TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81852, 27 September 1906, Page 3

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD

The Education Board met on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs J. Wade (chairman), Adlam, 1-aull, Kennedy, Monkhouse. Movison, Morton, Tiseh and Trimble. ARCHITECT'S REPORT. The architect, Mr J. Sanderson, reported that the Inglewood latrines had been completed, and a good job made. Owing to extra drains and inspection pipe required by the sanitary inspector the cost had been somewhat increased.

Work at the New Plymouth Technical School was proceeding satisfactorily, and the contractor was entitled to progress payments. Plans had been prepared of various sizes of residences requiied; additionstoMidhirsi school, also for new porches and lavatories, together with extra windows, ceiling in die large room, at an estimated cost of £4(17- Plans had been prepared for erection of a teacher s residence at Huiakama, at a cost of /400; and for additions to Waiongona residence at a c,.st of £350. The cost of laying on water to the Inglewood school and repairing steps would be about £6. The report was received and adopted. A long discussion took place wuli reference to taking away the storm water from the front of the Stratford teacher's residence. A motion was tabled that the inspector shou'd attend to the matter. Mr Faull opposed, on the ground that there were scores of similar cases which would run the Board with big expense. Some members thought the teacher might do such a little thing himself The motion was carried, Mr Faull alone opposing it. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.

The chairman reported that owing to the difficulty of getting a temporary teacher Miss Adamson, of the Egmont road school, had been offered the post of teacher at Pungarehu, and had taken up her duties, Miss Rice taking up the position at Egmont road. Miss Berry iiad taken up Mr Hard ing's duties at the Central schoo on nth September, and Miss Urquhar look up Mr Clarke's duties on September i»t. Miss Bal'antync bad been appointed to Egmont Village, •ind Misses Bunyan and Jemison would take up duties there as pupil teachers on Ist October. Miss Kiordan had been appointed tcmporory assistant at Cardiff, and Mi Cameron at lututawa. Misb . Friccham had been transferred to Stratford; Miss Riley had opened the" new school at Douglas road, and Mrs Richmond took up Miss Riley s duties at Stanley road. Miss I. would be transferred from Ing.ewood to Fitzroy, and Miss E. Nixon appointed temporary tcacner to Hurford road from 15th October. On receiving Mr Fault's report on the complaint made by the Waitara schoo. committee against the tiuant officer, 1,0 had instructed the secretary 0 write to both parties with a view to bringing about a scttlcmcn . Tho chairman said that in his ong experience lie had never seen, such a list of transfers and temporary apmoved the adoption of the report, congratulating the chairman on taking the initiative m tho appointment of two pupil teachers m place of an assistant where possible. Mr FauU seconded, and considered that in many instances two P.'l • » would do better service than an assistant. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The Finance Committee recommen ded that the Matiere Committee be informed that pending the re-adjust-ment of the boundary of the Education district, no action be taken with leferencc to the erection of the teacher's residence; that oil account of the additional returns and the in crease in the Hoard's ol'iice work, the secretary's salary be increased as from 30'tli September, iijoG, to £275 per annum; that the Board ha\e tiie Stratford school courtyard re-tarred and re-sanded at a suitable time, and that the Board cannot increase the grant made for fencing the west side of tlio ground; that the architect be instructed to supply new pans and basins at the Norfolk road school, and that the committee be recommended to place a step below the basins; that in refcier.ee to accident insurance at schools, the different Boards be written to, asking what is ttieii practice in this nutter; that the 1 e Mfi committee be asked for fur her particulars as 10 fencing asked tor, that the repairs required to windows at Egmont Village school \*s placed in the architect's hands; that the matter of new fencing required at Inglewood be referred to Mr Morton with power to act: that the Board supplv the necessaiy pipes for draining the Carrington road school ground; that the Ngaire school committee be informed that a grant ot £4 will be made for fencing around the piece of ground acquired for the purposes of a school garden. A committee consisting of Messrs Monkhotise, Morton, and Wade (a member from each ward) was appointed 10 consider the whole question

,ji advertising'. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL. Mr W. E. Sl»-n«r, Chief Inspector, reported that the following amounts bad been raised locally and forwarded to the Board in aid of school classes in agriculture: Midhurst £.7 15, Omata £4, A « n " cultural Society had granted the sum ~f £4 por plut for three experimental pints, and in the case of Stratford and Kaliotu arrangements for carryinn on the work had been completed, and ill the latter case were well forward. The following sums were also to hand: Taranaki County Council X'2o for technical classes, Jicv; Plymouth; Stratford Tcihnical commute, fees, Xj'l4 18:9; New Plymouth

