EDUCATION BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 230, 27 March 1912, Page 8

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTH LY s MEETING. The Taranaki Education Board met last evening. Members present were: Messrs. H, Trimble (chairman), Adlam, Halcoinbe, Rogers, Kennedy, Morton, Young, Masters, and Rev... Mc Arthur.. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. In his monthly report the chairman mentioned that on account of the delay in getting the school site fixed up he had visited Oeo last week in the hope of being able to bring matters to j a conclusion. As a result, the ActingMinister of Education and the Public Trustee had promised to see if Hikaka (the native who donated the section) ■ had a right to give the two acres he promised. The Education Department had ! been asked if it could hasten the erection of the additional school accommoI dation at W'hangamomona. I TECHNICAL ORGANISER'S REPORT. In his report 011 technical work since I last Board meeting, the Technical Orjganiser (Mr. F. J. Heatley) stated that I the session at New Plymouth had opened somewhat earlier than last year ) in order to enable them to have three I full terms this year. The evening classes | had some 90 students enrolled to date for the various subjects and others were .enrolling. Classes that are, being car- | ried on this year, and which were not j last year, are plumbing (practical and theory,), with six students, Standard VI. proficiency course, with ten students. Some eight students have evinced a desire to have a Spanish course, aided with a series of phonographic lessons. This method is new to New Plymouth, and ; should prove very useful in respect to the true pronunciation of modern languages. An afternoon class in cookery for nurses has commenced and is proving popular. A millinery class is in the course of formation and will start after Easter. A good class has commenced at Tariki, and doubtless others' will be formed at Stratford, Inglewood, and other centres, when the technical! school sessions opens there. The organiser added that the day classes in connection with the College, had commenced with over twenty students, divided into industrial, commercial and domestic groups. Some of the students from the country have not hitherto taken advantage of their free places owing to suitable courses not having been provided at times to enable thorn to come in and get back the same day. The courses in addition to the compulsory subjects are on strictly utilitarian lines, and aim at giving a good general business or commercial training, so that at the end of the course the student may take his place at the bench, or office, better fitted than had he gone direct from the primary school. Mr. I Heatley considered that the prospects | are good, and by special attention to I the classes the Board may look forward ' at the_ end of the year to a substantial [profit "on the year's work at New Plymouth. | The report was adopted. PLUMBERS' EXAMINATIONS. In a report to the Board the director . (Mr. W. A. Ballantyne), of the 1 Tech- . nical College stated that arrangements 1 j were made for the holding of an ex-. ; animation in practical plumbirig on Saturday morning last. The examiner (Mr. Frederic, of Stratford) came to New ,' Plymouth, but the director reported that [he regretted say that the candidates 1 j who had expressed a desire to be ox- : amjned did not consider it worth their h while to put in an appearance, despite tie faet that the examination had been arranged at the request of the Borough ; Council. The council was anxious to ' § lve _ plumbers who had. not the necessary (certificates an opportunity of qualifying 'for a license. Seeing that the young ,; fellows concerned bad received every . consideration at the hands of the council, the inspector suggested that that body's . I attention should be drawn to the mattes. ,j It was decided to forward a copy of 1 the report to the borough council. " FINANCE COMMITTEE. Various works were authorised at the I following schools, on the recommendation lof the Finance Committee:—Fitzroy, , Okau, Awatuna, Lincoln, Stratford, Egjmont Village, and Makahu. f CADET AND SCHOOL DUTIES. Captain A. C. C. Stevens, acting commandant of the junior cadets, wrote stating that owing to the teachers' certificate examinations in January, 1912, clashing with the date of the proposed: camp of instruction for junior cadet officers in the North Island, and leading, therefore, to its abandonment, it had been urged on him. by teachers all over the North Island that an effort should be made to hold this deferred camp at Easter. The minimum number of days that could be profitably spent in camp would be seven, and if the Board was prepared to grant teachere an additional four days' leavia of absence from the it? a camp, namely, 9th to 12th April, inclusive, the writer was of opinion that a' m"st successful camp 1 could be thus organised. In the course of a general discussion ; members appeared to be loth to grant j the concession, fearing that the proposed arrangement would interfere with the school work. A suggestion was thrown out that the additional leave should be granted, and the summer holidays curtailed in order to make up the deficiency. It was finally resolved to accede to the commandant's request, Mr. Kennedy then gave notice of motion that in the case of all schools under the board's jurisdiction a whole j week s holiday be given at Easter, and with * n s P™g done away THE STRATFORD SCHOOL. Messrs Sanderson and Griffiths, architects to the board, reported that the , wol 'k of re-building the Stratford school .would be practically completed on Satur•,T\. Tt , is ex P eoted th at the building will be formally opened next month. Regarding the question of appointing a female teacher to assist in the infant department of the Stratford school, the chief inspector (Mr. Ballantyne) reported that after consulting with Mr. Tyrer he had come to the conclusion that at present no action should be taken. In answer to members the inspector said the school was already fullv staffed The request had emanated from the school committee only, and not from the headmaster. The report was adopted. 1

GENERAL. On the recommendation of the director, Miss Tiplady (assistant in cookery), who is conducting extra classes this year at the Technical College, was granted an increase in salary. On the motion of Mr. Morton, Mr. P. S. Whiteombe was appointed auditor' of school committees' accounts for the year ending March 31st, 1912, at a remuneration of £l2. A sub-committee (Messre E. Masters and W. Rogers) reported having leased the education reserve of two acres facing Broadway North for a term of twelve months at a yearly rental of £4 10s, lessee to keep in repair all fences and land clear of noxious weeds.