EDUCATION BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1921, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki Education Board met yesterday. Present; Messrs. P. J. White (chairman), H. Trimble, H. T. Eaves, 8. G. Smith, M.P., A. Lees, R. Masters, M.P., and R. J. Deare. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. F. Hoskin. TEACHERS’ APPOINTMENTS, ETC, The chairman reported that during the interim he had to make the following relieving and temporary appointments:—lnglewood, Miss I. E. Perrott, assistant; Stratford, Mr. R. L. Mcllroy, head teacher; Central, Miss E. L. Meyers, assistant; Okato, Miss T. E. EHioit, assistant; Waiongono, Miss M. E. Hodder, sole teacher; West End, Miss H. Dryden, assistant: Kaimiro, Miss M. Paxli, assistant; Tahora. Miss H. Deader, head teacher'; Auroa, Miss M. K. Spence, assistant; Tahora, Miss E. Nitz, assistant; Opunake, Miss P. Murray, head teacher; Marokopa, Mr. W. F. Faulkner, sole teacher; Waitara, Mr. J. C. Hall, head teacher; Waitara, Miss T. Simpson, assistant. The following resignations were accepted:— J. Nolan, sole teacher. Ackland; R. A. Surgenor, first assistant, Auroa; C. R. Moverley, pupil teacher, Frankley; M. H. Colquhoun, third secondary assistant, Stratford D.H.S.; H. Belskaw, agricultural instructor, Hawera T.H.S. Leave of absence was approved as under on account of illness: G. M. Blandford, Tahora; R. Syme, agricultural instructor; I. Therkleson, sole teacher, Marakopa; M. Riordan, assistant, Inglewood; B. W. B. Hunt, headmaster, Oeo; F. Tyrer, head teacher, Stratford D.H.S.; A. E. Gilliver, probationer, Ngaere; M. A. Turner, sole teacher. Lower Mangorei; R. F. McCartie, pupil teacher, Hawera; Lucy M. Carroll, probationer, Hawera; Eileen Long, trainee, Hawera T.H.S.; Bertha Earl, cookery instructress, H.T.H.S. ; S. Wylie, headmaster, Waitara.

The teachers’ selection committee recommended the following appointments: Tongaporutu, sole teacher, position to be offered to Miss Boon; Tokirima, solo teacher, offer to Miss Hayes of Rangi; Waiongona, sole teacher, Mrs. M. H. Cartwright; Tat ora, head teacher, Mr. J. Craig (temporarily) ; Kaimiro, assistant. Miss H. J. Harford; Kahotu, assistant, Miss A. McHardle to be transferred from Otakeho; Opunake, head teacher; advertise position with specifications that a male teacher will be appointed; Otakeho, first assistant. Miss Rawlinson; Okato, second assistant, Miss G. T. Elliott; Auroa, first assistant. Miss E. F. Farquhar; West End, seventh assistant. Miss Harper; Opatu, Miss V. Old; Puniho, Mrs. Pearson. ARCHITECT’S REPORT. The architect (Mr. C. H. Lowe) submitted the following report:— Hawera Technical High School.—■With the exception of the special fittings and furniture, the whole of this structure is completed. It will be as well to have the place occupied almost at once and not wait for a grant to cover the cost of the science laboratory fittings. Through carrying out the whole work with our own staff the board have saved the department a considerable amount. Stratford Technical High School.—The concrete work is completed ready for plastering, and the roof is ready for the tiles. Manaia New School.—We are well on towards completion with this work and the building should be ready- for occupation by the end of this month. Koru New School.—This building is well on ( towards completion. Movable Residences.—As instructed, we have two of these movable, residences for country teachers in hand. As soon as these are completed I propose to construct the small movable class-room for Astwocd. In the latter case there may be some difficulty in getting the sections to Astwood owing to part of the way being only a sledge track: Moeroa. -The joinery and building material for a small school granted by the department (material only) was sent- for this work. We had the framing all cut out ready for erection. REPAIRS. Ratapiko.—General painting repairs to both the school and residence were completed. Washhouse conveniences were also Installed at the Same time. The residence was painted inside nad put. and the school painted outside and inside except the walls above dado. Tke place is now in good order generally. Norfolk.—The general repairs and painting of the Norfolk school inside and outside were also completed. Huirangl.—General painting repairs to the Huirangi school and residence are receiving attention. Washhouse conveniences are also being attended to at the same time. Waitara School.—The lining of the walls of the woodwork room of the Technical School bas been attended to, and a heater put in. This room should be quite comfortable for teaching puruoses; there is plenty of light and ventilation. We also put in a heater in one of the class rooms in the main building. The report also referred to work carried out at the present Hawera. Technical School, and at Eginont Village, Frankley side school, and Tatu.

