EDUCATION BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 December 1924, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

MEETING YESTERDAY. officersHreports. The Taranaki Education Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs fc>. G. Smith, iVI.P. (chairman), P. J. H. White, R. J. Deare, and A. Lees. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs H. H. Dempsey, F. H. Sim, and H. J. Eaves. . The chairman reported having made the following relieving appointments during the month: • Otakeho, head teacher, Miss E. Surman; Awatuna, assistant, Miss'E, F. Anderson; Central, assistant, Mr. P. S: Taylor ; Fraser Road, assistant, Miss Surgenor; Frapkley, head teacher, Mr. T. Thomas; Hawera, assistant, Mrs. Lee; Hurford, sole teacher, Miss Rawson; Inglewood, assistant, Miss M, Leech; Kaimata., assistant, Miss Mitchell; Mahirakau, head teacher, Mr, C. M. Micholls; Mangawara, sole teacher, Miss Davies; Oeo, head teacher, Mr. Cumbenvorth; Ohura, assistant, Miss Williams; OtaJkeho, . assistant, Miss Bottrill; Hurangi, sole teacher, Miss Birkhart; Rangi, sole teacher, Miss Tompkins; Stratford, assistant, Miss E. E. Gibson; Tahora, assistant,, Miss Fitzgerald; Waitara, assistant, Miss N. M. Fahey; Te Kiri, assistant, Miss I. Richards. The following resignations were received, all dating from Janufiiy 31, 19 , 25; Mr. V. S. Edwards, sole teacher, Putiki household; Miss L. L. Mason' assistant, Piliama; Miss J. McLean, assistant, Opunake; Mr H. A. Insull, probationer, 'Central; Mr T. B. Julian pupil teacher, West End; Mr. E. G. Smith, probationer, Central; Mis s M. Cameron, probationer, Central. The architect reportedEltham, new school This work is progressing steadily. The outside plastering work is well on towards completion, and the special roofing sheets should arrive within a week. AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION. The senior instructor in agricuitui’e (Mr. R. G. Ridling) reported on agriI cultural instruction as follows: Primary Schools. —During the month 41 schools were visited by instructors. In general, the work is progressing satisfactorily. A large part of the .time is given to the continuance of the field work of the term. Rural Science Classes. —These-' have been conducted throughout the month at the various centres. Considerable difficulty has been occasioned at the Stratford centre because of the poor attendance by the scholars, and this has respited in disorganisation. Steps have been taken to deal with this, but it is too late in the year to see any benefit before the classes cease. . Annual examinations. —The examinations in the work done in the rural science classes and in the schools throughout the year have been conducted, and the results will he placed before the board as soon as marks have been allotted. Instructors—Mr. W. A. Dean relinquished his position under this board on November 19. Mr. P. J. Ayckbourn, B.Se. (Birmingham), was appointed as relieving instructor. Mr. R. Syme was granted leave on account of illness from the 17th till the 28tli, but has been unable to resume his duties. Mr. Ayckbourn has conducted the rural science classes in hpth the southern and central districts. Teachers’ Classes. —In continuance or my report for October, I have to state that the result of the teachers’ classes examination are as follows: Avei age marks obtained at examinaLon, 60 per cent. ; number of teachers examined, 34; number of teachers absent, 17; • number of certificates granted, 13. The large number of absentees from the examination is due to the fact that many had completed the requisite, course for practical certificates hv the beginning of September, and their attendance at the classes ceased after the teachers’ examination m September. CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. _ lhe secretary of the hoard (Mr H. \\. Insull) reported as follows on the visit he paid to Wellington: Manual Capitation.—l inquired why the balance of £164 owing on 1923 is still outstanding All queries have now been satisfactorily explained and the majority*of the claims justified. Payment will b© made before the end of this month. . In view of the chief inspector’s remarks on agriculture and rural science classes at the conference, J. asked him for a definite statement of his views upon the method of conducting this work. He is opposed to highly paid instructors in agriculture conducting classes in rural science at centres. He considers that this work of instruction should be carried out by teacher at the centre, or. one brinormg the children in, and that agricultural instructors’ time should be dex ot f d to the training of teachers and stimulating them in the work Manam District High School.—Advertisement lia s been inserted in the gazette calling for applications for an assistant competent to take general subjects French and book-keeping ~ Gpunake Proposed District High School. Consideration of the establishment of a district high school i s dejerred until the roll number is known m February next. TRANSFER OF TONGAPORUTU j PUPILS. and Messrs Deare and V • i e . vc P° l ’t e d that they had visited Alutiti and Tougaporutu schools and recommended as follows: (1) That the department be asked for permission to close the Tougaporutu school and for the children from this district to lie conveyed to the Aliititi school. (2) Unit application lie made to the department for a grant of £3OO per annum (including £4O allowance to the heao teacher, who is prepared to undertake the conveyance). (3) That the department he asked to approve of the hoard purchasing a bus through the department. Aliititi, they said, was a grade 0 school, site 94 acres, roll 6 average R with accommodation for 46 pupils Longaporutu was a grade 1 school, roll 12, average 11. The school Is held in I xT ,e -J la a r ? n tal of £l3 ner annum. I neither the building nor the surroumlmgs were considered suitable for the I purpose. ' The board decided to adopt the recommendations and to make application to the department accordingly. 1 COASTAL SCHOOLS. The chairman submitted a detailed report of a visit lie had recently paid to the coastal schools. I c 7^ ie i committee of the Opunake benool was disappointed that the Department had not definitely decided to establish a district high school. Fur--1 ther representations were being made to Dr. Marsden on his visit to Tara- ■ naki. In company with Mr Lees, he. had met the committee at Tokaora. The suggestion placed ' before him by the . committee was to lease a portion (about one-eighth acre) in- the corner of the ' recently acquired football ground for the purpose of erecting a public hall. In their opinion a public hall would 1

