EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 285, 24 April 1913, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MKKTTXfi. Tlio monthly mooting of the Taranaki Kdueation Board was held at the Board's office, New Plymouth, yesterday, when there was present: Messrs. LI. Trimble (chairman), W. Me 1,. Kennedy, A .11. llaleonihe. W. ltogers. H. Masters, J. Young, U. A. Adlani and A. M. Bradbury. STRATRHiD SCHOOL HEATING. Mr. P. iSkoghmd, ehairnian of the Stratford School Comittee, waited on the Board in connection with the heating of the school. The Chairman of the Board had he said visited the sehool, and must have come away convinced that something would have to be done at once. The heating arrangements at present were no good; perhaps the committee did not understand the heaters, but at any rate they were getting no use out of them, and when the cold weather came oh the want of warmth might have serious results on the children's health. Hot water pipes had, he understood, been installed in some schools, and had done admirably. Another point in favour of the hot water pipes was the economy in fuel, and the water was available for other purposes. He, however, wished to urgo upon the Board the absolute necessity of moving in the matter at once, as the welfare of the children was at | stake. In answer to a question by a member, Mr. Skoglund said that one reason why the present stoves were unsatisfactory was* because they were too near the Walls, and the heat went up a big brick chimney. "You could," he , added, "sit on one of them without discomfort after it had been alight two hours." The Chairman said that at first the Board had considered putting in open fire places, but a-fter deciding on the installation of stoves they had left it to the architect 'to choose the make of the stoves. Mr. Adlam stated that on one occasion when he visited the school, the stoves were not even hot after they had been alight for an hour and a half. Mr. Skoglund, in response to a query by Mr. Kennedy, stated that if the Board could not afford to do the whole of the work the school committee would be prepared to help by paying the interest on the money it would require. They could not get the Board to do the work. , The Chairman, in his report, as a result of a letter from Mr. Masters, stated he had visited the school with Mr. Masters on the 14th inst., with a view of ascertaining the truth of the allegations that the infant school was insufficiently heated. As it seemed to him impossible to heat the large room from the open fire place he instructed the overseer to instal a Unique stove in addition. The general heating of the main school seemed to be far from satisfactory. He recommended that a report should be obtained as to the best method and cost of heating the school with a hot water system.

Mr. Masters said that it would cause unnecessary delay in getting an expert report. The greater part of the winter would be over. They were all agreed that the hot water system was a most satisfactory one, and the work should be put in hand right away. After hearing the various opinions of , members on the different methods of heating, he agreed that it was advisable to obtain an expert report. This will accordingly be dory:. The overseer in his report stated that as instructed he had placed a "Unique" Radiator Stoves in the Stratford Infant School. In the matter of hot water installation in the new brick part of the Stratford school, owing to the buildings covering such a large area, and the extra work now the school is finished, the cost would be £l9O to £2OO. By leaving out the library, head masters's and teachers' rooms, the cost would be about £7O. There was no doubt about the success of the system when once installed, the first cost being practically the only cost. TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS. The Chairman reported having made the following temporary appointments during the month:—Miss E. M. Clarke, sole teacher at Koru and at Kent; Miss J. Auld, assistant at Toku and at Kaimata; Miss E. Knox and Mrs. Dupree, assistants at Inglewood.—Adopted. THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT. Tha Chairman reported that lie had interviewed the Prime Minister with reference to several matters, which lie promised to brim? under the notice of the Minister of Education. Re the Technical College extension, the Minister stated that lie could hoi dout litle hope of a grant being made for this purpose. He had also brought the Board's wishes in connection with Day Technical School before the Prime Minister, but regretted to state that the Education Department had since definitely declined to take anv action in the matter. The

Premier had advised that iresli application should be made for a grant for building the Vogeltown School.— Adopted. BIRD SCHOOL.

