TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1916, Page 3

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

MOXTHIY MEETING.■' The ordinary meeting of the Taraliiiki Education Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs.. 11. Trimble, G. Adlam. J. A, 11. Ilalcombo, E. Marfoll, H. Masters, F. Mackay, A. Morton and Rev. Chappell.

The chairman's action in making the following temporary appointments was confirmed: Tuna, Miss A. Graham, (assistant); Marco, Miss 1). McMcelcan (head teacher): Whangamomona, Mrs. Mills (assistant); West' End, Mrs. Bain (assistant); Rowan, Miss E. Drake (sole, teacher); Hurimoana, Miss A. Graham (assistant); Tariki, Mrs. Bain (assistant); Xgaere, Miss E. Snrman (assistant); Koru, Miss D. Robinson (sole teacher); Oakura, Mrs. Pearson (sole teacher).

The chairman reported that in company with the Board's overseer he inspected the Church of England building at Moturoa with a view to its use as a temporary school. • He considered the building when altered would be suitable, but was of opinion that a school should not be opened there as it was only about So chains from the West End school. Tt was one of those cases that if children were to be conveyed to school that method should be adopted.

Mr. Morton considered that a s,i;lc school at Moturoa would relieve the pressure at the West End and that was an important factor in the matter. Tic suggested that'the Board should apply to the Department for a side school at Moturoa and put the onus on the Department. Even after a school was established at Westown there would still be pressure on the West End school. lie must vote against the report. Rev. Chappel! concurred in Mr. i.lor ton's remarks. After further discussion the motion to receive and adopt the report was rogatived. Mr Morton then moved (hat application be made to the Department for a side school at Moturoa in the building used by the Church of England. The motion was seconded by Rev. Chappell and carried. The Egmont Village Committee forwarded a petition from 1.1 householders relating to the progress and discipline at the school.

Inspector Ballantyne stated that the reports on the school had been satisfactory both as to discipline and pro-

gress. Mr. Morton stated that he was satisfied the petitions had no good grounds for their allegations.

After some discussion, in committee, it was decided to take no .notion, the allegations in the petition not being borne out by the inspector's reports.

CRITICISM LESSONS. The chief inspector (Mr. W. A. Ballantyne) reported that during the week commencing July 3, the inspectors conducted at New Plymouth, .Stratford and Inglewood the criticism lessons fur pupil-teachers and probationers in the service of the hoard, and the majority of these were required to give practical lrsi-cns in teaching before the inspectors and hcad-teachcrs. Almost without exippi'on the lessons given reached a high standard and evidence was not wauling 1 lint 1 lie training received in this most important branch of a teacher's educatiai had been thorough and painstaking. The inspectors wire of opinion that the work dene reflected credit on the hcad-teachcrs and trainers alike. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer, Mr. Moore, reported:— Knimiro.—The completion of the work at both school and residence had been attended to. Lincoln.—Xew out-oftices have been erected and considerable repairs to (he roof attended to; still further attention io the roof was necessary He recommended that the committee be paid half the cost of flooring the shelter shed and other wcrk Applied for. Two rooms at the residence required renovating. Egmont Village.—Xew blinds were fixed and window cords attended to at the school. The material for the shelter shed floor had been arranged for. and the committee would go on with the work at once.

Oakurn.—Tlip painting of the outside if both school and icsidence uiul general •enovatiiiir of the inside of tln> residence lad received attention. One or two

small matters would be completed i M

Eraiildey.—The outside painting of the,school and outbuildings hail bieiv completed.

Bird—The shelter shed is being erected.

Toko.—The committee agreed to using the iron from'the baths and the shelter shed was being put up. Mahoe.—[ propose to erect ooiv outofliccs, and concrete one of -.'he shelter shed floors, the committee agreeing to find material.

Inglewood.—The matters of fixing colonial grates and rebuilding the furnace are receiving attention. The Technical school is also being painted outside.

Okato I submit plans showing considerable alterations to the present building. In the first place I would point out with the exception of some of the floor joints the place is free of the borer, the oldest part is principally heart kauri. Tt is proposed to raise llie roof four feet, do away with all the present windows in the class rooms, raise and alter the porches, out in a level ceiling and a concrete lavatory, the cost would not be more than £270. The complete building when finished would be worth close on £7M>, at the present time. The ouildiug as at present is very obsolete in design and badly ventilated.

Stratford, Infants.—T submit plans dealing with proposed alterations io this school. This includes new porches, extension of one room, and a dividing partition across another room about sc ven feet.

