TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1917, Page 6

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held yesterday, when there were present: Afeasrs K. Masters (chairman), H. Trimble, S. fi. Smith, E. Dixon and P. J. H. White. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson was granted leave of absence. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that during the interim ho had made the following appointments:—Haw era, Mrs. Eggers, assistant (sec. department); Rahotu, Mrs. .Evans, head teacher; Whangamomona. Miss B. Palmer, head teacher, and 'Miss Blandford, assistant; Matau, Mr. S. .Auimon. sole teacher; Okoke. Mi»3 D. Forster, sole teacher; Tongauorutu. Miss M. Reeve, sole teacher; I'ranklcy side school, Miss P. Eason. assistant. On Thursday. August 9th, together ■with Messrs Smith, Trimble, and White. he had visited the schools around the mountain from Omata to Warea. The schools visited wore in an excellent state of repair, and the grounds' generally were well kept. There was, however he regretted to say, in some instances a 'want of a self-reliant spirit, fio special efforts having been made to raise funds for school purposes hy school concerts or otherwise. This was to he regretted a= such efforts not only helped the committees financially, but created a wider interest in school matters by tho parents of the children. Funds raised in this manner and spent in beautifying the grounds would be benelicial, as the environment of a school must necessarily have au effect on the character of the children. He was con- | iident. alter discussing these matters willi the committees, that there would a decided improvement in this direciiuu in the future. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Mr. C. H. Moore) reported as follows: Tatu.—The new residence is now completed. Finnerty.—Tiiis new school is well on and should be completed early next month. The committee have fenced the section. Ohangai.—Owing to tirgent repair work being required, I have moved the men on to this place and completed new out-ollices, removed one of the shelter sheds to a better position, painted the outside of the residence and attended to general repairs, including drainage I improvements. The chairman of the committee has promised to concrete the! floors of both shelter sheds. Depot at Hawera. —I have been offered j part of the old building used as a gymnasium at the Ilawera school on condition we partition off ono of the rooms. I propose to consider this. and. if suitlable, to accept same, instead of erecting a depot.

Inglcnvood.—Among other repairs we removed the platform in the infant department, and as soon as we receive the next lot of hyloplate I propose to improve the blackboard accommodation. Opunake—l went into the matter of re-erecting the iron fence Mown over at Opnnake. The whole of tho posts will require renewing and to make a good job will cost £l'2. The. chairman of the committee strongly disapproved of the committee helping in any way. As this particular fence is only dividing the play-ground-, I would recommend that an ordinary wire or netting fence be erected instead. Oeneral.—At Radnor we have the shelter shed well in band. pressure of other work has caused considerable delay. Whilst on tho matter of shelter sheds I would respectively point out that the Board's scale is not suflicicnt to build on the same lines as formerly. 1 have had to cut this shed down to come within the allotted sum. At Manaia the committee agreed to pay half the cost of concreting the boys' shelter shed. I had this carried out. At Stratford, on the request of the committee, I went into the matter of making a small improvement to the drainage, and the matter has received attention. Tho blinds at this school are in a very unsatisfactory condition. I am holding the renewal of these over for a while. Xew Plymouth Technical College.— I have prepared plans for proposed additions and alterations to the X'ejv Plymouth Technical College, technical school at Waitara, shelter shed at Taugitu (near Ongaruc) separate outolliees for boys, Technical College, Xew Plymouth, and alterations and additions to tne Education Odice, Xew Plymouth. In regard to the Technical College, I have submitted a plan of a proposed new art room oil' the end of the present art room, the present room to be divided by a folding partition and turned into _tw'o class rooms. This is according to the recommendation of Mr. Isaac, except that lw proposed a temporary building. I feel otire that the Board will not he in favor of a temporary building. We have too much of that kind of structure attached to the Technical College already. I have planned out with a view to permanency. In respect to the proposed art room, I 'wish to point out that it will not be wise to add on to this wing if