TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1920, Page 8

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held yesterday, when there were present Messrs. P. J. H. White (chairman), H. Trimble, R. Masters, MP„ H. J, Eaves, A.' Lees, F. Hosltin, ft. J. Dears. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that during the Interim he had made temporary and relieving appointments aa ft^Jilo^s: iMcs. Kilder, assistant; Central, Miss Fugle, assistant; TEACHERS SELECTION COMMITTEE. The Teachers Selection Committee recommended ttat the following recommendations re staffing by the senior inspector be adopted: Okahukura, sole teacher, Miss Devereaux; Muskcrs, sole teacher, Miss Mcßae; Aukcpae, sole teacher, Miss West; RWerlea, assistant, Miss Hill; Denbigh, sole teacher, Miss Frost; Mahirakau, sole teacher. Miss Dryden. Various other positions will be advertised. That in consecruence of the state of his health, Mr. Mcßean be relieved of his position as third assistant at the Central School. That further consideration of Mr. Ballantyne's report on the amended regulations for the staffing of schools be deferred until the return of the senior inspector. , That Mr. Ballantyne's report on the teacher at Matemateonga,. be received, and that the Matemateonga school be closed until the beginning of 1921. The letter from the vice-president of the Training College, containing a list of completed shidents, was received. That application' be made to the Department to sanction the appointment of an additional organising teacher. That the following schools 'be excluded from the list of schools under the organising teachers: Mlml now being grade 3a and Otunul, Paraketu Valley, Pembroke, Denbigh and Arawhata, on account of tte efficiency of the teachers. Tte report was adopted.

MANUAL AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE. The Manual and Technical Committee reported : That the architect, be directed to haye the walls of the New Plymouth Technical College plastered during the school holidays, and tlat application be made to trie Department for a grant to cover the cost of this work. That the requests contained in Mr. Gray's letter of December 2 be referred to the advisory committee of the Hawera Technical High School. That £lO be donated towards the sports fund of the Hawera Technical nigh School, and a further £11) towards the prize fund, and ttat permission be given to issue a, prospectus provided the cost does not exceed £3O, and that the board regrets that It cannot make any grant towards the Park Tennis Club. That Mr. White's action in the matter of ' fencing round the Hawera Technical Hostel be confirmed. The report was adopted. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. Mr. A,. L. Moore, Director of Technical Education, reported that the roll numbers at the New Plymouth day classes were the same as last montl:. He suggested that the school vacation be from December 13 to February 7. Evening classes closed on November 30. The attendance during the past month had been very bad. The plastering of the; walls In the commercial rooms was badly needed, while the whole school, with the exception of the new wing, required color-washing throughout. The new scale of salaries was out, and lie strongly urged the board to grant an increase to the office staff. He a3ked the board to allocate £lO towards the annual prizes for the school.

At Stratford and Eltham classes had now finished for the year.

We have to thank Mr. Trimble for a gift of a large number of eucalypti. Socomdajry.—With the senior classes the work has been largely revision in preparation for the examinations now being held. Teachers' Saturday Classes—These have been continued during the month, and an examination on the work covered during the year will be held at the beginning of next .month.

Teachers' Cqrrespopdence Course.—The last set of questions has been sent out and the answdrs returned. Teachers requiring practical certificates In science subjects for examination purposes have been directed to apply for same. Mr. "Burley has been engaged during the month on secondary school examination.

