EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 205, 27 February 1914, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

TEACHERS' ICXAMI NATION S. At Uiii Taranaki Education Board meeting, which was liolil on Wednesday, Mr. W. A. Ballantyne, chief inspector, wrote pointing out that under the new n filiations for the examination and classification of teachers, a teaehev, befoi'i! sitting for an examination, had to forward to the Department a certificate tint he had carried out satisfactorily under a qualified instructor it course of practical work in certain .science sub ■ject.s. He pointed out that this would bo a hardship to teachers in outlying districts unless some arrangements were made for tliein to attend the required course. lie therefore recommended that the Board sanction Hie closing of certain schools for a term of three weeks from .May 25 next to euahla uncertificated tcaclu'rs to secure the necessary practical certificates. —This course wli s agreed to.

TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT. The truant officer (Mr. A. Hooker) reported that during the year ended December 31 last 4111 final notices had been sent out to parents. He had prosecuted a number of parents at New I'lymouth, Stratford and Opunake, the fines indicted amounting to £O. He had to notify several parents to send their children to some public school, although there was no obligation on him to do so. He asked that all private schools n\v exempted be granted renewals of their exemptions.—l'hc report was adopted.

OVERSEER'S REPOItT. The overseer (Mr. (J. 11. Moore) reported that the new classroom at the West End School was completed, excepting the fixing of the radiator stove and some L.xlrii hyioplatc. The new out offices at Waitara, as far as the hoys were concerned, were completed. ile would push on with the drainage and the septic tank. The iron hail been completed satisfactorily according to

arrangement with the. committee. The new school at Mimi would he finished during- the week. The material was ordered, for the Ilurimoana school, which, as it was to be movable, would be built in sections. A plan for a new residence at Oaonui had been forwarded to the Department. .Material had been supplied lo the Central School Committee for seats, and the work had been attended to. He 'reported on work required at several residences likely to be occupied by teachers. A washhouse and bathroom would be required at lvaimiro. The residence at Talanumaka was small, with no verandah, and would have to be considerably altered to make it a decent residence. The Bell Block residence would require a bathroom and general exterior renovation. A washhonse and bathroom, with general repairs, would be required at Hillsborough.

GENERAL. Mr. S. Turkington, teacher at Uuiakama, reported that during the. year 1913 a pupil residing 2'/a miles from School had made only 10U attendances out of 38!). This year she had made Only 17 out of 30. Moreover, she had not the requisite books and refused to get them. Tie asked for instructions.— Referred to the truant officer.

- Messrs Govett and tjnilliam, solicitors to the Board, advised with regard to ■the acquisition of part section fiO and closed road 83G, town of Saxton, which luul been offered to the Board, that the Board again bring before the Department the advisability of taking the land under the Public Works Act at a special valuation to be made by the Governmont valuer.—A copy of the letter will be forwarded to the Department. Mr. S. I). Pope applied for a boarding allowance for his daughter, who had been awarded a Junior National Scholarship.- -The grant will be recommended to the Education Department. The following resignations were accepted:—Miss M. E. Hunt, millinery instructress, Technical College; Miss X. Bayly, sole teacher, Mangaehu; Miss M. •f. Cowles. assistant, Awatuna: Miss M. Moi, assistant, Cardiff; Miss 1. Wyllie, probation, Midhirst. The Board will recommend the extension of the scholarships held by Miss Bessie Rogers and Gordon Sanders. It was decided that the schools in the Taranaki education district remain in the same ward as in 1813, with the exception of Fitzroy, which, in accordance with the law, must hi* friasferrcd from the North to the West v.ard; Tarata ■and Pu'keho, which will be transferred from the East to the North ward, and Garrington, which will be transferred from the West to the North ward, Rcrekapa school will be placed in f | 1( . North, Waiugongoro in the East, anil Patua and I'etone in the West wards iv.-i>oc-tively. • The Waitiii School Ciniiirtl v will be informed that, the Hoard recognises i lie futility of applying lor a s' liool residence until the school i- ni-ed I IV. The following icai'.rs referred to the overseer to attend t-i: Nin>|dv of gate ami posts at Xgacre; iron gale it llii:ak-,')i'a; brackets for saddles'in the shelter shed at Pukeho; and tank and spouting at Petone.

The supply of chairs at the Xgaere School, and the question of lighting the Douglas School were left to the inspectors. The following appointments on school committees were confirmed:—Makalm, Mr. A. Coyne, in place of Mr. Diggins! ,resigned: Pohokura, Mr. S. Medcalf in place of Mr. Bennett, resigned. The question of a school'site at Kiore was referred to Mr. Masters to enquire uto. Accounts amounting to C2!)r>l) 8s .Id were passed for payment.