the Technical College, is going to keep on increasing. I think the better plan will be to erect central class rooms as formerly approval of by the Board and so lay out the whole building for future enlargements. The present engineering and other temporary buildings would then be done away with and the iron could be used for the roof of proposed class rooms. In regard to the ollice alterations I propose to erect a part two-story and provide for the boardroom and inspectors' olliccs on the top floor. Wo have completed in our own workshop a considerable amount of fittings and lockers for the engineering workshop and furniture for the schools. We have also made a start with the joinery for several new works we have on hand. Tawhiti.— I inspected the sanitary accommodation at this school and have arranged to have this made satisfactory. In regard to the scbool in general, I am of opinion that the building and immediate surroundings are not suitable to use as a school. General painting repairs have been completed to both school and residence at Manaia and Mere Mere, and at the latter placs the shelter shed has been attended to. Painting repairs at Ararat.i are receiving attention. Repairs at Norfolk, Waiongona and Lincoln have been attended to. The blackboards at Ware.v and Pungarchu have been improved and at Pnngarehu the chimney has received attention. The overseer's report was received. It was resolved I hat the alterations suggested in the length of the woodwork room at the ii'.anual and technical building be approved. The following matters ware referred lo the overseer: Egmont, additional tank, Central, flooring, etc., of lean-to tat Vegeltown side school ; Hawera, fitgteßj etc-i alterations to fireplaces at

Ell ham residence, and applications for desks at Eitham. Various minor matters at Waitara w«6 also referred to the overseer. In reply to n. qfestion as to the clause re additional office accommodation, the chairman stated that it would be necessary in che near future to make Bonic alterations with the object of increasing the olliee accommodation. They j had no more accommodation now than I when their staff comprised only three or four, whereas now they had to ac<*unniodate the inspectors, agricultural instructors, etc. Ho pointed out that •ftWgli the plans were completed it did not mean that the work could be gone on with at once. Mr. White suggested that before more structures were phi' ed on the ground, a committee should be set up, comprising the whole Board, with a view to the utilisation of the land to the best advantage. On the motion of Messrs White and Dixon, it, was resolved that matters in connection with additions at the Tech-» nical College be referred to a committee of the whole Board to consider the question of tiiij utilisation of the present site for erection of and additions to buildings. THE WAR LOAN. During the discussion on the Finance Committee's report, Mr. E. Dixon suggested that the Board should approach the Wangunui Board in connection with the sum of £2OOO which Wanganui owed Taranaki over the adjustment of accounts between the two Boards, and suggest that they should invest the money m the war loan, taking advau tage of the opportunity afforded by the banks to borrow the money, repayable in 2* years in quarterly instalments. The chairman stated that he had eitrcFully considered the question of investing a portion of the money they had on fixed deposit, but found that by doing 60 they would lose interest by breaking tiie term of their deposit. Moreover the time was not far distant when Novmanby and Okaiawa schools would have to be re-built, so that be did not think the. money could be spared He did not think that Mr. Dixon's scheme would work, as the money would be tied u|i either for five or twenty-one years, whereas Wanganui would have to pay the money to the Taranaki Board at the conclusion of the war. .o one, lie stated, was more anxious tuan he was to assist the war loan. Mr. Dixon stated that he was prepared to move in the direction of referring this matter to the Finance Committee for favorable consideration. The chairman pointed out that it was illegal for-Education Boards to w.ork on overdraft, and members could be surcharged if this were done. Th? matter dropped. A MANGOREI PETITION. ventecn parents, representing eighteen (hildreti attending the Upper Mangorci school, petitioned the Hoard anil asked that the services of .Miss D Brown I should be retained as teacher. They j pointed out that Mr. Brown's six sons had gone to the front, and that Miss Brown whilst teaching at the school was able to assist Her parents on the farm. On the motion of Messrs Trimble anil Masters it was resolved to inform the petitioners that, 'whilst recognising that Miss D. Brown' carried out her duties conscientiously, the present