruses by the children, and several recitations and drill displays are also bring prepared. The proceeds of the concert (which is being supervised by Mr. J. K. Edie, headmaster) will go towards defraying the cost of the new piano purchased for school use. , s

Tho officca commanding Hit Otago military district made application at the last, meeting of tho Otago Education Board for permission to temporarily uso the schoolrooms and grounds in all parts of tho district for drill purposes during such time as they were not required for educational work. Members, however, were of tli opinion that if the permission desired were granted tho grounds might be damaged, the furniture knocked about through being moved, and the caretaker's duties added to, and it was decided to inform the military authorities that tM board could not see its way to grant the request. 1

Jlatamau School (Ilawke's Bay) continues to make commendable progress (reports the board's inspector), "and maintains a very high level of general efficiency. Reading and recitation are very strong throughout the school. The pupils of the upper classes are preparing Macaulay's stories and narratives. Spelling is very good in all chwes. Arithmetic i 3 strong, there being only two pupils who show a weakness iu this subject. Geography and history in the upper classes arc saiisfaotw-y. Agriculture is, a special leriliiiv of Hip and tho ground and '.'aniens show the result of caro and work. Writing and drawing excellent. Sewing is satisfactory. Singing is taught with fair results in tho upper classes. Drill is taught, but was not examined."

The Belvedere School Committee has decided, owing to so much time being lost by the children through measles, and in view of the annual examination coining off in about six weeks' time, not to close tho school down for the extra week, in' connection with the spring scliool of instruction for teachers at Grevtown next month.

In their quarterly report on the Stratford School, the board's inspectors (Messrs. Ballantyne and Whetter) remark that the records have been kept iu a very satisfactory maimer; the pupils have attended with very satisfactory regularity and punctuality. Tho management and organisation of the school by the headmaster has been very satisfactory. In most of the classes the work for the day 'jhad been carefully prepared, ;iud iutelli-

gently mapped out, and tho supervision of the. work throughout the school lias been close and regular. Tho order, discipline, and tono were good. 'The work of the school has been materially interfered with by tho recent fins which destroyed several of tho class-rooms.

Twelve pupils have left the school to go to the C'arrington School, and, in oonsequence. the roll number had fallen to 47. The epidemic of measles had brought tho average attendance for the month to 30, tho lowest recorded for a few years. Arrangements for the children's annual concert, to be held month, are in train.

The YVangamii Education Board has thanked tho residents of Marlon and distriot for- their generous donation of .£"250 for improvements to the new school site, and (he committee has also placed on record its appreciation of the hearty response for funds from the residents of the town and district. It has been decided to open in nbout three weeks' time a school at Marion Junction for children up to and including Standard IV. The school will be under tho control of the Marlon Committee. Tho secretary of the ball committee, Mr. A. Way, has prea balance-sheet showing' a net profit of .£l7 9s. Gd., which reflects great credit on those who carried out this enjoyablo function. A hearty vote of thanks has been accorded the secretary and the ladies' committee in charge of the supper.

IV iiangan'tomoiia is going ahead. Tho number of buildings in the township at the present time is thirty: seven permanent dwellings and three shops having been erected during tho past twelve months, and it is understood that tenders have just closed, for bank premises to bo completed by tho end of the year. At the end of the ,Tune quarter there were sixtythree pupils on the roll of the school, witli an average attendance of forty-five, while the present building provides accommodation for only forty. the railway works approaeli Whangamomona it is expected that there will lie a further increase in tlm attendance. It is quite understood' the present high attendance to a certain extent depends on the families connected with the railway construction works, but still (considers tho Taranaki Education Board's inspector), when the lino is open to "Whangamomona and the construction gangs away on ahead, tho township being a sectional end, will for some time be the headquarters of a considerable railway staff. For some years to come the district will require a larger school building than the one at present in nso, and the board has decided to apply to tho Department for a grant for additions to the school building and also for a residence.