WANGANUI EDUCCATION BOARD

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 173, 26 March 1915, Page 3

WANGANUI EDUCCATION BOARD

The Wai/ganui Board cf Education ■ met ch Wednesday. Resignations: M. G. Luxi'oru, pupil" teacher, Tcna'c End; •!. llcnorc, head teachd", Otakeho. Appointments: Mamitahi: Mi' G. (..'. , liarre, sole teacher; Terrace tend: Miss V. Gowdy, acting assistant. Applications for leive rf absence: wer e granted to: C. Lavary, assistant Hawera; G. J. Lock, assistant Kapo- j nga; J. E. Thompson, probationer Ter-J race End; A. Blake, assistant Crofton j Side; J. D. Aitken, asistant Campbell! Street; L. F. Binns, probationer Feild j ing; D.'W. Low, head teacher College! Street; J. M. Bradley, assistant Campbell Street; F. M. Govau, assistant College Street; I. Kerslake, assistant, Campbell. Street; L. Guy, sole teacher; Kahoke; C. O. Christoffdrsen, sole ; readier Ruatiti; M. D. Alexander, head teacher Central. Infants. . . NEW SCHOOLS, District High School at Ohakune: The Chief Inspector reported that the tim e was not ripe for the establishment of a District High School at Ohakune, a contributory reason beinj, the •Resent isolation of Raetmi. Omcana: It was decided to apply for a grant. Whitmcre: An adverse report was received. St. John's Hill: U was decided to apply for a grant. Putiki: The Inspector was instructed to report on the need of sam«;. DEPA RTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE. An application for a grant for additional land at Terrace End School approved. Authority was given for additions to the Ohangai School. An application for a grant to turi School'was refused. An application for a grant for a new school at Bulls was withheld as the plan s had not been approved of. Permission was given, to dispose of the teacher's residence at Martoa. APPLICATIONS FROM SCHOOLS, REPAIRS, ETC. Stoney Creek: Grant of £2 5s approved. Raukura: Application for grant of £l2 18s 9d referred to Beard's carpenter. Table-Plat: Gfraiit of £0 12s approv. ed. Colyton: £ for £ f/rant, up to £B, approved. Longburn: Application for wire netting referred to Mr Bennett. Ohakune: Grant of £ls '2 S 6d i'cjr electric light approved. Ruatiti: Grant of £2 an acre for bushfellirj)? approved. Whakamaru: Grant of £1 10s approved. Pohangina: Grant of £22 3s approved. Puleekaka: Application for grant referred to Mr Harris. Cheltenham: Application referred to Board's carpenter. Okaiawa: Committee to be asked to raise £7 towards grant applied for. Ccllcige Street: Request referred to Beard's crvpenter Ohakea: Work to be carried out under supervision of Board's carpenter. Lytton Street: Referred to Board's carpenter. Tia Ritahuna: Matter referred to Mr Bennett. EDUCATION POLICY OF RETRENCHMENT. PRIMARY AND TECHNICAL. The following report was mads by Mr F. Pirani at the meeting of the Wanlganui Board of Education: In accordance with the decision of the Board, Mr D. H. Guthrie and I proceeded to Wellington and interviewed the Hon. Jas. Allen in regard to a number of questions. Dr Anderson, Acting Director of Education, was present. Probably owirtg to the changie of control of the Department, there seemed to be considerable uncertainty in regard to the attitude to be taken up towards most of our requests, but w e believe that the result of the representations made will ensure more favourable treatment At the sarnie time I must say that there is no evidence cf a desire on the part of the Departmnt to meet this occasion as its importance deserves. For many years the education system has been leaked upon as tiie one in which retrenchment can be,st be made, and when money is available it is mostly used to placate those who make the most noise without consideration of the merits of the surroundings. The recent determination of the Department to retrench in | the direction of teachers' residences, | while the Government i s porceeding ! ar a great rate with the erection of j houses for workers, is an instance in | point. Whether the proposed Council } cf Education will have any influence | in stressing the first importance of a ! w'sll-equipped education system is proi blematical, but it seems to me that th e time has arrived when those interested in education —and who is not, —should take steps to insis.t upon the view that the time has long since passed when the most important Depart-

ment cf State should be treated as Cinderella, and thai' primepy and tech. meal education especially should be placed in ithe [dace its position in the plane cf progress deserves. Until a De.oarment'endowed with this view exists ranch effort will hi wasted and considerable time ci usumed in proving to its '■ulcers that they arc not shouldering the responsibility thur positions entitle the public to lock to them tc bear.