TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81873, 25 October 1906, Page 3

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

The Board resumed on Wednesday morning. ARCHITECT S REPORT. The architect, Mr J. Sanderson, reported that he had submitted to the Department plans for additions to school, for new residences at Huiakama, Egmont Village and Opunake; and partV new residence at Uaiongona. Plans had aho been prepared for the Lappenon school additions. The contractor for the new residence at Opunake was gelling the material on the ground. A' Stratford the water from the teacher* residence was being run into the. old well, as being most convenient,' at a co-t of about £3. The New Plymouth Technical School contract wa> proceeding satisfactorily. Mr t- aull complained of the proposed cost of enlaiging the porches at Lepperton. and thought the pir>* cnt p.Tches and lavatory arrangements quite sufficient. u \Yhv at out

school, Tikorangi, there isn't a wash basin in the place, and never ha; been." he said.

The chaiiman explained rhe inspec tor and architect had considered this work necessary, but the Finance Committee had asked them to modify the requirements. Mr Sanderson explained the cost of the alterations to outhouses at Stratford, to make some of the apartments more private for the older pupils. The total expense was ,£ls.

MANUAL REPORT. Mr \V. E. Spencer. Chief Inspector, reported that teachers' classes had beta re-started in Stratford, and Opunake, but in New Plymouth arrangements could not be made. At Stratford the rolls of the three classes were needlework ij, drawing 24, science 32. No return had been received from Opunake. The school exhibits had now been forwarded to the Christchurch exhibition. Application had been made to the Department for the sum of £O4 0/10 for apparatus material, etc., in connection With current classes, and for .£SO 15/' subsidies on donations. The sum of £ 1400 had been drawn and paid to the contractor in connection with the New Plymouth Technical School. MAKAHU SCHOOL.

The Chief Inspector reported on the proposal to make the Makahu school a full-time school. He recommended that before further steps were taken the matter bo referred to the Puniwhakau committee to ascertain if they know of anyone- willing u take charge of their school, which is now taught in conjunction with Makahu as a half-time school. \Viih reference to Makahu, he considered the present teacher had the right of the first refusal of this position. Mr Morison thought the Makahu application should be considered and granted irrespective of Puniwhakau, even at the risk of closing the latter school.

The report was adopted, and the matter will come up again at the end of the year.

TRAINING COLLEGE. Mr Spencer recommended that in ihe event of teachers wishing to go tu Wellington training college for a fortnight, their two weeks' holiday might be extended by one week, on <he endorsement of the application by the committee. Mr Faull: They're going to learn a trade, and we pay them to do it. It's not good enough. Mr Spencer said that surely a fortnight in the college would react favourably in the interests of the children, more than compensating for the lost time. Any application for longer leave than two weeks must be specially considered, as relieving teachers must be obtained.

Mr Faull: Why don't they ask" for the schools to be closed a fortnight, and the teachers get paid all the same?

Mr Adlam: By Jove, I think they gct holidays enough now. .The report was adopted. ADVERTISING.

The special committee recommend ed that all ordinary advertisements be inserted in the Taranaki Herald, Taranaki Daily News, and the Stratford Post, if these papers would agree tj a uniform rate of 2j(> an inch. The chairman moved, and Mr Monkhousc seconded, that the report be received and adopted. An amendment by Mr Fault that tho report be received and referred back to the committee for further information, was lost. The report was adopted. DINNER HOUR. The Teachers Institute asked that the Board should consult the teacher belore curtailing the mid-day receai at any school. Mr Trimble moved the letter be received. The chairman wondered at the Institute interfering, as the matter was now being considered by ttic Board. Mr Adlam in seconding, said the difficulty arose from the extension of school hours to hve hours. llie alteration meant keeping schools open nil 3.j0. Parents objected, and sunt "iioto- asking that their children should be allowed to leave ut -.30 p.m. or 3 p.m. Thus, at 3 0 clock, the schools were half-empty. .lo avoid this, the mid-day recess was shortened by halt-an-hour and the -chools closed by 3 o clock. banners objected to children remaining in school after 3 o'clock, as they wanted them to be home early to get in the co\\=. Some of them took over all hour to get home, and if the school closed at 3.30, they arrived too late to be of use.

The letter was received. This matter will be discussed at next meeting, on receipt of a letter from the committee. TRUANCY. Mr Hooker, truant inspector, asked that certain sections of the School Attendance Act should be referred to the solicitor so that he might know I how to conduct certain cases.

It was explained that the inspecI tor did not know his powers in connection with ihe irregular attendance at *he Convent schools. Ml - Monkhouse said there was no doubt ,'iboui his powers. Mr Penn (truant i"n-pector at Stratford) sued upi-atedly .' or irregular attendance at I convent schools. The inspector will be instructed to sue any chilo. r t'n not attending school in accordance Act. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee recommended that the application for additional paddock accommodation at • lie Mahor school be referred to Mess-' r - Munkhou*' and Morison for their report: that 'he in-pccior be instruct ,d 0. supplv blinds lor the Lower Kent r „ad siimol and that the committee nureha-e material for fencing at Up ' iK«-nli..ad scho'.l.the Hoard to de,,av the co-t; that in answer to their i,.,"' ,1, ■ Salisbury road committee ba'k.'i to «p!ain why they allowed arv state, and th.it .1 x,! mAi ''.' \>\ at'the boys out office, bui ""' I cannot erect a fence I" dive

plavground; that the architect be in-. strutted in dispo-e (if tin: range in tli*-1 old Opunak' 1 r>-idence to the bc-t advantage; tliat until it is settled in which district. Taranaki or Auckland. the Manttaroa school i-.i.0 I)'' I'K'a'ed, the Board cannot incur any liability in fencing asked by the committee; thai the architect be instructed to make the necessary alterations to the Norfolk road teacher's residence, and 10 i enlace the steps and baseboards • the school building; that the taps «ted for at \Ve-t Knd school are unand the committee has no r . ( ,, mrrK -ndationl to make; that Iv Ito.rd s„i,;>iv an ordinary school cup-! ...'d ',' \:. ariki road school, and ,'hal .h.'Vomm.ttce be asked to make the Hoard pay for l»xmK«l«-l|Y» ' floor and for mats purchased b ? a ' c Stanley road committee. IXGI-KWOOn.

