TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1919, Page 6

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

1 MONTHLY MEETING.;'

The ordinary meeting of the Tafanaki /Education Board was held at New Plymouth yesterday, when there were present: Messrs R. Masters (chairman), H. Trimble, H. J. Eaves, T. Buchanan, H. H. Grayling, P. J. H. White, and S. G. Smith, M.P., and C. A. Wilkinson, MJ?.

MANUAL AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.

The Manual and Technical Committee (Messrs H. Trimble, R. Masters, S. GSmith and P. H. J. White) recommended that Mr P. V. Sharp be appointed senior commercial instructor in the New Plymouth Technical College, at the salary and on the terms advertised. In the event of his declining, Mr l'nsoll will be offered the position. Owing to the amount of matter to be considered and prepared before the committee could report, the committee asked for an extension of time until February 12th to make its. report. The committee will meet again on January 29th, when the director will he requested to submit his suggestions with regard to agricultural instruction. TEACHERS' MOVEMENTS.

The follow;::;* resignations were.ac-l cepted: Mrs L. L Askew, headmistress, Ohura; Missc* C, E- Steele, sole teacher, Awakino; E. 0- Foy, assitsant teacher, Frankley; G. D. Chapman, pupil teacher, Waiters.; A. C:' NcilSon, sewing teacher, Rajjpiiha; and Mr W. A. Dean, assistant agricultural instructor. Miss I. Edwards was granted leave of absence for a month in order to visit' Australia. In making the application, Miss Edwards stated that she had been acting as matron at the Te Kiri hospital for three weeks of her holidays instead of visiting Australia as she had intended. Members expressed appreciation of the work done, but it was pointed out that the regulations would not permit of pay being given to teachers on leave for private reasons. Miss E- Moir, mistress of the Puniwhakau School, was granted a month's leave of absence.

Miss D. Woulfe was granted leave tit absence owing to ill health until Maftfli 3ht.

It was decided to hold over the appointment of pupil teachers until next meeting, when the result of the exsaminations "will be available,

RESERVES COMMITTEE. The reserves committee recommended that Mr H. Cook foe offered a lease of Section I Block V, Omona, for a period of 7 years at £1 10s per year; that in reference to the new lease offered Mr A. B. Robertson, of Section 9 Block IV, Hawera, the conditions as regards ploughing, the land be waived; that the truant officer fee asked to report on Section 7 Block 11, Rehu.—The report was adopted.

The committee were granted extension of time in which to report on tic question of organisation of the agricultural education.

NORMANDY SCHOOL. ,

Mr Stanley Moore, chairman of the i?formanby School Committee, wrote protesting against an antiquated system of sanitation being installed at the new Normanby School, and suggested that a modern and sanitary system bo installed now so as to save expense later The letter also expressed the gratitude of the parents at the provision made by the overseer for 3ome of the most modern and approved ideas for health in the main building. Members stated that the present system would cost £6O, whereas the overseer estimated that the septic tank system would cost £l5O The chairman stated that he was quite in accord. They were putting up an up-to-date school and the sanitary .system should be equally up-to-date. Even if it cost £l5O instead of £6O, it would be advisable to do the work, and he thought tVey ahsujd make applica-, tion to the Department under the special regulation for a proper system of sanitation. He moved in that direction. Mr P. J. H. White seconded, stating that it should not be a question of means, but a modem system against an antiquated one. The resolution wa.3 carried.

