TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1919, Page 6

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

! MONTHLY MEETING. j ' Tho ordinary meeting of the Taranaki Edu- ' ration Hoard was held nt New Plymouth yesi terday, when there wero liresent: Messrs B. Masters (chairman), H. Trimble, S. U. Smith, > M I'., T. Biichiinnn, H. H. Grayling, P. J. H. I While and C A. Wilkinson, MP. H. J. Eaves j was granted leave of absence. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. « The chairman reported that he had mad" the following temporary appointments-.—Egmont Village, head teacher, Mrs. J. Olson; Ohura, head teacher, Miss M. Breen; Vogeltown, head teacher, M.ss T. Sage; Inglewood, head teacher, Mr. W. Wagstaff, first assistant, Mr. R. Adlara, Fraser road, sole teacher, Miss Dromgool; Hawera, twelfth assistant, Miss C. Allen, fourteenth assistant, Miss Surgcnor; Hillsborough, assistant. .Miss Norris; Auroa, first assistant. Miss-McLean; Nlho Niho, sole teacher, Miss Seerup; Ohura, head teacher, Miss Willis; Tokirima, sole teacher, Mr. A. Sac,e; Huiakama, assistant. Miss B. Frost; Punlho, assistant. Miss Fleming; Te Klri, assistant, Miss M. Hickey; Opunake, assistant, Mr. D. Roberts

MANUAL AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Messrs. H. Trimble (chairman), 11. Masters,! S. G. Smith, P. J. H. White reported: I That tbe Board expresses Its appreciation • of the practical results obtained in the con- j duct of the classes held at the Stratford Model i Dairy Farm v as evidenced by Mr. Burley's re-1 port of the sth Instant, dealing with inilb j That the application <>r a technical d\v j school at Eltham be rcici-. .;> Messrs. v-:\s- , ters and Smith to wait -he Depatiuient when in Wellington and .:, report to the Board on the result of their interview. That the action of the chairman of the | Board in the installation of stoves in the hall. uacd for the technical high school classes | in Hawera, be confirmed. ; That Mr. Gray be appointed principal of i •the Technical High School in Hawera from (he i list July, 1919. 1 That the question of supplying hedge planlß for Radnor and Rowan schools be referred to the agricultural instructor to report on. That Mr. H. C. Johnson bo appointed to | represent the Board at the conference of agricultural Instructors to be held In Wellington on the 4th June. That the hedge plants recommended by ilr agricultural instructor for the Mata school c granted. That the Tokaora committee be informed that the Board cannot see Us way to make a subsidy on the donations mentioned on the form supplied. That applications be called for the position of Principal of the New Plymouth Technical College, who is also to ho director of manual and technical instruction for the Taranaki Education District, with the exceptions of the Technical Higli Schools at Hawera and Stratford. The present salary to be £450 per annum rising to £525, by annual increments of £23. That the question of salaries for the ieeSnical Instructors for the whole of the Trivia:;; Educational District be referred to the chairman of the Manual and Technical Committee and the chairman of the Finance Committee to enquire into and report on. That the question of coloring the arts and science room at the New Plymouth Technical College be referred to the overseer to make the necessary alterations.

