EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 251, 24 October 1901, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

The Education Board met on Wednesday. Present. :■ Mr McAllum (ohairman), Mis 4 Heywood, Mes»rs Adlam,, Wade, Alls#orth, Mackay, FlroU* Kennedy, and Hignett. The architect reported that th» chimney at the Lo«ver Kent-road sobool required re-building. [To be attended) to ] He also submitted sketch of proposed alterations at Oourtenay-streefe. school. [To be placed on list of urgent works.] The Ngariki Committee notified it* willingness for the school to be A half time school till another teacher was obtained. Referred to Mr Adlam to report upon after interviewing ths committee.

The Chairman's action in granting 1 Mr W. R. Moore leave of absenos to sit for examination was confirmed. The action of the Huiakama and Whangamomona Committees in doting their schools owing to illness was confirmed.

In answer to the Inglewood Committee's application for an assistant at Norfolk-road they are to be referred to the Board's regulations. The Toko Committee drew the Board's attention to the fact that the route of the Stratford-Whangamomon* 1 ail way as at present tmrviyed ran through the front garden of ths teach* fir's residence. Mr Kennedy wee requested to inquire into the nutter, with power to act. The Minister for Education notified that provision would be made (or the extension of free railway tickets to holders of scholarships attending eecoodary echooli or district high schoola. The regulations were under consideration but would not oome into force until next year. It was decided to ask the Minister for Bail ways to give *ll children attending schools in Taranaki the same privilege. MeasrsGovettand Qu'llum, the Board'* solicitors, advised with re fere oee to the inquiry of the Egmont Committee ae to liability for aocident to a sobool cleaner, that tbe committee wottld not be liable either individually otcollectively. As, however, the Arbitration Court which decided these cases waa not composed of members selected by reason of their extensive legal knowledge, there was a difficulty iii ' advising, not what should be the right decision of that court, but what the actual decision might be. A oopy of this opinion is to be sent to tbe committee, but is not to be regarded as a precedent. A letter signed by 23 sewing teacher* was read pointing out that tbe sewing uyllabus contained too much work for the teachers to fix during school boors, thus causing much night work. They suggested that specimens should tan tbe place of garments, and submitted fieir r.-asoos.—Referred to Miss Heywood. At tbe request of the oommittee appointed to inquire into the question of a proposed iofant school at Toko, a further extension of time was gives for the completion of their report. The Inspector submitted a list of ap* paratus which he proposed to order in London.—Agreed to. The Fiaanoe Committee reported recommending that the request of the Teachers' Institute for a grant towards a teachers' library of £2 to £l, up to £ls (the Board's share not to exceed £10) be 00mplied with on the understanding that the books remain in the Board's room for reference and circulation. With regard to the question of remuneration to the secretary of the Stratford District High School the oommittee recommended a payment to him of £5 per annum out of the seoondary fund. With referenoe to the departments circular n basis of capitation the oommittee noted that for the current year the average attendance would be the basis of computing capitation in respect of school classes in subjeots named in sub sections (0) to (h) inolusive of section II of the regulations under the Manual and Teohnical Instruction Aot 1901, but as, owing to the difficulty in getting asi e for a technical sohool in New Plymouth, there were no such classes, the information wss of no immediate value to the Board,

The report was adopted with to the committee for their labours. The Teachers Selection ComaittM recommended that the followiog didim be submit'ed for vacancits:—Stratford, M'si Daisy Taylor, D 3; Miss Blacked, ptrt D and E5; H|w £, Hodgkinson, A 4, M.A.; Mim Lun Kelly, £4. Rowan-road, Miss Isabella Blaokett, part D. and K5; Mr Jama* Robertson, D2.—Report adopted, Mr Sole waited on the Board, on behalf of the Stratford committee, in regard to finance. It wag impossible for the committee to cury on with tha present capitation, and ha if tha Board would guarantee the committee'* expenditure. Stratford bad suffered during the past quarter through «Hn«— f which reduced the average attendance, and consequently the tmpifrtipn allow* ance. He also aakid what was h»in~ done in the matter of a technical so boo? for Stratford. The drainage of tha school was also in need of immediate attention. 4 The Chairman said the Board wag waiting for a reply from the department in reference to the technical school. Mr Mackay moved that the request of the Stratford committee for extra capitation be referred to the Finanoa Committee, and the matter of drainaga to thn Iknr .'a architect.— Sicooded by Mr Kennedy. Mr. Allsworth thought the oomrnittee could economise, as committees i had to do in the Wanganui district. Messrs. Wade and Faull also opposed acceding to the request for extra capitation. It it were granted in this caw similar requests would come in immediately from all the other committees. The motion was carried.

Mr. Dempsey waited an the Boaid, ■ and said he had seen that the vacancy caused by Miss Berry's resignation wu not to be filled up owing to a failing oil in the attendance. The attendance certainly had gone down, owing to illness among the children, but it was now going up again, and would soon entitle the school to an extra assistant, lie read an extract from the Inspector's report, that the pupil teachers already had too much work to do.

It was resolved to fill up thevacaucy. Mr. Dempsey then asked if the Board would request teacher* to take in hand the drilling of children. f The recommendations or the Inspector and Mr. Dempsey regarding drill m schools (as published same ftm"* since) were read.

After a brief discungioo it was resolved thai thece r«x:Jinmeudations to given eflect tg.

, The Finance Committee's wcomj meudat oi s re the Boaid mietitg onot a month were rtad.

I Mr Fault opposed. If the Board only met occe a month it would simply become a conirmiog body, Thi

of the Board's various committals wemed to him to be heaviei than th» full Board's. Mr Ad lam also oppose! such s -course. The Board should sit till the buipess was concluded, and not b« ■continually holding over reports. Mr Allsworth advocated monthly meetings. A large amount of the business brought forward was of a routine nature, and should be attended to by the chairman and secretary, Messrs Hignett and Kennedy agreed. Mr Adlam moved, and Mr Maokay seconded, that the whole matter be referred back to the Finance Committee. Miss Eay wood and Mr Wade also spoke, and the motion was carried. Accounts were passed. Mr Hignett gave notice to move that the department be asked to modify the bink charges on school committees' accounts. The Fitsroy committee forward a request for an exchange of teacheis. The request was referred to the Inspector and headmaster, for their explanations of the present condition of affairs. the Board adjourred.