WAIT ASA HEADMASTER'S. REPLY. Mr S. Wyllie, headmaster of the Waitara School, in the course of a very lengthy letter, stated that ha was in full accord with Dr Walker's condemnation of the Waitara School, for there was a certain portion that wa3 very old, the ventilation being poor and the lighting being so bad that neither teacher 3 nor pupils should be asked to use it: in fact, every teacher had suffered from the effects of it. The structure of another room was nearly in a state of collapse. The ventilation of hi 3 own room, the latest addition to the school, had twice been condemned by the inspector, yet nothing had been done to effect an improvement Into the room with a floor space of 25 feet by 23 feet, 62 pupils had been crowded. Standard 111, Ibuilt to accommodate 60 pupils, now held 80. In one of the infant rooina the children were packed three in a seat. The remaining rooms were at times uncomfortably filled- He ,took exception to the doctor's remarks about the state of the out-officcs, and had no hesitation in giving his statement that these offices were in a filthy condition a flat denial, and would call upon Mr Ford, the chairman of the Waitara Committee, Mr Buchanan, a member of the Board, Mr Moore, the overseer, and, if necessary, others to verify the assertionThe above gentleman saw these places in the exact condition they were in when inspected by Dr- Walker. He noticed, from the press report that Mr Moore stated that "the pupils put big lumps of paper down it." Mr Moore told him j that tho pupils should uao sanitary paper as the other choked the pipes. This was quite a. different matter, but who was to supply the sanitary paper? As regard* his further remarks that " a schoolmaster is tho last one in tlia world to do any practical work, etc.," he considered the assertion most unwarrantable, and ventured to say that if the positions were changed, he would make as great a success of Mr Moore's work as Mr Moore would of his. Moreover, Mr Wyllie added that he was gaining quite an eipert knowledge of the interior mechanism of cheap locks that would not lock, of lavatory basins that choke through indifferent design, and of a hundred and one odd things that were continually cropping up requiring attention. Regarding the efficiency of the system, it was not his doings if fault was found. Truly the wet floor was objectionable and a (better system of flushing might well be evolved, but otherwise he found things clean and sanitary, and a vast improvement on what they had been be'foSf} —;.-:-. • --■- •

In conclusion lie stated that his reputation was as dear to him as was must men's to, them and as au old, faithful and conscientious servant of the Boar*, he felt very deeply the disparaging remarks that had been made at the Board's table, and which, before any explanation had been asked for from him, had received such wide spread publicity. It was resolved to acknowledge the' OVERSEER'S REPORT.

New Work:- Norniacby.—This work isj going on steadily. We have been able j to increase the staff, and now that the holidays are over I liope to be able to report more .progress. As the new building will not be ready in time, for the opening of school again after the holidays- '. would suggest that the large room of the old building should be left for, say, the infants, and 'perhaps, a hall could bt hired fo;- the higaer standards for a few weeks- We shall probably have the school, ready except for the plaster work- In regard to septic tank and flush closets, and water supply to same (vould re=i:ectfuily suggest that the committee bo conferred with ; n resptct to findilig part of the extra eost allowecT &y t!?e department.! I would point out that there are a number of school committees who wi&hi to have out-offices on similar lines; and as the department is not likely to make a grant, it will be. necessary for, the people interested to 'bear; part of< the cost-

Fitzroy School Additions.—We have inads a start with this, work, and I hope'to have, the class-room ahout ready, when 'school opens. I propose to renew the floor in the east wing 'of the present building whilst we are on the additions, as this work was authorised to be attended to at an opportune time. Yogeltown School. —This will be started V a fortnight, and with increased labor offering I hope to be able to wake good progress. It may be neccs? sary to further consider the actual position on the site of the new.school. Waitara [Residence.—As ' instructed .1 have inspected, this residence and found that the timber was practically sound though there are parts that require a little attention in the way of renewing, The inside and outside require painting, and as mentioned before, a new bath and washhouse are needed. Plans. —Waitara School. —As instructed I have prepared a sketch plan to provide for the replacement of the western and central portion of the present school. I would suggest that the eastern wing be moved back and made into a detached Infant school. This would make way for the proposed'new part to be built in concrete, and also would place it in a better position in regard to sunlight. To carry this out properly the road through, dividing the school property should he closedGeneral.—The holidays and epidemic ha ye interfered with our work considerably lately The Department has made a grant for a complete new school at Okaiawa (except the furniture), to be built in concrete. I propose to move the old technical engineering building to the rear of our workshop, and make use of it for our department. I would «dk the board to consider the matter of removing the plumbing room al the same time. I have plans in hand for various proposed new works and will have them completed this month.