TECHNICAL KEPOItT. Mr. A. Gray (Director of Technical Education) , reported a3 follows : New Plymouth.—The numbers in the various classes are: Commercial (flrst year) 2S, second year 28, third year 14, fourth year 7, domestic 14, arts and science 13, agriculture 5, engineering 59, art 1; evening classes: Shorthand (senior) 5, (junior) 19, book-keeping (junior) 8, (senior) 5, English and arithmetic SO, motor car engineering 13, steam, gas and oil 3, mechanical drawing 2, electrical engineering 5, workshop practice 12, woodwork 15. The engineering class has been doing some very fine work during the month. Among r.ther things the lads have completed a one-horse power gas engine for the forge, blast. This has proved a most valuable exercise in drawing and workshop practice. The total cost of the castings and material was £4 10s; if we had bought an engine of the same stamp It would have cost the Board £l4 10s. Commercial. —Mr. Crimp, the newly appointed commercial instructor, takes up his duties on the 14th inst. I wish to express my appreciation of Mr. Sharpe's attention to his duties during the short time lie was with us. Cookery.— During the month an examination In invalid cookery was held for the nurses from the hospital. All the candidates were nuccessful in securing either flrst or second clnss passes. I desire to Tecord the thanks of the class to Mrs. A. Alexander who very kindly and efficiently acted as examiner of the practical work. Evening classes.—The attendance at these classes is still somewhat irregular. I am glad to report a good strong woodworking fhe flrst we have had for some time. It lias been found that the dead white of '.he walls of the new room occupied by the arts and science class Is very trying to the eyes of the students, and I beg to suggest that the walls be distempered a less glaring tint. Hawera.—The Technical High School duly opened on the flrst of the month. The numbers lat present in attendance are: Commercial 82, I arts and science !>3, engineers 26, agriculture 3, I total 104; evening classes: Engineering 18, Eng- ! lish, and arithmetic 38, shorthand 20, booki keeping 1(1, woodwork 4, total 96. I Mr. La Trobc, chief supervisor of .technical work for the Dominion, was present durin? the opening days: The work is going on smoothly. Mr. La Trobe gave us many valuable hints regarding the new school buildings. Included In the roll is one student doing post matricula- . tion work. I hope this will be the beginning at a considerable class of this standard. The engineering class has taken in hand the Matchless motor cycle, which had been practically scrapped. They have given It a complete overhaul, and the instructor expects, in a week or two, to have the machine in good working order again.

Stratford—At Stratford the numbers are: dressmaking (junior) 17, senior 9; commercial classes: English, arithmetic, shorthand and typing, book-keeping, 25 boys, 11 girls. The commercial classes are held on separate evenings of the week for boys and girls respectively. The average attendance for the boys Is only 17, and this means that some of the compulsory students will need the- attention of the [ruant officer. The attendance of the girls is much more satisfactory. Eltham.—The numbers are: Woodwork IC, M. arithmetic 14, dressmaking 11, engineer's 11. Messrs. Catton and Sunderland continue t° v l»it from Hawera for engineering and woodwork respectively. Country woodwork—The instructor has recovered from tile results of his accident, and has resumed his round. Kapunl committee has announced its desire to withdraw from the scheme, and an effort is being made to substitute Otakeho in the vacant period. Agriculture—During the month I met the agriculture instructors In conference and was Impressed with their enthusiasm regarding their iwork. A njunber of points were discussed, and •Included In a separate report are suggestions which I beg to commend to the consideration of the Board. During the past week Messrs. Johnston and Connell have been visiting schools In the northern part of the district. A full report of their visits will, be presented later.

AGBICULTDBM. INSTBUGTION. air. W. H. Bailey reported that during Uie month of April' the regular work of the classes tn agriculture and dairy science continued except for the holidays- of Easter vacation and Anzac Day, These, however, interfered eonisidcrably with the preparation of some dairy '.returns In-hand for the.Model Farm Committee. Work in. connection- with the orchard, and other cleaning an<fl preparation continues week ;by week, aD.d-some>sped?sowing has-taken place, 'a. start being lnade> with macroearpa; this will be- continued with other tree seeds, namely tie .eucalypts and* wattles.

In connection. Willi the farm, two visits nave Iheen made, with, senior pupils to make ohservaItions on the. root: crops/ and upon; the mixed* crops, andf a- small' return of the weights of .small plats of; turnips; made. The main work in the dairy classes has,! I been the preparation of n returni giving an estimate of the (1) yield of milk, (2) the yield of butter fat of the model farm's dairy heed for the season September to April' inclusive. The actual*tests mado were few owing to long vacation and epidemic—they were for the months of' September; October, December, March and Apr|i, and upon these an estimate for the season has been' made, which estimate differs from the factory's returns by less than lOOlbs. butter-fat. The. return wa3 placed in the committee's hands, for- their meeting: of May 0. As a result of this work an. opportunity, probably .this month, wiU' be. given the classes most initerestcd of observations' on culling- operaHsns of I the farm's herd.