The report was received. in-connection with the Okato school, the chairman considered that it was useless to apply to the Department for assistance, and it would be far better to authorise the overseer to proceed with the work. This was accordiiiL'lv done.

On the motion of Messrs. \fa-;tcrs and Morton, it was resolved to apply to the Department for a grant for the enlargement of the class-rooms in Ihe Infant school at Stratford, and that the overseer be instructed to construct the porches in accordance with his report, on condition that the Stratford School Committee would contribute a subsidy towards the cost.

On the motion of the Rev. Chappell and Mr Young, the chairman, Messrs. Morton and Masters were appointed a committee to confer with the overseer with reference to that portion of his report dealing with the store, and on other matters connected therewith

Various matters at Filzroy, Tarata, N'ewall, Waiongona, VTork, Bell Block and Tarurutangi were referred to the overseer. FLOOR SPACK. The Auckland Kducation Board asked the Board's support to a. resolution .•Killing the Department to recognise the standard of 12 square feet per unit of average attendance. The letter pointed (.ut that Dr. Shaw, a well-known authority, stated that authorities should not he satisfied with anything less than l(i feet of superficial area, so that (he estimate of 12ft could not be considered The Board resolved to support the resolution. A BF.LL BLOCK PETITION. Mr. .1. Poletti, forwarded copy of a reply received from the Bell Block Committee to a petition by 28 parents and householders asking that, as opening school at !> a.m. imposed considerable hardships on parents and children, the committee take necessary steps to have the limp altered to half-pusl-nino. also, as has been the custom for some years past, to have half-an-hour for lunch and close tli« scliool at o p.m. during the ivinler months. The reply was to the ell'ect that the committee decided that no action be taken. On the motion of Messrs. Morton and Masters, it was decided to refer the letter and petition to the conrniltee and ask if there wu- any rcassn nay the. old hours sliou'd not h 1 rc-iuned.

.SCHOOL HOOKS. Mvs. T)o\\iin;:\ hriul-H'.istrcss of the West Knd School, ask*! to 1.0 artvisci iis to what reading hook was to ht used iu-xt yon.v. so that- book-sellers might rave them ready for (he. lipn'mniii" o; (he- vcai. ' ' . "

'! lie committee appointed by the Board to discuss this matter is holding

ii,e matter over pending the appoint incut of the new Board.

THE MAXGOEEI SCHOOLS.

Mr. V, Mackay, pursuant to notice, moved that the. resolution passed on April lilth regarding the closing of lower Mangorei and Kent Road schools and the erection of a new school near the junction of the Mangorei and W'aiv.akaiho rivers be rescinded. A letter was read from Mr. White, on the subject.

Mr. Maekay doubted whether the proposed iii.w school would be of a higher grade than Kent Road. Though old, the buildings at Mangorei and Kent road were in good condition and would be serviceable for several years. He considered that in view of the need for cutting down expenditure, it would be advisable to defer any alteration until the schools required re-building.

Mr. G. A. Adlam seconded. Mr. Morton said the committee had brought down its recommendation from the point of view of economy and ellieiency. and in the host interests or the Board and of education. He disagreed that the site was damp. The chairman also disagreed that the site was a damp one. He pointed out that no matter what advantages might be derived from one central school it would he difficult to get people close tn either school to agree to their school being closed.

liev. A. B. Chappell considered that (is there was a conflict of opinion as to healthiness of the site, and it was uncertain whether the grade would be raised, it would be advisable to rescind the resolution with the object of allowing the new board to deal with it. After., further discussion, the motion was carried.

GKXERAfj. Mr. G. Poller, who has been leasing a school reserve near Taumarunui from Ihe Auckland Education Board, applied to lease same from the Taranaki Board. —Held over pending receipt of list of school sites, which will be supplied to the Board by the Survey Department Thomas Wright's application to lease sctions in Urenui township was refer) ed to ill'. Morton to report on. The Truant Inspector (Mr. A. Hooker), applied for the bonus due t. > l'.ini under his agreement to the fine-, the amount being .C2O 14s from lflOl to l!i()J.—Referred to the chairman to report on. The question of the removal of the pjatfdrm in the large room at the West End school was referred to the inspector and overseer to report upon.

The Kaimata Scliool Committee's request for it grant towards the erection of a fence was referred to the chairman villi power to act. ,

The action of the Newall Road Committee in closing their scliool for n few dav« owing to an epidemic of colds was confirmed.

A grant for a shelter shed will be made to the Hnrimoana Committee in accordance with the Board's schedule.