TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 31, 28 May 1914, Page 6

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

At the monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, there were present: Messrs H. Trimble (chairman), E. Marfell, A. H. Halcombe, W. Rogers, A. M. Bradbury, R. Masters, J. Young, G. A. Adlam, and A. Morton. STRATFORD SCHOOL.

With regard to the request of the Stratford School Committee for additional accommodation in the infant school, the Chief Inspector (Mr W. A. Ballautyne) reported that Mr Whetter had visited the school on the sth inst. and recommended: That the assembly court be converted into a general class f-oom. All that would be needed would be the laying -down of a wooden floor on the present asphalt ipne and the removal of the hat racks. To provide a room for the children’s Jiats and cloaks it would be necessary to lengthen the shelter shed on the eastern side of the ground and fit up part of it with hat racks. He fully endorsed his recommendations) which had the approval of the head master, Mr Tyrer. He pointed out that in a school of this size it is almost iniperative to have a large calss room into which children might be drafted from the infant room for lessons that might interrupt the work in their own room. On occasion it would also be used to assemble two or more standards for such lessons as singing, etc. WINTER SCHOOL.

The Inspectors (Messrs W. A. Ballantyue and R. G. Whetter) reported that the’Winter School for Teacher? commenced on Monday, the 25th insb.j and would continue for three weeks, According to the new regulations for the examination and classification of teachers it was imperative that a candidate for examination should produce a certificate that ho had attended a course of practical lessons in science subjects under an. instructor recognised by the Education Department. In a district such as the board pontrolled, where there was no training college or-Ainiversity .unless special provision was made, it was impossible for a teacher to obtain’his'certificate. In the past, provision had been made by means of Saturday ■ classes, held at New Plymouth and Stratford to meet the needs of those teachers who were within a convenient distance of thes6 centres, hut to cater for teachers who, unfortunately, were not so conveniently situated, and these comprise the majority of the Board’s nuceHaficated teachers, it was necessary to make further provision by means of a winter sc&ol. This course of instruction included Hygiene (instructor, Nurse Sinclair), Home Science (Mrs Geddes; B.A'.), Botany (Mrs Geddes), Dairy Science (Mr iEllis), . and Cardboard work’(Mr R. L. Mcllroy, M.A.) As evidence of the need of such courses it may be mentioned that close on fifty teachers, drawn from all parts of the district, were in attendance. So keen was the enthusiasm evipced that, although the classes were carried off the whole day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the teachers had put forward:a request to have certain hours for courses established, to enable them to cover the practical work for the C certificate. Arrangements had practically been made to meet their wish. TARANAKI SCHOLARSHIPS.

The Public Trust Office forwarded a statement of accounts showing the financial position of the Taranaki scholarships endowment fund as at March 31, 1914. It showed the fund to be in credit to the amount of £11,606 16s 9d, which represented a net increase during the year of £694 13s 6d. SUBSIDIES AND GRANTS. The following subsidies were granted:—Toko, £ for £ towards metalling grounds (not to exceed £2 19s) ; Pohokura, £2 for £1 towards shelter shed (not to exceed £l6 12s 4d). GENERAL. The application for enlargements to the Makahu school was referred to the inspector to report on. The matter of re-opening the Puniwhakau school was left to the chairman. The following matters were referred to the overseer; Supply fencing material, etc., at Stanley; repairs to fireplace at Stratford.