RESERVES COMMITTEE KEPOET. TlW> reserves committee ((Messrs H. H. Grayling and T. Buchanan) recommended*:: That, the tender- of Mr. L. W.. Johns, tor a lease of section- 40, Makaka, 7 acres;, for a. further ;term of 1 years at £lO 10s per annum, be •accepted. That the rent—viz., £1 10s per annum—for the port'on of the Denbigh School site be paid •over to thai committee, conditionally on the amount being- spent on improvements to the school grounds. That the tender of Mrs. B. L. Ekdahl; for a :]0 years' lease of section 10, block XII, W&itaro '» acres, at £5 per'annum, be accepted. That the application of the lessee for the transfer of the lease of section 9, block IV, Hawera, to Mr: G. Blackwell, be granted! subject to, the rent being: paid to date. That in reference to the application, af the (Okaiawa Committee for additional site, Mfc. Passcoe be asked to report on tho condition, and 1 ivalue of section 43, Okalawa. ' That the Toko Committee be informed, that 'lt is tho. duty of the lessee, to provide, the neces.sary seed* for laying down in- grass- or* the- portion leased from the board, PROPOSED 3CHOOI/ AT WHABEBOA. Messrs. S. Masters' nnd r E. J: Eaves- reported' ,|M*,«utktb«. mire ■HattgoKt^r¥H »««

Whareroa, where they were met by Messrs. Murphy, Malcolm ant! Eustace, representing the settlers of the district, The Pist proposal was to open at least a ilide school in the hall situated o.i tile Whareroa Road so as to provide tor children from both the Manapou ana South Roads This arrangemerit was recommended to the Education Department, which, however, refused the request, chiefly because Die position is to ° near lne Hawera District High School. The committee ;md representatives of ,hc residents arrived at die opinion that the senior inspector's previous suggestion that a suitable position for a school site was on the Manapou Road near the Hawera Rnad, ana at least tnrca miles from the Hawera School. This would serve :i"0 children of school age. Very probably others would aim attend, although some on the South Road would And the Hawera Sclico! more convenient. This would not, ho.'.r.cr, be the case if in the fut-ii .: ihe Hawer:i ,i...i-j were opened up. The site suggested was annul half way between the hall ami Hie farthest point which pupils would be drawn. In the locality four or move miles from Hawera there were properties totalling about 1.101) acres that are likely to be subdivided and to be occupied by a number of families. In fact, this movement had already begun. In v'cw of these conditions the committee recommended that application he made to the Education Department for authority to establ'sh n school. When this had been obtained further application could be made for grants for the purchase of a site and the erection of a building. The report was adopted.

RIVERLEA SCHOOL Mr. B. L. Webby, chairman o>' the Rlverlea School Committee, waited on the board in connection wi(h various requirement- at the school. The board resolved to grant the necessary pipes for drainage of tho school grounds, sub;sct to the overseer approving of the scheme. A, partition will be erected in the Rlverlea School, the committee undertaking to find, £ls inwards the cost. PUPIL TEACHERS AND PROBATIONERS. Mr. A. J. Morton, senior inspector, forwarded a statement showing that twelve pupil teachers and probationers had retired at Ihe end of 1918, 2f had continued in 1919, and 23 had been newly appointed in 1919. Of the twelve who had retired, seven Uriel passed the full or partial examination for. a D certificate, and only two failed to pass in three out of the four groups. One of these had recorded success In the matriculation examination. Of Ihose at present in the serv'ce. and with -% least six months' service in MIS, twenty-one i;«d at least passed in two groups. Of this numi'cr ten had a full or partial pass for the D . .'ertlficate. Of thoso not so successful, two I had a successful record connected with tiie j matriculation examination. While the general result was very satisfactory, the attention of I six trainees should he drawn to the necessity j for advance in their record for the D examina- | tion.