technical committee, fees, 10,3. 11l order that the Agricultural classes might receive the attention that toe importance of the work required, Mr Spencer recommended that Mr RMcK. Morison, of Stratford who had acted as the instructor of the classes at Stratford be appointed to visit the schools between New Plymouth and Stratford twice during the year at a remuneration, including travelling expenses, of £l2 10. If this recommendation were agreed to, Mr Morison would spend at least ha-f a day at each school at each visit, and his advice and assistance should b«' invaluable in increasing the efficiency of the classes. The Stratford Tech-

meal Committer; had tried to pro(■urc a part of the old cemetary reserve in Stratford for the experimental p'.yts, but was infntmed lhai in July next it tever'ed to the C'r an. The committee Inruarded a iccoiumendaiion that tin' Pcaid endeavoui '.l get. the ground set aside as a rtserve for technical edut ation. 1 a l ' inspector recommended tl: ' appointment of Miss Muriel Joil as sewing teacher at I'ruti.—The. report was adopted, and Mr Morwon'* itppotniment was confirmed by separate re-.-oHttion.

The matter of the old cem'tery reserve ai Stratford was referred m th<Reserves Committee to report to the Board. TEACHERS' RESIDENCES. Tit ll m;iU<r of erecting a teaches residence ;il Pmifcarehu was deferred i<<r the pi'fscnl. Mr A, Cray, head tidier al Opunake, a-king for house allowance. The residence was uninhabitable, far as In- wa> concerned: but he bad had a ienant at 6 a week until the Hoard liad partly dismantled the building. Mr Monkhouse moved that application br made to the Kdwatii n Department f"r an allowance to be paid until the completion of the new r<?si- I deno\ Mr Mori-sen .vennded. I An amendment that no ac'ion be iaken wa* lost by 5 to 4, and the mot ion carried. The Hoard adjourned. \Y!■; I>NESDAY'S HCSINESS. The Hoard resumed «»u \Yi , dn ,, ?dav mernin^. AdKId'ETUKAI, SHOW. The Ta ranaki Agricultural Society wrote a<kinj>- Hoard to c.(*'■■■ ai: schools in ihe district on the second day of the annual *how. After discussion, it was decided that lho committees have power to close the schools on the 29th November if they so desire,

DOUGLAS. The matter of additional lighting at the Douglas school was loft in the hands of Mr Kennedy, with power to act. LEPPERTON. The Lepperton committee urged tho necessity for enlarging the school. The latter was referred to the Chief Inspector to report on.

MIDIIIRST. The Board approved the action of the Midhirst School Committee in closing the school from the 28th August uniil 7th 011 account of an epidemic of chicken-pox. Mr 11. Eason's application for 'eavc of absence from teaching duties at Tariki was referred to the chairman with power 10 act. RESIGNATIONS.

Resignations were accepted: Pungarehu, Mr Humphrey; Pohokura, Mrs Rea; Fitzroy, Miss Reynell; Whang aniomona, Miss Dristow; liur-ford-road, Miss Lisle; Norfolk-road, Miss Dustow; and the usual steps will be taken to fill the vacancies.. TRAVELLING EXPENSES.

Mr Monkhouse moved, and Mr Tiscii seconded, "Th;(t .the 'resolution re traveling expenses passed on August 22nd, iyo4, be rescinded, and thai in future members' travelling expenses be paid at the rate of sixpence per mile, with a minimum of 10/ where the meeting is held one day only, and 1/ per mile, with a minimum of 20/, where the meeting is a two-day meeting, with an additional 5/ per diem where any member has to como by train and resides over three miles from tho nearest railwaystation, or resides ten miles or over by tile nearest road from the, meeting place in a district where no railway exists; no extra allowance to be math where two meetings are held on the samo day."

Mr Monkhiuse said this would increase the expenses by not more than 101 at each meeting, but wou'd make the allowances more equable. Mr Trimble thought it should effect a saving, for at present members were paid double in some cases. When a committee met on the Board's meeting day its members drew expenses for each meeting. Mr Adlam had told him so.

Explanations ensued, and it was found that no other member was so created. The motion was carried. THE TEACHERS' HEALTH.

Mr Monkhouse moved, according to notice, "That the chairman is empowered to call for a medical certificate in any case when lie may have reason to suspect that any teacher in the employment of the Board is suffering lrom any dangerous infectious disease, and it lie found that any teacher is so suffering, that he or she be suspended or dismissed at the discretion of tho Board."

Mr Trimble thought the power should be given to the Board, not to the chairman. As a matter of fact_, lie opposed the principle, but if the power were conferred on anybody it sliou'd not be placed in the liands of any one man.

Mr Monkhouse explained that the wording of the resolution gave the chairman power only to call for a medical report, not to act on it. Again, the fact that tho chairman had this power rather than the Board would save time, consequently life; and wouid prevent undue publicity to any suspected case. Tho Board divided, on Mr Trimble's suggestion, and the motion was pft unaltered.

Mr Tnmblo strongly opposed the motion. It was not right or proper, but most inquisitorial, that one man should have this right to demand such a certificate. Who was to pay, the teacher ? and why should he go tu this expense on the ipse dixit of the chairman ?

