Education Board Report.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 96, 4 June 1895, Page 2

Education Board Report.

The following is the report of the Education Board of the district of Taranaki: — Taranaki Education Board, New Plymouth, Bth March. 1895. Sir, —lu co n rianee with the provisions of section 102 of “ The Education Act, 1877,” I have the honor to submit the following report of the Board’s proceedings for the year ending 31st December, 1891. THE BOARD. At the annual election in March, Mr H. Faull was re-elected, and Messrs W. Ambury and J. Mackay were elected in the place of the Hon Thos. Kelly, M.L.C., who did not offer himself for're-election, and the late Mr E. Olson, who died shortly before the time fixed for the election. The Board then consisted of Mr R." G. Bauchope (chairman), Miss Heywood, Messrs E. G. Allsworth, G. A. Adlam, W. Ambury, H. Faull, S. Hill, and J. Wade. The Board held twenty-three ordinary and one special meeting during the year, and the attendance of members has been as follows ; Miss Heywood 21, Mr Bauchope 22, Mr Allsworth 23, Mr Adlam 21, Mr Ambury 16, Mr Faull 21, Mr Hill 22, Mr Mackay 15, and Mr J. Wade 21. SCHOOLS. There were 49 schools open at the beginning of the year, and three have been opened during the year, viz., Waihi, Salisbury Road and Palmer Road, and contracts have been let for buildings at Stanley Road and Purangi (Matau); when these two buildings are completed there will be 54 schools in operation in the district. TEACHERS. The number of teachers in the employ of the Board at the end of last year was 114, classified as follow : Male Fem’le Tl. Head Teachers ... 17 2 19 Sole Teachers ... 17 17 34 Assistant Teachers... 4 8 12 Pupil Teachers ... 3 23 26 Sewing Teachers ... 0 28 23 41 73 114 The following comparative table will be found interesting, as it shows from one point of view the increase in the Board’s operations during the last decade; 31st Dec., 1881. Teachers holding certificates ... 18 do . do partial success... 3 do do licenses to te’ch... 2 do uncertificated 23 First year’s pupil teachers ... 12 Second do do ... 4 Fourth do do ... 0 Sewing Teachers... 0 62 31st Dec., 1891. Teachers holding certificates ... 57 do do partial success... 3 do do licenses to te’ch... 2 do uncertificated 3 First year’s pupil teachers ... 7 Second do do ... 8 Fourth do do ... 11 Sewing teachers... ... ••• 23 114 A satisfactory* feature in the above table is the decrease of the number of uncertificated teachers, thus showing that the revision of the scale of salaries from time to time has had the desired effect of attracting a better class of teachers. attendance. The attendance for the year shows an increase 279 ; The number on the roll for the quarter ending 31st December being 3637, as compared 3358 for the corresponding period of 1893, the average attendance shows improvement on the previous year, it having risen from 2371 in 1893 to 2654 in 1894. There is still room for improvement in this respect, but the Board cannot overlook the difficulties that have to be overcome by children attending the outlying schools. The district is a bush one and the roads are nearly impassable in the newly settled parts in the winter months, thus preventing the delicate and younger children putting in an appearance at school during these months. BUILDINGS. New school buildings were erected during the year at Carrington Road, Hurford Road, Pung'arehu Road, and Salisbury Road, and an old building was removed from Waitara to Waihi; these works with a number of repairs and additions absorbed the building grant, and compelled the Board to enroach on the Education Fund to the extent of £224 13s 2d for building purposes. It will be thus seen that the Board has been unable to do anything towards providing residences, for teachers, the necessity for which was pointed out in last year’s report. The Building Grant for the year is barely sufficient to meet the urgent requirements for teaching purposes, and unless a special grant is made for the Board will be reluctantly compelled to shelve this important question for another year. SCHOLARSHIP. Two Scholarships were awarded in Class “ A ” to Decimus Wells, Mangorei School, and Harold Mason, Waitara School, and one in class “ B ” to William Hutchinson, Stratford School, and, on the recommendation of the Board, The Governors of the New Plymouth High School granted two free tuition scholarships to two of the unsuccessful candidates, whose papers showed considerable merit. There are now thirty-five School Committees and three .provisional committees, in the district, and the sum of £859 15s 4d has been paid to them during the year for school purposes. The Committees of the districts in which new schools have been built acted in a liberal spirit, and the Committees generally take great interest in their duties and perform them punctually and with diligence. INSPECTION. Mr Wm. Murray, who has served the

Board as Inspector during the past eleven years, tendered his resignation, and Mr W. E. Spencer, assistant inspector to the Wanganui Education Board, was appointed to succeed him. The latter entered on his duties on the first of this month (March, 1895.) The Board takes this opportunity of recording its appreciation of Mr Murray’s services. He entered on his duties just as the district began sensibly to progress, at the time he sent.in his report (December, 1894), there were thirty-six schools open, with a roll attendance of 2113 pupils, whereas there are now fifty-two schools with a roll attendance of 3637. Notwithstanding this increase in his duties, and that he was in indifferent health during part of the term, he performed the arduous duties of his position, with diligence, zeal, and ability. INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. The income of the Board from all sources, including the balance of £1782 5s Id from last year, was £13,575 17s sd, and the expenditure was £11,666 5s sd, leaving a credit balance of £1929 12s, against which there were liabilities and appropriations amounting to £1899 16s Id, which left but a small margin to begin the new year with. For information respecting the state of education in the district, I beg to refer you to the Inspector’s report. I have the honor to be, Sir Your obedient servant, Eobt. G. Bauchope, Chairman. The Honorable the Minister of Education, Wellington.