Mr. W. A. Ballantyne (Chief Inspector) recommended that application be Vnade to th" -Education Department for additions in the Uird School as requested by the committee. He reported that there were at present 4!) children 011 the roll whilst the door space provided seating accommodation for at most 42 children. Everything, moreover, he added, pointed to permanency of settlement in the district, and he was of opinion that tin' attendance was likely to be maintained.—Adopted. HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL. Mr. W. A. Ballantyne (Chief Inspector) reported on the request of the Hillsborough School Committee's application for a. folding partition to replace the present lixed partition. There were, lie stated, 4."> children on the roll in a room providing accommodation for 4:1 children. If the average attendance 40.5 was maintained for two more quarters the school would be entitled to an assistant teacher, lie was of opinion that it would not be advisable to alter the present partition.—Adopted. TECHNICAL EDUCATION'. Mr. A. Cray, Director of the Technical College, reported that the day classes continued to increase, and the need for another class room w;'s becoming more and more pressing as time went on. The night classes in New Plymouth showed a slighL improvement, while the millinery anil dressmaking classes at Tariki and Waitara were both well attended. It was proposed to establish a dressmakers' class at lnglewood immediately. The New 'Plymouth Borough Council had granted the Technical College permission to um' on one day in the week water for a water motor in connection with the electrical engineering class. By next meeting lie hoped to be able to report the installation of a metal-turning lathe in connection with the mechanical engineering class. In a short supplementary report the Director stated ilial Mr. Tyrer. Superintendent al. Stratford, reported thai, further classes had been started at that cent,re in proficiency certificate subjects, shorthand. dressmaking, j and dairy sciences. .Mr. Tyrer added thai there wire ten students allendinu the dairy science class, most of the dairy factories in the district being represented. OVERSEER'S REPORT. .Mr. ('. 11. .Moore, overseer to the Hoard, reported l bat the new school at \\ aingongiiro was finished, and the section fenced. The paiul work at. the In-

fant School and residence at Stratford had been completed. At Inglewood tlie necessary alterations required to make a room for the headmaster had been attended to, and the building and residence had also been painted outside. At Kainiiro general repairs had been effected. At the Inglewood residence he lmd the flanks taken down, as they were not required, and lie would reeomend that these be sold. He had visited the Te Kiri School and residence, and had arranged to have a new tank erected and blinds and hyloplate lixed. He had prepared a plan for extending the Technical College in brick to provide the necessary accommodation for the different classes, and had also prepared plans for a new school at Mimi, a new school at Qhonga, and alterations to Musker's School at Uruti. The alterations and general repairs at the Okato School and residence were being attended to, and the Waiongona School and residence were being painted.—The report was adopted. The following matters were referred to tlie overseer:—Ventilation to theLepperton School, Radnor chimney, heating of Cardiff School room and West End grates. TECHNICAL DAY SCHOOLS. Mr, G. Hogben, Inspector-General of Schools, replied that in view of the provision made by the High School in conjunction with the Technical School for vocational courses of secondary grade, it was impossible to entertain the Board's proposal for the establishment of a Day Technical School providing commercial, domestic and industrial courses of instruction.

Mr, Kennedy thought the Board should still push -the matter as such a school would get pupils that could not attend the High School. • He moved, that the Chairman (Mr. Trimble) and the Director of Technical Education should be authorised to interview the Hon. Minister for Education as soon as possible after the Minister arrives in the Dominion, with a view of laying before him the necessity of having the technical day classes recognised as a day school.

HIGH SCHOOL FOR WAITARA. The secretary of the Waitara School Committee (Mr. T. Buchanan) asked to be informed as to the steps necessary to be taken for the establishment of a High Scliool at Waitara. The country schools in the district he pointed out were of opinion that if such a fchool were established in Waitara it would be conducive to the welfare of higher education to the children in and around Waitara, as children could attend who were unable to make the trips to Stratford and New Plymouth daily, and were unable to board. The necessary ifaformation will be forwarded. FRAXKLEY SCHOOL. Mr. W. E. Bendall, Chairman of the Frankley Road Committee, wrote that owing to the overcrowding of the lower standards, the headmasters had been compelled to place one class in the gymnasium, and as the winter was approaching he asked that some arrangement should be made for heating. Mr. W. A. Ballantyne (Chief Inspector) reported that the school was now overcrowded, over 100 children being on the roll. It was a school that should continue to increase. Referred to the overseer GENERAL.

Messrs. Henry Brown and Company's tender for the supply of school furniture was accepted. Mr. Young was requested to report on the improvements to the Puniho School grounds, and on his report being Satisfactory the subsidy will be paid. A subsidy of £ for £ up to £5 will be granted the Uruti School Committee towards the improvement of their school grounds, the work to be done to the satisfaction of Mr. Halcombe.

A subsidy of £2 to £1 will be granted the Ackland School Committee towards their shelter shed, the Board's share not to exceed the sum of £l3 13s 4d. .

The Opunake School Committee was granted a subsidy of £2 to £1 towards the erection of a shelter shed, the Board's grant not to exceed £26 13s 4d. The Board will pay the cost of the posts, wire, staples and new gate for repairs to the Denbigh School fence.

The Stanley School Committee was granted the cost of fifty fencing and two gate posts. Leave of absence was granted the following on account of ill-health:—Mrs. Warner, sole teacher, Koru, one month, and Miss Hare, assistant. Krankley and Miss Coleman, assistant. Toko, each two weeks. The action of the Warea School Committee in closing their school on account of '"oasles was confirmed.

The caretaker of the Stratford Technical School applied for an increase in salary.—Referred to (lie Inspector for a report. The Bell Block Scliool Committee wrote thanking the Board for assistance given during the past year.