Central School.-—The contractor for the stone retaining- wall has made a sturt with the work.

Whilst on matters in connection with Waitara, I would draw attention to a most extraordinary letter appearing in the Waitara Mail, signed by Mr Geo. Pear. With the exception of the portion that can be found in any text book on septic tanks, the whole letter is based on a grossly inaccurate statement. Tile writer states that the septic tank at the school will not work properly until thu automatic flush is done away with. There 1= no automatic flush, it, having' been altered to the present pull system about two jeaxs ago, principally because the water was allowed to run when the school was closed. Yet Mr Fear said he has had the tank under his observation for the last three years. He states that two automatic cisterns s of 30 gallons go off every two minutes, night and day, and 00,OW gallons of pater pass through the tank every week. The cisterns are really under -20 gallons, and only go off T7hcn tho lever is pulled during school hours. I trust that Mr Fear, who. holds the position of general inspector to the Waitara Borougn Council, will come forward and withdraw his most inaccurate statements. In respect to the whole system, there is nothing wrong from a.practical man's view point,' and when the school opens again if simple instructions are carried out there need be no trouble.

Mr Buchanan said that the overseer was quite right in the matter. The overseer's report was adopted. The question of the removal of the plumbing room and the general utilisation of the Technical School grounds was referred to the Finance Committee to report on. The following matters wore referred to tlu overseer-—Painting ilia In-ride 'of Pembroke School; new tank for Tonga - porutu School; question of asphalting at the Hillsborough School.

OKAIAWA SCHOOL.

Tho Department notified that ic had been decided to make a grant of £IO7B towards the replacement of the Okaiawa School. Mr. Wilkinson considered that this was very satisfactory and that tho people of the district owed a debt of gratitude to the chairman and Mr. Smith for having insisted on the erection of a new school, which would bo built in concrete instead of the addition as originally proposed.

SCHOOL RESIDENCES

P. Stanley, secretary oi the Billsborough School Committee, applied for a residence to be erected, seeing that tlio board had the "old residence condemned and removed. Owing to the present teachers being unable to obtain board and lodging near the school, they wcit compelled to live- a good distance away, and it waa considered that it was bettor for the welfare of the children to hara the teacher living in the district. Mr. Trimble considered it would Ibe a mistake to erect a residence there. Tlo teacher had asked that the old residence should ibe removed so as to enable her to obtain the allowance, fle moved tba& the application bo not acceded to. This was not seconded.

Mr. Smith eon»idor«l that taachsri should be encouraged to reside in tie district in which thoy taught. As far as he remembered, the board Bad condemned the old building. In the past there had been a poor standard of rcsidence erected. He moved that application be made to the Department for a grant for the erection of] the Hillsborough School residence. , Mr. Eaves seconded '■■•-'•

V «hairmaa sud that it was ajmrt

ter of policy. If the Department gave the grant, tliey would have numerous applications. Mr. Grayling suggested that they might ask for a washhouse.. Mr. Buchanan: And a bathroom. The resolution -was carried, Mr. Trim Me-- dissenting. GENEBAII. Mr. P. J. H. White referred to the delay in making a grant for the Arawhata School, as the result of which some twenty children would be debarred from commencing school this year.—lt was resolved to telegraph the 'Department on the subject. Mr. P- S. Whitcombe, secretary of tha board, was appointed auditoF of School Committee's accounts for 191' S. The worn-out bath at the Waitara residence is to be replaced. It was resolved to instal a sliding partition 1 in the Mahoe School. The matter of payment of water rates at TCaponga was referred to the chairman and Mr. WilkinsonAccounts amounting to 1 £5346 13s 9d were:passed for payment.