TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1915, Page 6

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of tie Taranaki Education Board was held at the Board's office, New Plymouth, yesterday, when there were present: Messrs 11. 'Trimble (chairman), E. Marfell, F. Mackay, R. Masters, G. A. Adlam and' Rev. Cha'ppell. Mr. A. Morton was granted leave of absence, SCHOOL READERS. When the minutes were read, Rev. Chappell asked what was the intention regarding the school reader. There was a resolution passed last meeting that the Alexandra reader should not be introduced until 1917. If it were the intention to rescind the resolution passed some time previously to introduce the books on February 1, 1916, some action should be taken soon. The chairman said that as soon as possible he intended to move that the original resolution should be rescinded, so that the question could again 'be gone into, as he understand that the Alexandra reader wa3 not a suitable one, and as soon a3 possible steps should be taken to decide on a suitable reader. Last meeting the resolution could not oe rescinded without notice of motion, so for that reason he decided to introduce a resolution deferring it. At the time he was unaware that some o,f the booksellers had obtained large stocks of the reader, but he knew that some of the smaller ones were anxious-to know whether to order or not.

Rev. Chappell considered that unless some action was taken at once an impression would be left that the readers ■would be brought into use in 1917, and he suggested that a small committee should be set up to confer with the Teachers' Institute.

Mr. Masters considered that this question of the Alexandra reader showed gross incompetence on the part of the Board or of the inspectors, mostly the latter. It wag on their recommendation that the Board decided to introduce the Alexandra reader. He was opposed to its introduction right away, and moved that it should be deferred until January, IOT'6. His opinion was that the resolution deferring its introduction until 1917 passed at last meeting was out of order. They had, he said, decided to I introduce the Alexandra reader, and the booksellers had been notified accordingly. Subsequently the Educational Institute stated that they did not consider the book satisfactory, and advised the booksellers that it would not be introduced. The Board referred the matter to the inspectors, who said that it would be satisfactory, so the •booksellers were debarred the opportunity of cancelling their orders. It therefore placed the booksellers in an unfortunate position if the book were not introduced in 1917. The inspectors, in reporting that the book was suitable, had evidently not given the matter sufficient thought, because they now said that it was no better than the Pacific. It might, of course, be said that the booksellers who had ordered the books should take the onus, but he pointed out that if the books had not been ordered there would have been none available when required. Mr. Ma«kay ■ entered a protest on behalf of the parents of those children who had purchased the books, the teachers acting under the resolution of the Board, Mr. Trimble said that there was no objection to the children using the readers. Mr. Mackay said that at first the inspectors were emphatic that the reader was the best that had ever come out, and now they condemned it.

The chairman said that when a new book was introduced the teachers should not immediately change the reader if the childrp"'* present readers in good order '> ■' s'lould make the change when the !>n'!'; of the readers were in bad repair. He favored frequent changes of readers, the State providing the children with books.

Eev. Chappell gave notice to move that the Board's decision of October 28, 1914, adopting the report of the inspectors, concerning reading books, and directing the Alexandra readers to be brought into use in 19N5, and also the Board's resolution of November 24, 1915, deferring the adoption of these readers for a year, be rescinded, and that a committee of the Board be set up to confer immediately with the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute with a view to a satisfactory choice.

Mr. Masters favored the setting up of a committee at once in anticipation of the motion being carried, but it was poitned out that ■whatever reader was decided upon the change would not take place at once. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that during the interim he had made the following temporary appointments:—Bird, Miss K. Berrj', assistant; Hurford, Mr 3. E. A. Mathews, sole teacher; Urenui, Miss H. Drader, Ist assistant, Miss E. Drake, assistant.

With reference to the Dudley teacher's complaint that the School Committee would not allow him to graze his horse in the school reserve, the chairman reported that should the Board decide that it was necessary for the teacher to have grazing for a horse in addition to that on the ground round the school, lie would recommend that a portion of the reserve behind the school ground should be fenced off. In discussing the matter, Mr. Mackay said that he would like to see the practice of school childrens' horses grazing in the playground during playtime stopped. In Auckland the practice adopted was to allow horses in the playground while school was on, but during playtime they were kept in the horse paddock. By this means the grass was kept down without danger to the children. The report was adopted. TECHNICAL DIRECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. A. Gray (Director of Technical Education) reported that all outside technical classes had closed down for the year. At Stratford the following classes had been held:—Plumbing, advanced Latin, advanced English, dressmaking, mathematics, English and Latin (Matriculation), drawing, shorthand. At Inglewood the only classes held were dressmaking, first aid and ambulance. At New Plymouth, the evening classes closed at the end of November, and would re-open at the beginning of March, 1910, and the day classes would break up for the holidays on Friday and resume on Monday, February 7. In agriculture, application was being made to the Department for implements for use in agricultural work, and also for the cost of material for a shed on the plot at Fitzroy. The director's recommendation with regard to payment of instructors and alio of bonuß9s were adopted.