HAWERA TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL. Mr. A. Gray, director, reported that the attendance at (lie day classes was as follows: Agriculture, 9; engineering, 14; literary, senior, 22, junior 1!);, commercial, junior 23, intermediate 20, senior 0, a total of 113. At the evening classes the numbers were:' English, arithmetic, 56; accountancy, 5; bookkeeping, 10; shorthand and typing,, 21; woodwork, 23; engineering, 7; pl'nrmacy, 5; art work, 3; St. John's Ambulance (men), 10, ladies 3. An additional sum of £363 16s M had been granted for engineering apparatus. The new school was proceeding satisfactorily, and there appeared to be every prospect that they would be able to shift In some time nest year. Good progress was bMng made with the building. General enquiries have come to hand regarding boarding. The boys paid a yisit to the farm of Air. Haseltlne. where they had received practical instruction In plonigling, and were shown the great value of herd testing and culling. A suitable area of the lostel property was also ploughed by the boys of the class, under the supervision of Mr. Betar. Part of the land ploughed was being utilised for experiments and demonstrations. Ho would be glad if the fencing of the plot would be proceeded with. The school would break up for the summer vacation on Friday, December 17. On tie previous evening the school concert will be held. The boys' sports will be held .on December 8, and the girls' on December 10. ARCHITECT'S RETORT. The architect reported as follows: Stratford Technical High School.—The wi.rl; is progressing; the foundation wall Is rather a big job, owing to the fall of the site and the area the building takes up. More men will probably be available In the New Year. Hinveva Tec! ulcal High School.—This work is going on well. The main building is nearly up to the first floor, and as long as we can get cement there should be no delay In the work.

Hawera Boy's Hostel.—This work is also progressing well, and should be ready in January. It will he necessary to sec about the furnishing immediately. Manaia New School.—A start has hedn made with the emulations. Arrangements were made to hire a concrete mixer from the Kaupokonul Dairy Company. We expect to receive this machine next .Monday. We have been unable to start the Man;;orei new school, through not. getting a transfer of the site. This rataler has caused a delay of four weeks.

In regard to new residences, no reply has has been received up to the present from the Department in regard to the increased grant to cover the cost of letting by contract. Washhousea with tubs and coppers lave been installed at Cardiff, Kalmiro and Egmo.'it Village.

General repairs to the Kaimlro school and residence received attention. The, work included one tank at the school, two .small fates for entrances to the residence, and material for a large gate, the teacher .-mo cunmittee agreeing to find posts and erect s;, me.

»<essaiy repairs have been attended to at Kgirnit Vlllap- Lower Mangorel and nt ;he Central res'dence.

I have carefully gone into the question of adilllxos to the Mangatokl residence ns requested by the teacher. Owing-to much more i ecessary work I am unable to recommend this request be granted at prwent. Under the present circumstances I think 'h!s matter can well be held over for sovevjl jiiT-som. One vital reason Is that there would fe nc chance of getting a srmt made ly v»v> Deportment

The workshop plant is In good order. «nd a considerable amount of Joinery is helms turned out. We have close on SO raea employed at present, nearly all on new work. I anticipate labor and material will be better early in the new year. TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT. The truant officer (Mr. P. Pascoe) reported tlat he had sent out thirty notices tu parents on account of their children's Irregular attendance, and had visited the following schools: Manala, Otakeho, Auroa, Knpuni, Tawliiti, :Normanby,_ Te Itotl, EJtham and' Hawera Convents. The attendance at ttese schools was satisfactory. Returns for November from all the schools were not yet to hand. The returns to hand so far show goodl a||tendsincea except Mr wrlcli there was still a great deal. In charge of building work he had put in twdlve days at Manala new school, four days at Cardiff and six days at Mahoe. The report was received. INSPECTORS' REPORTS. Mr. VV. A. Ballautyne, acting senior inspector, reported that the floor space of the Motunul School allowed 12 feot seating accommodation for 81 children, while the roll number was 85,»with an average attendance of 75. Although when all were present the accommodation was taxed to the utmost, he did not think the Department would consider favorably tie nuesMori of? additions—Received. Mr. Ballantyno also reported that during last winter a class In chemistry was conducted at the Stratford Technical School, under Mr. Johnson, agricultural instructor, assisted by Mr. Burley. The class was attended regularly by eleven students, including many employees of merchants dealing in artificial fertilisers. Much good work was done. Throughout the course, the 'students evinced great Interest in their work, and had expressed their willingness to continue this study throughout a series of years If some definite aim or goal was placed before them. He recommended that some authoritative evidence of their ability to analyse and teat manures should "be Issued.—Received' and adopted.

COURTENAY STREET PLANS. The committee, comprising the elialnnan, Messrs. S. G. Smith and R. J. Deare, reported that they had met and considered a plan submitted by the architect. They recommended that the room on ,the north-east corner marked cloak room be set aside as a room for medical and dental examination, and to allow of it being placed between the two class rooms on that aide. Provision should be made for heating the building, preferably by hot water with a boiler, which w.Mild use up ail the refuse of the school, and close attention should be paid to the equipment, as the school would be used as a model in methods of infant instruction.