appointment was made with the general requirements of the service. NORMANBY SCHOOL. he secretary of the Normanby School Committee pointed out that several Normanby residents were sending their children to the ltawera school, owing to the insanitary condition of the Normanby school buildings. The window frames in the infant,' rooms ,vcre getting very rotten and would not hold the glass The committee trusted that no eil'orb would be spared to have a new school started at the earliest possible time. The overseer stated that the Department had referred the plans back for further particulars. (In the motion of Messrs Dixon and Smith, it was resolved to send a letter to the Department expressing the Board's surprise at the delay in regard to the. rebuilding of the Normanby school It was resolved to inform the Normanby School Committee that the Board is doing its best to obtain a grant for. their school. 'A CASE OF HARDSHIP. Mr. A. Le"cs, secretary of the Okaiawa School Committee, wrote pointing out that the head teacher (Mr. Innes) was recently the victim of an unfortunate accident caused through his eye beinj pricked with a piece of box-thorn, while f-ngaged trimming a hedge round _thc playground. The" committee recognised that" it was no part of the teacher's duty, and they pointed out that Mr. [nnes, in his enthusiasm to do his best to assist the committee, often did a little work in connection with the school ground. In country schools it was a very difficult matter to get labor for these odd jobs. Mr. Innes was put to considerable expense through this unfortunate accident, and the committee wished to ascertain if the Board's rules and regulations allowed for compensation in an accident of this sort. Un the motion of Messrs Trimble and Masters, it was resolved to inform the committee that, 'whilst sympathisiny! with Mr. Innes, the Board does not appear to be under any Uability as regards compensation. A QUESTION OF SICK LEAVE. Mrs. A. E. Read, school mistress al Otangawai. asked for some assistance towards replacing her personal effects lust in the lire at Otangawai, and pointing out that it was unfair that she should stand the loss, as she had repeatcdlv asked the Board to attend to the brickwork, the unsafe condition of which the had recognised. She also asked for eoine further consideration in the matter of sick leave, pointing out that she was .riven a fortnight's salary for three months' leave of absence through illness, which was caused chiefly through strenuous school duties. The Education Department notified that a grant of £35 had been made for reinstatement of the wash-house. On the motion of Messrs Trimble and Dixon, it was resolved that the Board regrets that it cannot give increased allowance for sick leave, and that it cannot recognise any liability in the matter of the fire. THE AWAKINO SCHOOL, The Awakino County Council wrote asking the Board's support to a rcsolu- ! tion requesting assistance from the "dinj ister of Public Works towards metalling the road leading from the ManganuiI Awakino road to the proposed school Bite at Awakino. - The resolution to the

Minister of Public Works pointed out that tiic road was practically impassable In web weather, and that the cost of metalling it would be £llO, of which the County Council was prepared to find half. On the motion of Messrs Smith and Trimble it was resolved to make representations to the Public Works (Department on the matter, and that the Hoard forward the resolution to Mr. \V. T. Jennings M.P., member for 'the district, asking his help in getting the work undertaken. THE KAPONGA SCHOOL. With reference to the application for an enlargement of the Kaponga school, the chief inspector reported that the position regarding the distribution of classes and available lloor space is as follows: Room 1, 81—li, 43 pupils, 53',) square feet, equal to 12.4 square feet per pupil; room •_', 82—3, 35 pupils, 450 square feet, equal to 12.8 square feet per pupil; room 3, P—SI, 73 pupils, 075 square feet, equal to 9.2 square feet per pupil. It is evident that whilo in the first and second rooms tlio accommodation is sufficient the. third room has too manj pupils for tho available space. While as a whole the school has just 10 square feet of space per pupil, the distribution of classes cannot bo arranged to avoid the crowding in the junior department. No fault can be found with the present organisation, and as it is stated that a number of farms for returned soldiers within a short distance of the school are being balloted for, it appears probable that an increase, in the roll number will shortly result. In view of these conditions some increase to the accommodation evidently demands consideration. The report was received and it was .resolved to make application to the Department. FITZROY REQUIREMENTS.

