WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2444, 22 June 1922, Page 3

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the Wangapui Ediication Board states inter " ers'in the Wanganui Education disjunct, excluding relieving teachers, is '423. Of‘These, 127 are uncertifi- . cated. The question of uncertificated teachers is constantly before the board, and no opportunity is lost of replacing them with certificated teachers. The total number of names on the roll of the schools on March 31 was 16,402, an increase of 654 over the' previous year. The amount received in voluntary contributions by the board last year for improvements to buildings and grounds',''purchase of equippment, etc., was £4,079 13s Bd. Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, school medical officer, continued to do excellent work in the district, and it was largely due to her zeal and enthusiasm that toothbrush drill was carried out daily in the lhajority of schools. The re- ' .port further states that it is proposed to hold another health camp'this year for children suffering from malnutrition. The report also says . that atheletic games in the schools have made rapid progress. Public schools’ amateur atheletic associations have been formed in various centres and competitions are held annually. At the beginning of the current year the Wanganui Amateur Atheletic Association organised a schools’, championship meeting, the idea being that the champions from the various centres should compete at Wanganui for the dischampionships. The shool gaining the most points in the championship events holds for one year a banner presented by the board. It is pleasing to note the enthusiasm shown by teachers and others in the efforts to encourage amateur sport.

The inspectors have given their sup...port by-requiring at least half an hour daily being placed on the timetable for organised games under the direction of the teachers. “With the limited time at his disposal, Mr Eovdhouse, the department’s physical instructor, has done good work,” says the reprot.. “It is, of course, impossible for him to visit all the schools in view of the large number

of schools in the combined districts -.under his charge. Each school should be visited at least once a year.- Instead of increasing the number of instructors to enable this to be done, the department has reduced the number for this coast to one, which is regret-teed.” In connection with organising teachers, it is stated that the number for this coast is being redueedjfrom four to two, and although a protest is - thought to be useless, the reduction is felt to be in the nature of a retrograde step. 'T'Tf't'ld