The Tn«;cß"nc! omimiHce <' onl «f the dilapidated '""I " iin ' ~I foils State of the < Isimnry- at th« School, e<t>criailv that in the eastern •v'ntj- DurinK the past winter the «ci id work liaii repeatedly caught and serious results narrowly '*oll 'he recommendation of the Finance Committee, the matter _ was referred to tiw architect for lus rePOrt " RESIGNATIONS. Tte following resignations Sv«§

accepted; Mr I'ritchard. P.T. Central school; Miss Alexander, Durham read (appointed to Dudley road); Mr Ewart, Uruti; and the usual sups will be taken to fill tire vacam'ics. MANGAROA.

Mr Weiss, teacher at Mangaroa, asked fcr permission to engage in fungus picking and also to act as cor-rc-pondent for a newspaper. On the motion of Mesrs Morison and AuTam, Ire will be informed that clause z\ <if the Hoard's regulations is intended to apply to such occupatious as would interfere with school duties.

BIRD ROAD

Messr- Paittn*on, Webb, Scabright, Walsh, and O'Sulllvan. members of the Bird road school committee, forwarded their, resignations as a protest against the action of the Board concerning the enquiry into allegations against the teacher. The chairman suggested that ihc remaining members, Messrs Me Bride and Phillips, be asked to accept the appointment of commissioners until the next meeting oi householders.

Mr Kennedy moved that a meeting be called to elect a fresh committee. Mr Trimble seconded. Mr Morison moved in accordance with the chairman's suggestion, on the grounds that an election would cause strife from one end of the road to the other, and the teacher would be more harassed than ever. Mr Faull seconded, and this course was decided upon. Ayes: Messrs Adlam, Tisch, Morison, Faull, and Wade; noes: Messrs Monkhouse, Trimble, Kennedy, and Morton.

URUTI. The teacher at Uruti forwarded his resignation, adding -'My experience has taugliL me that this school is a troublesome one to teach. The committee has requested me to make a freer use of corporal punishment, and on my carrying out their wishes reproved me for my severity. My refusal to give new class books to those parents with outstanding accounts has caused some further ill-will. Owing to the very irregular attendance, and the milking and other duties performed by the children before coming 'o and after leaving school, a better report eould hardly have been expected, such duties at home pi eventing the preparation of homework.' 1 A WAITARA DISPUTE. The Waitara School committee forwarded a resolution "that as this committee has not made any remarks calculated to hurt the feelings of the truant inspector, but simply given a true account of statements made by him both publicly to the Bench and also afterwards to the chairman, they have nothing to withdraw, and still a-k the inspector to apologise for his uncalled for and gratuitous insult.'' Mr Wade said committees could

have no fault to find with the truant inspector's work. Mr Trimble was of a totally different opinion. At iho Nutfok road school, for instance, the children were allowed to stay away as they liked, the truant officer generally paying no attention. On one occasion he had silw several parents, and did not trouble 10 appear in Court to sustain the prosecutions. Mr Faull reported very fully upon the matter., recommending that mutual apologies should be made. The correspondence was "received/, and a copy of the report forwarded to the committee.

OAONUI ENLARGEMBENT. The Oaonui School Committee asked for additions lo the school. The present building was built to accommodate only 06 pupils, and for the three weeks prior to 19th inst., the attendances had been 05, 7-, highest attendance 74. This was likely to increase.—Referred to the Inspector for his report. Should ho report favourably, plans will be laid on the table at next meeting. GENERAL.

Departmental correspondence was read, forwarding .£SOO progress Payment on iho Technical School contiact; the Boards' share of the special jrraijt for training teacher* in manual and technical work; and £7B 10/ grant for Board scholarships, £lB 19/5 grant for Junior National scholarship. The Secretary for Education wrote with reference to the difficulty of getting a reasonable price for the erection of the Mangapapa school, that he could arrange for the Public Works Department's carpenters now at Kakahi to build the school.

The offer'was accepted. The matter of the cadet encampment at Christchurch will be brought under ihe notice of officers commanding companies and of the school commutes interested, and the Board will consider replies at next meeting. Mrs Williams, teacher at Iluiakama, telegraphed that she had purchased a residence. Under the circumstances the Board's application to the Department for a grant to erect a residence will be withdrawn. The chairman was empowered to sign the consent to a transfer of part .section y, Block 11., Omona, for ruad

purposes. I Mr E. J Humphery, late teacher at Pungarehu, thanked the Board for the kindness and sympathy extended to him, and stated his intention of seeking rc-cmploymcnt at some future time, when he would be able to irive his thoughts to the work The chairman was authorised 10 issue a general certificate of exemption from attendance at a public schools, form 8.. to those private schools that have applied, after satisfying himself that the applicants are entitled to the certificate. Mr E. Mossman asked if the Board would lease or sell reserve 20, about 10 or 12 acres, adjoining section S, Block XV., Ana S.D.-Re-ferrcd to the Reserves Committee The lnglewood Committee asked the Board to continue paying the full amount of capitation, the committee undertaking to pay water rate (for latrines) out of its ordinary funds.— The Board cannot depart from Hs regulations, and therefore declines to accede to the request. Accounts were passed amounting to £235(1 iq/'o- Teachers' salaries accounted for £i543 0/-