TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1921, Page 7

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was continued yesterday. TEACHERS’ MOVEMENTS. The following teachers’ resignations were reported-.—Miss M. Fleming, assistant, Oaonui; Mr. H. Eason, head teacher, Tariki; Miss A. Arms, sole teacher, Radnor; Miss I. Craig, assistant, Otakeho; Miss B. Frost, sole teacher, Denbigh Road. Leave of absence for varying periods had been granted to the following teachers: —-Miss A. Hilles, assistant, Manaia; Miss E. Gibson, assistant, Vogeltown; Mr. E. Mcßean, assistant, Central; Mis A. Scott, assistant, Toko; Miss S. Hickey, head teacher, Opunake; Miss M. Hickey, assistant, Opunake; Miss W. Chapman, sole teacher, Awakino; Miss E. Belcher, assistant, Finnerty; Miss B. Earl, assistant, Hawera Technical School; Mr. J. Marshall, head teacher, Otakeho. The chairman reported having made the following relieving and temporary appointments: —Moeroa, Miss D. Bocock, sole teacher; Okaiawa, Miss L. Parrott, assistant; Urenul, Mr. C. Stephenson, head teacher; Westown, Miss I. Hodder, assistant; Tututa.wa, Miss H. Hodder, sole teacher; Niho Nlho, Miss I. Earp, sole teacher; Rawhitiroa, Miss C. Reid, assistant; Mimi, Miss J. Cassie, assistant ; Whareroa, Miss K. Horner, assistant; Tataraimaka, Miss E. Giddy, assistant; Rataplko, Miss H. Dryden, assistant; Tokirima, Miss N. Hayes, assistant; Makaka, Miss P. Nicoll, assistant; Meremere, Miss E. Sutton, assistant ; Vogeltown, Miss I. Mountford, aslsstant; Mamaia, Miss N. Collier, assistant; Tariki, Miss M. B. Fugle, head teacher; Marokopa, Miss I. Therkleson, sole teacher; Koru, Miss M. Parli, assistant; Matapu, Miss D. Simpson, head teacher; Hapurua and Waitewhena, Mr. G. Graham, sole teacher; Mahirakau, Miss C. L. Barnett, sole teacher; Manaia, Miss L. Walker, assistant; Waitara, Miss L. Laurent, assistant; Toko; Miss Q. Divehall, assistant; Matemateaonga, Miss I. Therkleson, sole teacher; Egmont Village, Miss H. Carroll, assistant; Matlere, Miss L. Riddell, assistant; Mangahume, Miss E. M. Freer, sole teacher; Oaonui, Miss P, Murray, assistant; Opunake, Miss E. D. Leech, head teacher; Opunake, M.'ss M. E. Leech, assistant; Tokirima, Mr. L. J. McDonald, sole teacher; Awakino, Miss T. Simpson, sole teacher; Otakeho, Miss I. Craig, head teacher; Otakeho, Miss J. Wilson, assistant. ARCHITECT’S REPORT.

Mr. C. H. Moore (the board's architect) reported : Stratford Technical High School. —This work is making good progress. A quantity of cement is now on hand, a'nd there should be no further trouble from lack of material. Hawera Technical High School.—Tills job continues to go on well. Hawera Boys’ Hostel.—We have completed the Boys’ Hostel ready for occupation as soon as the committee complete the furnishing. Manaia New School.—The above new scfiool is well in hand. Plenty of material is on the site and arriving, including all the window and door frames. Toko Additions and Re-modelling.—The whole work will be completed sufficiently to open school on Monday, February 21. Ahititi, Reunoval of School.—The school is removed to the new site, and probably school will be able to start again in a week’s time. General.—Dufing my recent visit to Wellington I went Into several matters in connection with new works. In regard to Courtenay Street infants’ school, the Department ! will not allow the medical and dental room, | even when tte suggestion was made that pro- • bably the cost would be found locally, although more latitude Is allowed in the design of the front. The general planning of the head teacher’s room in cutting out the medical and dental room also cuts out the caretaker’s room and makes it more difficult to work in the boiler house. The whole matter has been dealt with In a most inconsistent manner. TEACHERS’ SELECTION COMMITTEE. The Teachers’ Selection Committee's report stated:— That the Okahukura school be closed, and that application be made to the Department for permission to appoint an assistant at the Ongarue school to Turoto Road. That application be made to the Department for permission to appoint an assistant at the Ongarue school in view of the increased attendance. That the following appointments be made:— Tarurutangi, sole teacher, defer till inspectors make a recommendation; Tu.utawa, sole teacher, Mr. C. H. Short; Matapu, head teacher. Miss K. M. McCarty; Urenul, head teacher, Miss A. I. Mackey; Koru, assistant, Miss H. Carroll; Mimi, assistant, Miss B. Frost; Oaonui, assistant. Miss S. K. Scott; Rawhitiroa, assistant, referred to Mr. Smith to confer with senior inspector; Whareroa, Miss C. Reid; Okaiawa, Miss I. G. Hodder. That Miss Ellis, probationer, Lepperton, be transferred to Waitara school as a pupil teacher. