TARANAKI EDUCATION B0ARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1917, Page 6

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

1 MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held yesterday, a day earlier than usual,, when there were present: Messrs 1?. Masters (chairman), H. Trimble, C. A. Wilkinson, S. G. Smith, and P. J. H. White. Mr. Dixon was granted leave of absence. CHAIRMAN'S BE PORT. The chairman reported that during theinterim lie had made the following temporary appointments:—Tarata, Mrs. M. Holbrook, head teacher; Punewhakau, Miss M. Fenton; Rowan, Miss M. JamesMusker's, Miss P. Murray; Okoke, Miss M. Reeve; Mimi, Miss J. Nolan; Mount Messenger, Miss Barnes; Albert, Miss Corney; Ma tan, Mr. W. Cattanach, sole teachers; Tikorangi, Miss E, Tiplady; Matiere, Miss K. Denvers; Kaponga' Miss M. Death, assistants. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee (Messrs Mas- ' ters, White, and Wilkinson) recommended that tenders be invited for office sta- ' turnery and printing; that school appar- ' atus and handwork material be indented ' from London, also school maps; that sundry apparatus bo ordered from the several firms stated thereon; that supplies of the Board's requirements in hyloplate be forwarded to New York, 'with instructions to obtain samples and quotations from manufacturers, with a view of obtaining supplies direct; that no advertisements be published without the secretary's signature arid approval. ' A statement iwas submitted showing the following cash balances onMay 31: Ad- : ministration account, cr., £1363 10s lid; building account, c r., £2163 19s 4d; m! and T. account, dr., £l4O 12s 9d; the ; total cash balance being, current account £SB6 17s 6d, on fixed deposit £2500 total, £3386 17s Od. The committee also recommended that ■ the State Fire Insurance representative ; be- asked to meet the committee with reference to the amount of insurance on each school building; that a statement be prepared showing the financial position of the agricultural section of ; manual and technical instruction for the ■ year ending July 31, 1917, also an esti- ( mate of the income and expenditure for the following year. j • The chief instructor submitted a list ] of agricultural tools required, and it was ] recommended that the necessary tools be : indented and the matter left in the i hands of the chairman of the Board and i Mr. Browne, with power to act. That the overseer be authorised to purchase , 7000 ft. of seasoned timber. j Accounts amounting to £5477 17s 3d were presented and passed for payment. The report was adopted. TECHNICAL DIRECTOR'S REPORT. 1 i Mr. A. Gray (technical director) re- j ported: The classes resumed on Tuesday, 19th inst., after a fortnight's vacation. The numbers at New Plymouth and Ha- j wera are practically the same as last ■ month. At New Plymouth the money ' granted for the engineering building has , teen expended, and before the machinery can be removed into the new room, it is '■ necessary that some of the benches, etc., ■ should be erected. I therefore beg to ', recommend that these benches be erected in'anticipation of a further grant. For the commercial class at New Plymouth a further twelve desks are necessary, and application to the Department will ' be necessary in this case also. The recent gale blew in several of the college windows lie're, the replacing of which at present will be a somewhat expensive ' item. I suggest that in an exceptional ' case like this the Department might be ' induced to pay a part of the cost.

Hawera.—At this centre a dozen new desks are required for the commercial class, which continues to do good work The following students obtained elementary shorthand certificates from Messrs Pitman: Melba Henderson, Dorothy Chapman, Thelma Dixon, Dorothy Machin, Kathleen O'Sullivan, Doris Magiiusson, Dulcie Nairn, Marjorie Mead. At the request of the sanitary inspector I authorised certain small repairs at the college. With regard to the nonrecognition of some of the classes at Hawera, application has again been made to the Department. Eltham.— Mr. liightbournc reports from this centre that the attendance of some of the boys in the compulsory classes is not up to standard. It would seem that stronger action will be necessary in order to secure attendance. The attendance at the morning classes, dressmaking and shorthand, is good, and goes to show that it is advisable to have classes in the day time if possible rather than in the evening. The numbers are: Dressmaking, morning 14, afternoon 10; motor car class, 25; English and arithmetic, 20; shorthand and typing, 17; ■book-keeping, 12.

Stratford.—This year Stratford will be the centre for the examination of plumbers, and Mr. Tyrer will act as supervisor. The plumbing class is still rather small, and it would appear that one or two of the younger plumbers who ought to be attending are not doing so. The numbers at the various classes at this centre are: St. VI proficiency class 7, matriculation class 7, shorthand 7, Education 7, advanced English 'O, plumbing 3. These are all voluntary students, as the compulsory clause is not in force in this district.

Woodwork in Country Schools.—The Department has asked for a definite proposal, which has been forwarded. There seems some ground for hope that favorable consideration will now be given to the scheme.