Of twonfy-three newly appointed, three had a full or partial pass for D, while four others had recorded Success in two groups or in the matriculation examination. UNCERTIFICATED ADULT TEACHERS. There are ahout 120 uncertificated teachers holding positions as sole teachers and assistants ITnfortunatelv, the record was incomplete regarding other qualifications held by a number of these, and a full and accurate register was urgently required. As far as the information at present available extends, 9 had passed the certificate examination, hut for some other reason had not received a certificate; 11 had a partial certificate; 4 had passed partially In 4 groups; 0 had a full or partial pass in 3 croups; 10 In 2 groups; and one in one group. At least six others had passed the intermediate or matriculation examination. The inspector concluded; "It is evident that the large majority have no record qualifications beyond'the proficiency certificate. When a definite record lias been achieved a further investi- ! gation ran be made to provide for discrimination of those that may well be expected to show ! a regular advance in qualification."

IMPBOA'EMENTS TO TEACHERS' RESIDENCES. Applications were received from several committees for wash tubs, baths, etc., at school residences. A circular letter was received from the Education Department stating that with the return to more normal conditions a limited sum of money had been set aside to assist boards in providing in the more urgent cases In which teachers' residences were without conveniences in the way of bath rooms, sculleries and wash houses, such facilities in this direction as might be necessary for the comfort and health of the teacher and his family. The hoards were asked to submit applications in order .of urgency and importance, pcncrally confining their recommendations to schools not over ."0 years of age, and with an average attendance of not less than 30, such being more likely to be permanently served by a married teacher. The overseer was instructed to prepare a return of the teachers' residences at present without bathrooms, aculleries and washhouses, with a view to making application to the deparement for the necessary grant. Mr. Wilkinson moved that the board expresses Its satisfaction thai this urgent matter had at last received some attention, but was of opinion that it would have been more satisfactory to both the department and the board if a straight-out grant could he made to the board, so that this work could he put in hand at once, and thus avoid the delay that must occur by having to refer all applications of the kind to Wellington. This was seconded by the chairman and carried. GENERAL. The resignations of the following teachers were accepted: Misses (1. Thompson (assistant, Tariki), .1. H. (lilsou (assistant Hillsborough), E. Waite (sole teacher, Tnngnporutu), G. H. Doile (assistant, Central), K. Taylor (assistant, Punlho), E. Starkey '.dressmaking instructress, New Plymouth Technical College), Mrs. D. E. Mackenzie (assistant, Haw-era), .Mr. H. E. Young (sole teacher, Matau Household). Miss T. Simpson (assistant, ITuiakama) was granted six weeks' leave of aliseiico on account of ill-health.

The action of the Mangamingi and Tolinora School Committees in closing their schools on account of chiekenpox and diphtheria respectively was confirmed. Mr. R. L. Mcllroy, secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute (Taranakl branch) asked the board to make arrangements for some of the women teachers to visit other centres to study the latest developments in the methods of infant teaching; It was decided to hold the matter over pending a report which Is to be submitted on the Montcsori system. The Albert School Committee asked that tho school be enlarged, as there were now 26 children attending, and 14 more who would shortly attend.—Heferred to the chief inspector for a report. The chief inspector is to report on tile overcrowding at the Here Mere School. It wiib vesolvod that the attention of the department be drawn to the report of the medical inspector to the condition of the infants' out offices at Ilawcra, and to the urgent need for the erection of separate infant out offices, and that the overseer submit an estimate of the cost and application be made to the deparlmont for a grant. A gate will be supplied for the school grounds at Matapu. Application is to bo made for lining and extending porch at Matapu and Bivcrlea. The questions of additions to the Oeo School was referred to the senior inspector for a report.