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE. The Manual and Technical Committee recommended that Mr. Skelton be appointed senior engineering instructor at the New Plymouth Technical School; that Miss Wolferstan be appointed cookery instructress of the New Plymouth Technical School from February 1, 1921; that Mrs. Moore be appointed part time instructress in home nursing at the New Plymouth Technical School from February 1, 1921, salary according to scale; that the Manual and Technical Committee and Mr. Eaves meet the Hawera Advisory Committee on Tuesday, February 22, 1921; that the Directors of Technical Schools be instructed to forward their claims for capitation through the board’s office; that Messrs. White, Smith, Deare and Trimble meet the advisory committee of the New Plymouth Technical School and discuss the suggestion of extending the powers of that committee— Adopted. ARCHITECT’S REPORT ON CONFERENCE. The Board’s architect (Mr. C. H. Moore) reported on the recent conference of boards’ architects and secretaries, as follows: — The above conference was held on the suggestion of the Minister of Education to enable a discussion to take place, and some definite scheme of charges be made in adjusting (matters between the board and the Department. Mr. Spencer (Departmental officer) presided. As a result of the whole conference it was proved beyond a doubt that day work was much better and cheaper than the contract system, and I understand that every encouragement will be given to Boards to put down workshops and plant. Boards’ Architects Conference. —I have to report this conference was cancelled owing to clashing with the Department’s conference. The architects’ conference is to be held at Wanganui next year. 1 HIGH SCHOOL FOR ELTHAM. Mr. Ira J. Bridger, on behalf of the Eltham School Committee, made application for the establishment of a district high school at Eltham. It was intimated that 21 pupils could be enrolled for this department. It was resolved to make strict inquiries into the claims of Eltham. For this a written guarantee must be obtained from parents that at least 20 pupils woll attend the secondary department for at least two years. GENERAL. The senior inspector’s report on the application for the establishment of a new’ school at Rangl was received, and the department is to be asked to recognise a school there. It was decided that a wire be sent to the Department, pointing out the urgency of the matter of a new site at Tawhiti, and asking for an early reply. Application !.s to be made to the Department for a grant to build a movable residence at Tokirima in view of the fact that the attendance at that school has gone down. NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS. The following candidates were granted Senior National Scholarships in compliance with the regulations tenable at the undermentioned schoolsßarnett, Chas. 0., £lO, New Plymouth Boys' High School; Bellringer, Raymond, £l6, New Plymouth Boys’ High School; Brodie, John, £lO, New Plymouth Boys’ High School; Corkl.ll, F. J., .£lO, New Pipmouth Boys’ High School; Downes. Alice M., £lO, board £35, New Phriwuth Giala' £*£ SewlJi

Gray, Maxwell 0., £lO, Hawera Technical High School; Innes, Reginald M., £lO, board £35, Stratford D.H.S.; Mackay, James D., £lO, New Plymouth Boys’ High School; Olson, Ada M., £lO, board £35, New Plymouth Girls’ High School; Petek', Amy I, A., £lO, board £35, New Plymouth Girls’ High School; Thomson, Helen C., £lO, New Plymouth Girls’ High School. Junior National Scholarships were awarded as follows: —Cartwright, Ena 8., £5, New Plymouth Girls’ High School; Dolby, Richard M., £5, New Plymouth Boys’ High School; Irwin, Raymond M., £5, Stratford District High School; Mason, Eric 8., £5, board £35, New Plymouth Boys’ High School; Moverley, Albert, £5, New Plymouth Boys’ High School; Rutherford, Wm. L., £5, board £35, Nelson College; Shaw, Clayton G., £5, New Plymouth Boys’ High School; Stromborn, Claude H., £5, board £35, New Plymouth Boys’ High School; Thomas, Harold J., £5, Stratford District High School; Wright, John, £5, board £35, Stratford District High School. FITZROY’S WANTS. Rev. J. F. Martin and Mr. G. Goldsworthy, representing the Fitzroy School Committee, waited upon the board in respect of matters requiring attention at the Fitzroy school. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., briefly Introduced the deputation. The Rev. Martin stated that tw o matters were urgently required:—Further accommodation, and the removal of the school residence to another site. As regards accommodation, this was entirely inadequate. In the senior room the floor space was 600 square feet, and there were 78 pupils, so that each pupil was allowed 7% square feet; in the infants’ room the figures were 700 square feet, 97 pupils, average floor space per pupil 8 square feet; and in the west wing 640 square feet, 74 pupils, and an average floor space per pupil of 8 2-3 square feet. The east wing was not overcrowded, as 37 pupils were allowed 640 square feet floor space. At, the opening of the school last Wednesday, the roll number was 290, an Increase of 40 on the opening number for 1920. He considered that the Cmims of the suburban schools were even greater than those of the central town schools, and Fitzroy was growing to such an extent that in the interests of health and the education of a great number of scholars, the board should make the necessary forward move at once. Then they wanted the school residence moved to make room for tennis courts, a football ground, and a cricket pitch for the elder boys, especially, who had to have some place in which “to let off steam.” The school committee had recently spent between £6O and £7O In asphalting the boys’ grounds, and further Improvements were under contemplation. The committee proposed appealing to the parents and friends of the school in the near future for £lOO for these purposes. The speaker also stated that nearly 300 children had to drink from two fountains. In the interests of public health this defect should be remedied. The architect (Mr. C. H. Moore) explained that alterations to the fountains were shortly to be carried out. After a discussion on the matters brought forward by the deputation, the following resolution was carried on the motion of Mr. Masters, seconded by Mr. Trimble:—“That the matter of accommodation at the Fitrzoy School bo referred to the chairmau and Messrs. Smith and Deare (as town members), with power to act.” The deputation then thanked the board and withdrew. NEW COURTENAY STREET SCHOOL. Dr. W. T. Anderson (Director of Education) wrote acknowledging receipt of the board’s application Tor a grant and plan of the proposed school to replace the existing building. The plan, he stated, contained features of which the Department could not approve, so advantage was taken by the Department’s architect of Mr. Moore’s visit to Wellington to discuss the plans, and an amended plan had been worked out by the architects. Would the Education Board arrange for fresh plans to be drawn accordingly and submit an amended application?

The chairman reported that, together with the board’s architect, be had interveiwed Mr. Spencer (departmental officer) in connection with the board’s plans for the new Infants' School at Courtenay Street. Mr. Spencer admitted that a more up-to-date structure, and one of which the board could be proud, was required. It was essential that the new school, as it will be so riear the headquarters of the board, should be a model one. To that end provision had been made for a room for ttie private medical examination of children. Notwithstanding that the Government were interesting themselves in child welfare, the Department took exception to the inclusion of such a. room in the new school. The chairman thought that the board might 'rightly insist on the provision of this room as a desirable feature in view of the feelings of the public and of the Government in child welfare. The proposed medical room would only cost between £l7O and £2OO. Finally, the following resolution was carried on the motion of Mr. Lees, seconded by Mr. Smith: “That in view of all the circumstances the board is unanimously of the opinion that the Department might well agree to make a grant for the rebuilding of the Courtenay Street School according to the plans submitted by the board.” GENERAL. The application of the West End School Committee for a movable partition In the gymnasium for convenience In teaching classes was referred to a sub-committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs. Smith and Deare, The action of the Tarurutangi School Committee in closing the school owing to illness was confirmed. The matter of making a visit to the backblock schools came up for discussion, and the following resolution, proposed by Mr. Smith and seconded by Mr. Deare, was carried : “That, if possible, arrangements be made for board members to visit the Backblock schools during the autumn.” Accounts amounting to £15,087 14s 2d were passed for payment.