Waitara Technical School.—lt has been notified from the Department that all donations promised must be in the bank before the subsidy can be paid.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Messrs H. Trimble and I!. Masters (Technical and Manual Committee) reported that consideration of the Department's letter re technical classes be held over till next meeting; that the desks asked for by the director, for.the New Plymouth and Hawera schools, be granted and that application be made to the Department for a grant to cover the cost; that application bo made to the Department for an immediate grant for shelves, benching, and lighting for the engineering room, and that in the meantime the work be proceeded with; that Miss Starkey bo, appointed cookery instructress in place of Miss Mikkelson, at a salary of £IOO per annum for 24 hours per week, and 5s per hour for time after 24 hours; that the matter of broken windows in the technical college be referred to the overseer to attend to. OVERSEER'S REPORT. Mr. C. H. Moore (overseer) reported as follows: Pukengahu new school should be cu. pleted about the end of the month. Otakeho.—The new additions to the school and general improvements will

also be completed before the end of this ■raouth. The committee and settlers have agreed to contribute towards the cost of enlarging the shelter sheds. Auroa. —Painting and general repairs: Owing to the necessity of pushing on with the Otakeho additions I had to take men away from this school for a iishort time, otherwise we would have •completed this work. The committee .have agreed to go on with the sheltershed alterations.

Finnerty new school.—All timber is on order, and I hope to be able to start early next month. In the meantime, I have secured posts and wire, and the committee will fence the section.

Douglas and Puniwhakau.—l have also ordered material for the shelter sheds authorised at these schools, and the work will be attended to shortly. Stanley.—The committee formed a working bee and wo helped them with a man to put down concrete paths round the school; we also fixed the radiator stoves in the classrooms.

Workshop Machinery.—Owing to the motor not being powerful enough fof our work, I wuold ask permission to replace .it with about a 20-h.p. motor. We bought this motor before the rise in price, and will have no difficulty in 'placing it. With the exception of a and small automatic handsaw sharpener we have the plant «om.plete. Although, owing to the general high prices the cost is heavy, the plant is a splendid one, and will, I am sure, prove to be a good business proposition.

General. —A considerable amount of furniture\has been completed and sundries attended to during the month. The report was adopted. The procuring of a new motor and sale of the present motor was referred to the chairman and overseer, as was also the purchase of the necessary machinery. The following matters were also referred to the overseer: Central, kitchen sink; Tokaora, Minds and painting; Huiakama, grata, in school; Ohura, turnstyle; Lepperton, repairs, etc; Upper Mangorei, painting school; Stratford, basins and water pipes; Vogeltown, Unique heater; Central, new gate and ventilation; Lower Mangorei, fence. TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT. Mr. H. J. Ainsworth (truant officer) reported that since last meeting he had forwarded notices to the parents of 35 children for irregular attendance. The Pembroke School has been suffering from an epidemic of whooping cough, which has affected the attendance very largo, ly. In many cases the children have received a relapse. Owing to the inclement weather he had been unable to visit the schools around the mountain from Puniho, hut anticipated that he would complete the annual visit in aobut a fortnight.

SENIOR INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. A. J. Morton, senior inspector, recommended that criticism lessons for pupil-teachers and probationers be held as on previous years, and that the centres and dates he: Stratford District High School, 9th and 10th July; Hawera District High School, 11th and 12th July; Inglewood School, 13th July; Central School, New Plymouth, 16th and 17th July.

It is intended to hold an examination for competency certificates in any standard and for proficiency certificates (SO) in the Stratford District High School on July 12, and in the board's office, NewPlymouth, on July 18. Specimen schemes of work and tests for sole teachers have been issued for the guidance of the teachers of the smaller schools, many of whom are without training. At the same time copies have been sent to the head teachers of the larger schools for their information. The adoption of these schemes and tests is not mandatory, but it is hoped that the assistance will be found useful.

I have supplied the secretary with the details of a grammar chart that I hoped the board will have printed and issued to all schools.

I beg to suggest that recommendations of the inspectors of schools regarding requirements of the schools appearing In the inspection reports be scheduled and reported on by the overseer. The extension of Mr. Dempsey's temporary service until the end of June has been authorised, and that he will be engaged during the last quarter of the year. The extra assistance has been of great value in giving opportunity for a thorough inspection of the schools of the district.

The report was adopted. AHITITI AND TONGAPORUXU.

