PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 November 1924, Page 2

PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Meeting op tManaki board. AGRICULTURAL TEACHING. The .Taranaki Education Board met yesterday, i; Present: Messrs- S. G. Smithy M.F. (chairman), P. J. H. White, A. Lees, F, H. Sim, R. J. De'are, hiid H. J. Eaves. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. H. H. Dempsey. Teaching of agriculture during the month was reported on by the senior instructor (Mr R. G. Ridliiig: Primary Schools: During the month some 68 schools have been visited by instructors. The field work for the year is in haiid in most schools, and there is promise that this work will be carried out on much more orthodox scientific principles than formerly. Afforestation Work: A good clfeal of correspondence has passed between the Afforestation Department and the instructors over , this branch of the work, and as a result the departmental competition has been brought, into line with the local competition. This is desirable, for it means that greater educational advantages will' be obtained than were possible under the draft scheme of the Department. The interest iii this work has increased.

Rural Science Classes: These have been conducted regularly throughout the month. The satisfactory attendances at the classes in the southern area are being maintained. ;

Teachers-’ Class: The 1924 classes Concluded on October. II with an examination- on the work of the year. The results of this examination will be available next month. The teachers’ classes should- commence at. the same time as the work of the primary schools. Teachers regard these classes more as preparatory classes for examination work than as training- classes, and it is impossible in the. limited time prior to the August examinations to complete a satisfactory course. of work. Hence if it is possible to start this work , earlier better results should be obtained.

The chairman reported he had brought before officers of the Department in Wellington the Manaia subsidy. This matter is still 'under consideration of the Department, and will be reopened at a later date. '

MAN AT A DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL. The secretary (Mr. H. W. Insull) reported that advice had been received from the ‘department giving its assent to the establishment of a District High School at Manaia. A total of 39 pupils had notified; their intention of attending, said Mr. Insull, and authority was required to call for applications for the Position of special -assistant at the ; school.. The successful applicant would need to teach French, mathematics, and book-keeping. The department had. also Mated that it did not contemplate efectiiig hew buildings 'at present at Manaia. The board decided to write to the department asking for authority to invite applications as stated. PLASTtbINE.

With regard to the use of plasticine in schools the secretary reported that one and a half tons of plasticine would soon be arriving, and he would like to point ox;}; that too tUU'ch plasticine was being destroyed when pupils left the schools.

Ih regard to an inquiry from the board, one of the department’s medical officers had stated that the worst type of germs did not livfe on plasticine for, more than three days. Objection had been raised by several parents, said Mr. L'des, to tlie use of other children’s plasticine by their own boys and girls, in the interests of public health. Most of the boat'd members felt that it was Pet a good thing for children; to use. the material promiscuously, but in view of the medical opinion it was decided to take no action. ORGANISING TEACHERS. Several matters brought ’up by the report of the Council of Education were discussed by the board. With reference to the Cfgahisxng teachers’ visits to various schools, Mr. White heartily endorsed .the opinion expressed by the coPncil that organising teachers should, visit all schools, including grade 6 schools. These were wuntry schools, said Mr. White, piobably needed the help of the organising teacher more than anyone else. -The department should remember that New Zealand was a youjig country, and the small country schools, needed ever; encouragement. Under the present regulations grade 0 schools were excluded from the organising teacbeis’ visits. Other matters referred to in the council’s report were considered 100 important for mere passing reference, and consideration of them was deferred until the hoard’s next meeting, in order to give members an opportunity, of studying thein - GENERAL. Permission was granted the South Taranaki primary schools to close on December. 10, in order that the children might compete in the competitions to be held in Hawfefa on that date. It was decided to apply to the department for a physical instructor for the Taranaki-Wanganui. district, as the board considered that the area to be covered was now too much for one man.

Permission was granted to the authorities 'of the Stratford Technical High School to instal machinery in the woodwork room at the school, subject to the approval of the board’s architect.

The hoard confirmed the action of the chairman in closing the schools at Mangatqki, from October 10 to October 20, for ringworm. . The question of permitting the erection of a hall on the Tokaora School site was referred to a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Lees and Smith to report.

The Central School Committee, on account of Courtenay Street School, was granted £4O. The balance will, be distributed among grade 1 schools. It was decided that a reply be sent to the South Taranaki School Committees’ Association advising them of „the terms of. allocation of the grant. The reply will indicate a. comparison of amounts paid this year and that paid last year, together with, a schedule of the balance of The schools in South Taranaki district. With regard to a dental clinic at Hawera, it was decided to ask the Health Department to expedite a definite reply as to whether it intends to establish a clinic. The secretary was instructed to ask the department for a definite reply regarding remodelling at Puniho School,

and to inform the- department that thecommittee lifts offered to sunnlv a sum of £2O towards the cost. . ‘ ~ Alicf department notified the board that it could not entertain ah application loir a manual training centre at Opunake ns there were pressing needs, ihe hoard decided to write to the department requesting an eatly reply regarding the establishment of a district high_ school at Opunake, pointing out at the same time that 22 intending students had signed the applications, and .only 20 were needed for the establishment of a school. —Abridged froth New Plymouth papers.