EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1916, Page 7

EDUCATION.

ELTHAM'S REQUIREMENTS, On Monday Mr. R. Masters, chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, paid a visit of inspection to the school. After visiting the school and the Technical School, Mr. Masters 1 met the School Committee members, who explained to him several matters which they considered would benefit the school. . Mr. Clements asked that the Board should consider the question of making E'tliam a separate centre so far as technical education was concerned, lie. also asked that the Board should allow the compulsory continuation classes to continue. as under the Wanganui Education Board.' He said that six years ago the committee lfad a. splendidly equippe.d technical school, but practically no pupils. Then the compulsory continuation classes were introduced, and the scluicl has benefited greatly, and the pupils have also received great benefit from the classes. The Eltham Committee was one of the first committees to introduce the system. Although considerable opposition was threatened at first there vas really little friction and only one or two prosecutions had taken piifce. The committee would like to see the Board continuing to support the principle and continue the classes as at present.

Mr. Masters replied that the principle had been in vogue in New Plymouth during the last few months, and the Board did not desire to be hard at first. The matter was discussed at the last meeting of the Board, aiul lie had no doubt the Board would continue the present policy. Mr. King, secretary.of the committee, referred to the financial part of the committee's work. Be remarked that the balance-sheets for the past two or three yarn's showed an expenditure, of nearly £3OO yearly, while the capitation from lie Government was about £7O or £BO. Mr. Masters said that a conference was to be held at Hawera on the Wednesday, at which .the members of the Board and instructors would be present, and it was hoped to evolve a scheme on the soundest basis for the conduct of these classes. There were several systems in the Taranaki district, and the I conference was to select the best. Tic 'could not tfvc a reply to the matters of policy >'eierred to bv the committee, hut he had no doubt they would be considered by the Board. As regarded the I capitation allowance, that was a mattor fpv the Department, lie stated that the members of the Board, both old and new, wire enthusiastic, sound commonsense men. and he had no doubt that under their guidance education in Taranaki would soon equal that in any other province—Argus.