' Mr. A. J. Morton (senior inspector) recommended the establishment of a full time school at Ahititi in preference to the half-time schools now held at Tongaporutu and Ahititi. He considered that the hall at Tongaporutu was in some re. spects unsuitable. The older pupils attended both schools on six days, but the juniors, the majority of whom lived near Ahititi, could only attend three days per week. The establishment of a siilglc school of grade II would provide for the attendance for a full week, and would provide a more suitable arrangement for any teacher likely to apply at the present time, the present teacher having forwarded his resignation. The greatest distance to the residence of any family family would be four miles. The report was adopted. OffURA REQUIREMENTS. Mr. C. H Moore (overseer) reported that the new shelter shed school at Te Wakarae was completed in a very satisfactory.manner, and the school was opened with an attendance of 17. He proposed to attend to the fencing, the grant being sufficient to carry out the work. Most of the timber was on the site for the Matiere school. He had met the. chairman and secretary in connection with''the removal to a site further buck. This would allow more room, and he had accordingly pegged out the site. Mr. Phillibs, chairman of the committee, had offered to provide iron for the old school and partition it off, provided it iwas allowed to remain as a shelter shed for the hoys and girls. The contractor will proceed with the Tatu residence within a week or two. The fence at Mahirikau had been completed by the committee, at whose request he had drawn a plan for a sheltershed. The report was adopted. EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE BACK BLOCKS. The overseer reported that after carefully inspecting the district between Ongaruhe and Mahirikau, and hearing what the settlers had to say on the spot, he recommended that one school be built at or near the junction of the Oliura and Upper Ohura roads. The overaeer understood that there 'was a school reserve at the junction, which hejeonsidered a suitable site. This, he considered, covered the two petitions, and if the school were erected more married' aett!er» would take up land & the.vwinits.;

5 The report was adopted, and it was re--3 solved to make application to the De- : partuient for a grant towards the erection of the school, provided a suitable ' eite can bo obtained. ' i > GENERAL; | The Ncwall Committee were granted | permission to erect a flagpole, and were ! also advised to apply for a subsidy for the purpose. The Board declined any responsibility . for an account in connection with the ■ Otakeho school, incurred when the school ; was under the jurisdiction of the Waiiganui Board. Accounts amounting to ,£l2 5s Id, forwarded by the Pukeko committee for fencing tho school ground, were passed for payment. W. A. Harvey (Waitaanga committee) asked tho Board to have the bush felled on the school site.—The committee is to be asked to forward estimate of the cost. The Poholcura school-committee were granted the sum of £4 towards repairing fence. Lower Mangorei committee' were granted necessary ftees, provided they erect the fence for their protection. The sum of '£l 17s lOd will he paid" to tho credit of the Tokirima school committee for sledging and stacking timber, and application -will be made to the Department for a refund. Omata school committee asked for a grant of £lO towards asphalting a portion of tho playground.—Referred'to the overseer. The Mahirakau committee wrote that they had completed the fencing of the school at a cost of £0 14s.—It was resolved to pay £5 towards the cost, as asked. The application of the Tataraimaka Committee for an extension of their school grounds was referred to Messrs Smith and White to inquire into and report. W. D. Daly (Pio Pio) notified that he was called into camp, and would like some agreement with the Board in connection with the lease of the Mangaotu school. It was resolved to rent the school for the sum of '£lo per/annum as hitherto. The Eaupulia committee notified that they proposed "reducing the mid-day recess and dismissing the school at 3 p.m. They asked for information of this action. It iwas resolved to draw the committee's attention to clause 48 of the by-laws, which stated that there must not be less than an hour's interval between morning and afternoon school, and that no detention of the scholars shall in any way reduce this interval. Provided the terms of the lease have been complied with, the. Board agreed to transfer the balance of the term of the lease of Section 6 Block IX Ngatimaru S.D., from Mr. K. C. Gardiner to Mr. S. Beauchamp. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson's report on the need for topping overhanging trees at Eltham school, at a cost of. £5, was received and adopted. Mr. Gerald Anderson was given permission to give lectures in schools after school hours, subject to the approval and co-operation of school committees. ' Mr. Gray's offer to sell an extra acre at Firmerty Road school for £SO was accreted, the Board to find £2O, the settlers £lO, and the Department £'2o. Leave of absence was granted to the following: Miss Taylor, cookery instructress at the technical school (one iweek); Miss Harrison, assistant, Waitara; Miss Robertson, probationer, Hawera; Mrs. Read, head teacher, Otangawai (three months); Miss Campbell, probationer, Central (three weeks); Miss I. O'Brien, West End (two weeks). The Director of Education notified that at the present juncture the Minister couid not see his way clear to entertain proposals for providing improvements to existing residences. Tho Education Department notified that the work of enlarging Mahirakau school was being undertaken hy the Public Works Department. A circular letter was received from the sanitary inspector re the substitution of bubble fountains for use at schools, instead of the present insanitary drinking Cups. After discussion, in which "members recognised the need for some improvement, the matter was deferred.