TOXGAPORUTU MATTERS. Seven parents, representing 21 children attending the Ahititi School petitioned the Board to have all cattle removed from the Ahititi School paddocks and children's play ground. It was submitted that the children were entitled to the grass for their horses, and that the cattle were a menace to the safety and health of the children. Left iii the hands of Mr. "A. H. Halcombe to arrange. OVERSEER'S REPORT. Mr. C. H. Moore (overseer) reported that general repairs, etc.. had been effected at Awatuna, Mangahume, Pihanm and Oaonui. The work at Koru was well under way. He asked permission to hold over for further consideration the matter of reporting on the boarding in of verandah at Frankley to form a, shelter. If classes were to be held in the old school next year it would be necessary to make better provision for them. During the holidays he purposed carrying oiit additions at Kaimata, partition at Tikorangi, repairing the Bell Block residence, Hillsborough and Tariki. Ho also proposed to erect the new school between Marco and Tahora if possible.

Matters at Ratapiko .and Mangahune were referred to the overseer. UNIFORMITY OF SCHOOL BOOKS. Rev. A. B. Chappell moved in accordance with notice of motion, that the Board is of opinion that in the interests of all concerned, a uniform set of school books should be used throughout the primary schools of the Dominion and recommends the Minister of Education to take the necessary steps to secure the urgent reform." Mr. Chappell said that all he asked was the affirmation of the principle. The details could be left to the Department. He did not think a good case could bo made out by advocates of different books for different Boards. There may have been reason for this years ago when education began at different geographical points in New Zealand, but now they had the beginnings of a National scheme. The inspectors were under the Department, and the teachers also were discussing in a practical way a scheme for Dominion transference. There was a tendency to the standardising of text books in secondary arid tertiary schools. A unification of primary school books would be good from the point of view of the Department, the inspectors, teachers, and the parents. The latter would not have the expense of changing books each time they moved into a fresh district. There should be a Dominion set of books, not the sporadic system now in vogue.

In seconding, Mr. Masters said that he considered the idea a, good one, especially from the point of view of expense. They should make education as cheap as possible. He would go further, and say that the Government .should print the necessary books and Supply them free. Those who had no children would, therefore, have to assist in paying for the books of those that had.

The chairman, in opposition, said ho did not believe in the craze for uniformity. He believed they were better -for variety. He failed to see why the State should not pay for the books as they did for the rest of education. He believed also that they must change books from time to time to keep up with progress. Mr. Marfell supported the resolution. It was advisable that inspectors should go on the same lines throughout the He considered that the individuality of the teachers would safeguard the children being brought up on one line.

Rev. A. B. Chappcll said the Department now only allowed Boards a limited choice of books in the standardised list they submitted. They might just as well go the whole length and specify one book.

The resolution was carried, only the chairman voting against it. GENERAL. The resignation of Mrs. M. Baverstock, sewing mistress at Tongaporutu and Ahititi Schools, was accepted. Miss Ivy Joneß, Petone Road, was granted leave of absence owing to an accident. The Kaimiro School Committee asked that a married teacher should be appointed. They said that the district had been unfortunate in the past with schoql teachers, because they were always on the move, and the children did not benafit by frequent changes. The Department notified that only one class of good attendance certificate would be granted, viz., to all pupils of public schools, who had not been absent more than five half-days during the year.

The action of the chairman in closing schools in the Stratford district on account of an outbreak of diphtheria was approved. A committee, consisting of the chairman, Mr. Masters and Rev. A. B. Chappell was appointed to make appointments of pupil teachers and probationers.

The Director of Education notified that the services of physical instructors would be available during the midsummer vacation of the schools for classes of children suffering from physical defects. The time, therefore, available for specal training camps for teachers in physical work would be less than anticipated. The Department of Agriculture asked that teachers should be instructed to take the necessary steps to keep in check noxious weeds.

Accounts amounting to £3909 19s Bd were passed for payment.