have many advantages. At present the school was made use of for concerts and meetings, to the detriment of the Board’s property. The loss of area would not interfere with the playing area as a football field. The chairman’s report was adopted. SCHOOL LIBRARIES. “That this hoard is of the opinion that an adequate school library was a necessary adjunct of every .up-to-date school, as the traditions of oiur race are contained in the literature lof its language, and that the attention' of the committees and teachers be drawn to the large number of capably edited books for children of ranging ages now available, and urge that the provision pf such libraries receive careful and considerate attention,” was a resolution passed on the motion of Mr White after a discussion on school libraries. On the motion of Mr White it was also decided to. authorise the secretary to ascertain from teachers what schools in the district had libraries, and where these existed what methods were adopted for their care and control. . COURSE OF PHYSICAL INSTRUCTION. ■ On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to apply to the Department for authority to establish a series of refresher courses in physical instruction for teachers at New Plymouth, Stratford, Hawera, Opunake and Matiere. It is intended that the classes will be. compulsory, and the dates suggested for the schools to be closed are as follows:—New Plymouth, February 3 to 6; Stratford, February 9 to 13; Hawera, February 16 to 20; Opunake, February 23 to 26; Matiere, date to be fixed. GENERAL MATTERS. It was decided to expend a sum of £l2O on tables and chairs to. replace the dual desks in a number of infant classes. The senior inspector and the architect were asked to report upon such classes needing them, placing same in order of urgeney. It was resolved to take no action at present •with regard to. increasing accommodation at the Waitara school. With regard to outside seating accommodation at schools, the Board decided that while it could not regard prpvision pf such as a general rule, in view of special circumstances at West End School, New Plymouth, seating would be provided on the north side ©f she school. The Department notified that tho services of the extra assistant at Opunake might be retained for the present so as to provide a Standard YII. at the school. If. in February next there wore 20 qualified pupils in attendance, the Department would probably favourably consider the establishment of a district high school. It was decided to advise the headmaster at Rahotu that the Board is o.f opinion that the school work should be so arranged as to enable the Nganjti Road children to depart by. the ’bus not later than 3.45 p.m. The application from the Mahoenui School Committee for a grant towards ground improvements was left to the chairman to inquire and report. The Board’s architect was instructed to propped with the erection of a shelter shed at Oakura (24ft x 10ft),« on condition that. the r school committee undertake to. have the floor of same concreted. I. It was decided to forward applications for subsidies to the Department as follows, the Board to,contribute the amounts indicated: Midhirst, £10; Bell Block, £4; Auroa, £5 Is id (Board to contribute £1 8s) ; Kaimiro, £l4 15s (Board to contribute lis). The chairman was appointed to consult with the Department regarding the proposed consolidated school at Lower Mangorei. The Kent application for a movable building was declined, jn view of the grant for a site at Mangorei junction i In yiow of the fact that the estimated roll of tjie new school would be over 100, the senior inspector (Mr J. A. Valentine) recommended that a school o.f typical plan No. 8, as issued by the Education Department, be adopted. Application will be made to the Department for a grant tp remodel the Rahotu School by converting the building into three rooms. The senior inspector was asked to report on the question of increased accommodation at Kiore. It was decided to inform Mr H. D. barton that, the Board could not consider the establishment of a school at Richmond Road, on account of the fact that Lincoln .Road School is only a mil© or two .distant. The matter of the establishment of a movable school at TuroLo was held over until after the inspector’s visit early in 1.925. It was not considered expedient W a movable residence atinrofo. It was resolved to apply to the Department lor a grant for tlje purchase or a site from Mr Gibson for the .Pembroke School, and the architect wag instructed to pjejwe plans for the school. The Department notified that it could not approve of the establishment of a school at Tuhua. Information wag also received from the Department to the effect that the question of remodelling the Norfolk School had been deferred, as al,so> was tlmt of additions to Opunake School. An application for a grant i'or a manual school building at Inglewood was refused, and the chairman was appointed to interview the Assistant Director of .Education (Dr. Marsden) during his visi6 to New Plymouth this mouth, regarding this and other mattors. Hie Board’s application to the Department for a grant for the remodelling of Puniho School, was a"a in refused by the Department, and "the Board's application for a special phvsica.l instructor for Taranaki was de-c-lined. on the grounds that an instructor and instructress for the Tara-naki-W anganui district were sufficient. A brief report on his visit to the schools m Taranaki was submitted bv the chief physical instructor for New Zealand schools, who commented on the physique of most children compared favourably with those in other districts Concerning a dental clinic at Hawera. the Department notified the Board that il a suitable room were provided and fitted up the Department would pro- . vide a nurse. -The chairman and. Mr Lees were appointed a committee to determine the cost of providing such a room m the old Technical School. A grant of £5 was made towards the hoys’ and girls’ clubs. 3he architect was instructed to. prepare . plans and estimates for a new school at Omata, and also plans and estimates for an open-air shelter. Messrs Lees, White and the chairman were appointed a committee to go further into the matter raised in a letter from the Opunake School. Committee regarding' accommodation for next year. It was decided to make application to the Department for a grant for the purchase of a new site at Pungarehu, and also for a grant of £IOO to go towards the leveljing of the section.