A deputation comprising the chairman and Messrs Grayling and Duckworth, members of the Fitzroy School Committee, waited on the Board with a request that the gymnasium should be floored, as, owing to congestion of space in the school, the gymnasium had to be used a3 a classroom as well as a shelter-shed. Tho present tan lloor was very dusty, and a menace to the health of the children and teacher. It was estimated that the floor 'would cost, £3O, towards which the committee was willing to contribute £ll. Tho committee had contributed £57 ICs to the cost of the gymnasium, and £3(J Ids to Flip asphalting, etc., and had also found £32 towards the cost of the septic tank. He also urged on the Board the need for providing additional classroom accommodation at the school, the need for which had been recognised by the Director of Education when he was through in April. He submitted that it was a good ease to put before the Department. The chairman stated that, the Board was convincci some enlargment 'was needed, and that in the event of the Department agreeing to this there would be no need for the flooring of tho gymnasium, any grant towards which would have to conic out of the maintenance fund. lie thought that instead of adding to the present wooden structures it would be necessary to erect any addition in brick or concrete, which could form part of a future main building. This would mean a considerable saving'in maintenance. This, therefore, opened up a very much larger question than a mere wooden addition, lie moved that the committee be granted a subsidy'of £ for £ up to £32, the estimated cost of the flooring. Mr. Trimble seconded. Mr. Smith thought the committee deserved better treatment. After some discussion, Mr. Smith moved that the committee be granted ,€2O, as an indication that an energetic committee should be encouraged to the utmost. This was seconded by Mr. White, and on being put it was lost, the mover and seconder voting for it. The motion was then carried. Mr. Smith called for a record of the voting, i TRUANT OFFICER. Tt was stated that Mr. IT. T. Ainswortli, truant officer, was still seriously ill in the hospital. The secretary suggested that Mr. C. 11. Mooro should be 'appointed to fill the position temporarily. This was agreed to. GENERAL. The action of the following committees in closing their schools on account of epidemics was confirmed: —Huiranga, Ohura, Rsuipuha, diptheria; Makahu, general sickness; Albert Road, general sickness and illness of teacher. The following teachers were granted leave of absence on account of illness:— Miss B. Henderson, assistant, Central: Miss H. Nutting, Raupuha; Miss M. Papps, Stratford"; Miss B. Hunt, Te Kiri; Miss Prentice, Waitara; Miss Palmer, Whangamomona; Mrs. M. Dowling, head mistress. West End; Miss I. Hirst, probationer, West End. The overseer reported that lie had interview two settlers in the Manaia district, and informed them that as they resided within two miles of Tokaora school the cost of conveying their children to Manaia school could not be borne by the Department. On the motion of Messrs Smith and White it was resolved to make application to the Department to purchase about an acre of land to extend the present Tataraimaka school ground, as there is only about an aero at present, including the horse paddock. The Te Itoti committee is to be informed that the Board cannot see its 'way to alter the regulation regarding school hours. h\ answer to a request from the Finnerty Road residents, a householders' meeting will be called for the purpose of electing a school committee and for division of the school district boundaries, the meeting to be held in the Finnerty school on a date to be fixed; the chairman to represent the Board, Master Harold Tristram was permitted to take up a junior national scholarship, tenable at the Stratford District High School, in place of the Bayly Scholarship. Hedge plants as applied for by the Central Committee are to be supplied The Pihama Committee is to be informed that the Board reprets it cannot sec its way to supply filters. The matter of fences at Lower Mango- : rci was referred to the chairman, with power to act. The Mahirikau Committee is to be Informed that the Board cannot see its way to deviate from its usual custom of granting £2 for £1 towards the erection of shelter sheds. Wire applied for by the Tututawa School Commit-ee w t »s granted. The Cardiff Committee is to be informed that the Board does not erect wood-sheds. The Hurford Committee is to be granticd the necessary posts and windowMinds*

Consideration of the terms and conditions on which the Board would bo allowed to occupy for agricultural .purposes 40 acres of land belonging to the Stratford Model Dairy Farm Committee was referred to the committee of the Board appointed to deal with the Technical School, to report on.