Mr Morton asked what Mr Trimble would lecommend in the case of a teacher who was suffering from advanced consumption. Mr Trimble said such a person could not continue teaching. Mr Monkhouse differed. He had been at a school conducted by a teacher for eighteen months whilst in an advanced state of tuberculosis. The motion was carried, the Boaid dividing: Ayes, Messrs Adlam, Tisch, Monkhouse, Kennedy, Faull, Morton, and the Chairman; noes, Messrs Murison and Trimble. APPOINTMENTS. The Teachers' Selection Committee recommended that the following Haines be submitted tu the committees interested, in the older lianud : —Central School, second assistant, New P ymouih, 11. Robson, C2, Canterbury; G. \Y. Cockcroft, D2, South-

kind; F. W. Mariin, D 4, llawkc's JJay 11. R. Barrett, D 3, Wellington ; six applicants. Dudley-road, sole teacher, CHve E. Cresswcll, D 3 ; Mary M. I'apps, D 4; Gertrude M. Alexander, D 3 ; Laura F. Riley, D 4; all known to Board, 11 applications. Tuiutawa, sole teacher, Mary J. Charles, part D, Canterbury; Eva Bichen", E4, and Annis E. Hamerion,, K4, boih known to Board; five applications. Cardiff, assistant mistress, Daisy A. Smith, licensed teacher, Otago. Pohokura, sole teacher, Elizabeth A. llentski, licensed, 11awera; and that the Pungarehu appointment- be left in the hands of the chaiiman to consult with the committee. Tho matter of filling the vacancy at Whanganwmona was left in the hands of the chairman. SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

The following appointments on the [ undej mentioned school committees ( were confirmed :—Durham-road, Mi . F. Corney, in place of Mr Dodunski, , resigned ; Bird-road, Mr T. WeDb ; Tutuiawa, Mr Anderson, in place of Mr Moir, resigned ; Stratford, Mr T. King, in place of Mr J. D. Moriion, ' resigned. Owing to the undermontiol c <l ' school districts having failed to el-ct I committees, the {u'iowing gentlem.'H ' weie appointed commissioners i-' 1 Ngariki. Messrs J. Lawn and T. Wilcox ; Eitliam-road, Messrs S. T. Cor and \\. Coombi idge; Tahora, Messrs Roweis and Bowers; l-'rankley-road, Messrs H. Okev and W. Anibury;

Lruti, Messrs A. Jupp and Aroa; Waihi, Mr Ovenden and another; IPuniwhakau, Mr H. A. Woitlungton, another to be appointed; Matau, Mr J. G. Wilson, another to be appoint ed. I HANDWRITING IN SCHOOLS. The letter from the Bell Block com-

mittee, written in condemnation of the "Graphic" system of handwriting, was discussed at some length, and the Chief Inspector explained that the teachers could choose bo

twcen two systems. He gave a blackboard illustration of the styles. Mr Monikhousc moved, and Ml 'l' ii in I) 1 i • M'eon'Jed. "That ihc system ai pie-ent in guo u| leaving the teaehrts 'if (he lioard tlie option of teaching either system of writing! they prefer io be continued, but that' tin: inspector be requested to see that the Spacing, when the ''Graphic" systern is used, i.s not too exaggerated in styl--'.' 1 This was lost. Mr Kennedy moved, and Mr Morison seconded, "Thai the time is ripe fn r oni* standard system of writing to be adopted in the Tatanaki district, and that the 'Collins' Graphic'

bo that style, and that the inspectors be instructed to sec that no exaggeration of spacing bo allowed.''—Carried. CKXKKAL. Ihn Uanganui Jinard asked sup]>ort of Mr Gilbert Carson's nomination t" fill the vacancy on the committee of advice for the Wellington Training College.—Left in the hands (of ihc chairman.

Dr. 11. M. Levinge wrote that lie wished lo bring his system of practical astronomy for schools under die notice of Ihe lioard. He had erected a transit instrument at the C'cnn'al School, and if the lioard wished to m'c die method of finding latitudes and longitudes tliey cou'd advise him at Oka to. —Tn be acknowledged. Application wi'l be made to the Department f.u a live-rounied resi|d"nce al Kgrnont Village.

Mi Oliver .Samuel, solicitor to ,hc School wrote that tin' C'i mmissioners had reserved and sot apai I an acie of bind lo be added to the Kent road school site. Th<" >< lv;ol cemmis-sir ivrs will |>e ihanked. On ihe moti'-n of Me,s<rs Tiseli and FauH, it was decided "that the Board write to Mr Humphrey, la'e teacher at I'ungarehu. sympathising with him in his recent sad bereavement, granting hint a months p;iv, and offering him rc-appointnicnt should lie bq dcsiro it,