Workshop.—The joinery for the Okato residence was completed, three large benches for the Hawera Higl? School and sundry furniture were also completed. During the next month the joinery staff will be engaged on the movable residences and their whole time will be taken up with this work. General.—Applications have been made for the following grants: Removal of the Hurimoana School to a permanent site, detached infants’ two class rooms at Fitzroy, detached class room at Waitara, and remodelling of one of the class rooms on the lines suggested by the department. These matters have been more or less dealt with by the Minister on his recent visit. ATTENDANCE. The attendance officer (Mr. G. Pascoe) reported : Forty-two irregular attendance notices have been sent out to parents of children attending primary schools. The monthly school returns for June show very little irregularity. The following schools have been visited during the month, and except for a little sickness the attendance is good;—Ararata, Cardiff, Eltkaflu, Finnerty, Fraser, Hawera, Kaponga, Koru, Mangatoki, Mere Mere, Mimi, Mokoia, Ngaere, Ohangai, Opunake, Pukearuhe, Puniho, Riverlea, Rotokare, Stratford, Tawhiti, Tikorangi, Uruti, Waiuu, Waingongora, Whakamara, Whareroa and New Plymouth and Elthani convents. During tangis, the Maori childrep are still a bit troublesome, but their attendance generally has improved during the last two years. Three charges against parents for their children’s irregular attendance have been heard, and they have been convicted and ordered to pay costs. Night Classs.—l have put in a good deal of time with the four schools, and find the attendance is unsatisfactory. I have sent out final warnings to 65 parents. Fourteen summons against parents who have been previously warned are set down for hearing in July. By being able to give more time to these classes, I hope to straighten them up and have a better attendance. OKATO SCHOOL. The Senior Inspector (Mr. J. A. Valentine) reported he had visited Okato School with a view to enquiring into the accommodation, and found that conditions were very uncomfortabld for both pupils and teachers. The roll number of the school is now 108 (the report stated). In the smaller room the infant classes (43 In all) are taught by an assistant and probationer. In the larger room 55 pupils in the standard classes are taught by the head teacher and a junior assistant. The result is that the assistant has on fine days to take her classes Into a poor shed outside, or on wet days into u porch attached to the school. Neither room in the school is well ventilated, and the porch is worse in this regard. It is plain, therefore, that the teachers work under serious disadvantages and that the school is, in the senior room especially, badly overcrowded. The average attendance for 19.(8 was 75, for 1919, 82, for 1920, 84. for the March quarter, 1921, 93, and for the June quarter, in spite of mumps and measles, 93. These figures show that attendance at the school Is steadily, if slowly, increasing, and I think that ti|3 board can make out a strong

case In favor of a grant for additions to the school. The overcrowding is not serious enough to warrant the erection of an additional room, but I suggest that the board’s architect should be asked to say if the building can be remodelled and added to so that three rooms may bo provided for the school. If he reports that this can be done, then I recommend that application be made to the department for a grant for the purpose. It may be pointed out that as the attendance at Puniho has now fallen considerably ttere is no need to use any grant made for additions there. This grant might be diverted for use at Okato. lam assured that possibly only two pupils now attending Okato might attend any of the neighboring schools in which there is room. It was decided that application be made to the department on the lines of the report. GENERAL. Advice was received from the Department that the application for a grant for remodelling and additions at Mokau could not be approved. The architect and Mr. Masters were appointed to confer as to a suitable site for the Ngaere residence. The department advised that in view of the present financial conditions the authority for the erection of a residence at Hillsborough •must remain in abeyance at present. The question of placing a movable school at Turoto Road was referred to the senior Inspector. The architect was instructed to report on the Lepperton residence and the necessity for making additions. It was decided that the architect be asked to prepare a sketch plan and estimate for making alterations to the boardT office, showing estimated actual cash outlay required. On the recommendation of the finance committee it was decided that enquiries be made in regard to securing a suitable site at Whareroa. The Motunui committee wrote renewing the application for additions io the school, and it was decided that the chairman and other enembers of the board meet the committee at 1 the school to discuss the matter.