They also recommended that the plan with the alteration suggqstad be sent to She Department wilt: application for a grant to cover cost of erection.—Received and adopted.

ELTHAM SCHOOL Messrs. H. Trimble and R. Masters submitted a report on the Eltliam School, the lighting of which is unsatisfactory. After mentioning repairs that were required, the report concludes: A new site had been provided for the school, and Its removal was one of tre works recommended for the end of the five-year period for which the board was asked by the Department to make suggestions. Under the circumstances therefore they saw no reason to depart' from this recommendation at the present time.—Received.

MATAPU REQUIREMENTS. Messrs. Eaves anil Lees reported on baring visited the Matapu School, where the porch was very unsuitable. The committee were also anxious to instal a septic tank system, helng willing to guarantee the expense of erecting a windmill.—The matter was referred to Messrs. Lees and Eaves. TEACHERS' MOVEMENTS. The following resignations were accpted: Mi.« D. Hurst, probationer at Ka,ponga; Mr. J.. Main, sole teacher, Matemateoi.'.ja ; .Mrs. J. S. Dunn, assistant, Stntf rd D.H.cj,; Miss n. Aiwire\ s, assi; -...t Boof'i office. Leave of absencv was grouted tj Miss L. Haudscomhe, assistant at Norfolk; Miss Guppy, assistant, Stanley: «i."s Al KcKenzio, assistant, Hawera Technical High School. GENEIUL. The matter of the providing of Montesorri ariar.'ilus was referred to n ru»irnl*too Comprising the chairman, Messrs. Trimble, Smith, Lees and the senior inspector. It was resolved to as!; the Dep.-.rtmem if they had come to a decision !n respect to a site at Hillsborough. It was resolved to make a grant to the Mangorei Committee; to cover the cost of material for subdivlng fences provided the committee find the labor. The Board resolved that it would make application to the Department for the subsidy required to build a shelter shed, provided the Toko School Committee forward a cheque for half the proposed cost. The complaint from the Bell Block Committee concerning the extraction of children's teeth Is to be forwarded to the Department. The Douglas School Committee's reques-. for 21ft of 12-inch pipe was granted. The application by residents for a schoo. at Glenn Road was referred to the senior inspector to report on. The senior inspector is to be asked to report on the state of the accommodation at the Mokau, Mokola, and Ackland Schoo.s. The Okato School Committee wrote pointing out that the total value of the area of lowlying land which the Education Department wished them to dispose of would only amount to about £2O or £25, and would not be much aid in purchasing the new sections, and if sold would necessitate the horses being accommodated In the new area, and thus spoil Its value as a playing area. A copy of the reply will be forwarded to «he Department. The report from Mr. Instill, organising teacher, concerning Haparua and Waltawhena Schools was referred to the senior inspector to report on. The' matter of fencing the horse paddock at Mangahume was referred to Mr. Eavei to ropovt on.

The Stratford School Committee notified that a contract had been let to Mr. Joseph Hale, of Stratford, to erect the girls' shelter shed; contract price £"i!)7.

The action of the Kaponga, Oaonni. Te Klri, Aukoyac, Fltzroy, Rahotu and JVenisnhu School Committees in closing their schools on account of epidemics, was confirmed.

The following appointments on School Coramittces were confirmed: Lepper, Messrs. E. W. Wheatley (chairman), H. H. Grayling and S. A. Campbell, in place of Messrs. Hueratep (chairman). Harvey, and Stewart resigned: Mokoln, Mr. A. Agostinetl, In place of Mr. A. T. Main resigned; Oeo, Messrs. Oldham and Simpson in place of Messrs. JAnes and Harrop resigned; Te Whakarae, Mr. S. H. Barnelt, in place of Mr. S. ISishr.va, rcsisned. Subject to tl-e approval of the Board's architect, permission was granted to the I'unlwhakau School Committee to make required alterations to the floor of the school. Matters at Oeo School were referred to Mr. Eaves and to the architect to rejiort on. The matter of a residence at Ohura mis referred to the architect to report on.