The Oeo Committee is to he Informed that the board will subsidise tho erection of a sheltet shed on tho basis of £ 2 for £l. Their request ,for hedge plants and shrubs will be referred to the Director of Technical Educat'on.— The board regretted thai it was unable to subsidise the 1 cost of the erection' of a flag pole. Mr. S. Wyllle, headmaster of the Waltum iSchool, applied for various repairs and improvements to-the residence.—Mr. Buchanan and the overseer were appointed to report on the residence. It was resolved, that the IVaitara Committee •be informed that' it is the function of committees to repair the: broken windows in schools. The question 0 r the inadequate capitation igrants to committees is to be brought before •the notice of the department. '. The Douglas. School- Committee forwarded tci solutions passed at the annual meeting ot (householders, protesting against the undemocratic attitude of the board'. In taking the power of fixing special school' holidays and final se,'lectlon of school teachers out of school com.nilttees' bauds.—The committee is to be lnjforraed that sections 58 and' (i 4 of the board'B jrules, and by-laws, with; respect to special school ihollditys, appear to have been overlooked by the icommixtee, and that in regard to the appointment of school teachers, the board had no onjtiou. But to comply with clause VI of the Edu'catknr Act.

In. order toi complete the- number of members landI and subject to being, eligible, the following are Ito be asked to serve, .-is members of the school committees: Messrs, W. Hiubawny and 8 J • Iteirt (Tuna),. C. P.. Preston and W: Mnd«wlck (Noi'inanby). "

l«J?i Messrs - Ttiß >We, White and Smith submitted, a reflort on. their visit to the lOtateho, Oeo and emuma SchooL, a„U■ to : touched on carious mutters required at the different schools-.—Approved. The Makata Committee is: to be- lii£oi™«ii i^^^ 1 ? board-will grant a sutoldj ■on bS of £2 to- £.l for the erection-, of a shelter shed | to be built- to the satisfaction: of the wiseer. - the board will, subsidise, die cost C &. I In- Klaw> of the specW oirauinstjiirces It »»«. resolped- that the- Maluienuil Committal granM ' , £'"'■ b8,,8 half ' »e tost of culyerßto -iVJ? metal lag the school, entrance, S"£ ' committee- be asked in futar* toTobtSjJ H : The Radnor Committee he informed/ out the- board regrets thaft it cannot S» to- ». I .request toralteration- of? fhSsSe the

application made to the department for additions to Okalawa School, and that the matter be referred lo Mr. Wilkinson for special representation to the department. The Kaponga School Committee offered the sum of £lO towards ;iie cost of Installing hot ■vater service in the iieadmaster's residence, ■which would cost £il los, providing the board la addition found the .store. Mr. H. Trimble ;novcd, and the chairman seconded, that the ward regrets that it !s ura'iila to accede to the '.-eciuest. They pointed out liial, while Bympatlii'sbc with the request, it tvould be unwise Jc crnale a precedent. Mr. Buchanan moved, as an amendment, iliat the Kaponga Committee be granted a subsidy of £11) towards the cost or installing lu'gh,'ii'essure boiler, etc. This ,v.v; seconded by Mr I'. A. Wilkinson, but was lost. A further amendment, proposed by Mr. Smith and seconded by Mr. White, that the board provide a hlghliressure range provided the committee pay the wist of installing the hot-water system ws carried. Mr. Buchanan moved that representations fc» made to tho department for a grant of fl4itowards the cost of acquiring two acres of land tor the Tokaora School, the school committee having undertaken to Cnrl the balance—-viz £loo—upon the conditions laid down by the school committee. Mr. White seconded, and the resolution was carried, Mr. Trimble dissenting. The Taranaki Women Teachers' Association forwarded a resolution passed at the annual meeting of tho association, stating that the women of Taranaki viewed with surprise the Kr US f'°i n i.°i Anzae , Day {rnm the regulation list of holidays, and respectfully requested the board to declare it a whole holiday for all schools under its jurisdiction, regarding It as a day which should for all time be sacredly observed throughout New Zealand