EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1921, Page 7

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki Education Board met yesterday. Present; Messrs. P. J. H. White (chairman). H. Trimble, R. J. Deare, A. Lees, H. J. Eaves, and F. Hoskin. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. S. G. Smith and R. Masters, M’s.P. TEACHERS’ APPOINTMENTS ETC. The chairman reported that during the interim he had to make the following relieving appointments:— Normanby, Miss S. E. Farquhar, assistant; Marokopa, Mr. D. Roberts, sole teacher; Esmont Village, Mrs. J. Huristone, assistant; Inglewood, Miss I. Perrott, assistant; Wa.itara, Mr. ,T. C. Hall, head teacher; Waitara, Mjss T. Simpson, assistant; West End, Miss H Dryden, assistant; Midhirst, Miss P. Murray, assistant; Kapuni, Miss N. V. Collier, head teacher; Stratford, Miss N. V. Collier, assistant; Albert, Miss I. Therkleson, sole teacher. The teachers' selection committee recommended as follows, that after considering the Senior Inspector’s remarks the following appointments be made: —Opatu, sole teacher, referred to chairman and secretary to arrange; Okcke, sole teacher, G. W. Graham, present occupant of position ; Ongarue, assistant, Mrs. E <*. Evernden ; Mldbirst, Ist assistant. Miss M. B. Fugle appointment to dat-e from February 1. 1022; Waitara, head teacher, Mr. W. A Swinbourn. The following resignations were received: — F. Tyrer, director, Stratford Technical High School; M. Blewman, assistant teacher, Carrington.

Leave of absence was approved as follows: S. Cameron, head teacher, Kaimata, to October 2. C. Read, assistant. Whareroa, to October 16, V. Old, sole teacher, Turoto Road, to Oct 31; A. E. Read, head teacher, Motunui, to September 27; M. Walker, pupil-teacher Fitzroy, to October 25; A. McLean. probationer Opunake, to September 26; M. Boyde, pupli-teacher West End, to October 6; M. Breen, sole teacher Ohura, to September 29; 1 Taylor, assistant teacher Stratford, to October 9; J. Auld, head teacher Egmont Village, to October 31; I. Therkleson, sole teacher Matemateaonga, to October 17; A. T. Honore, head teacher to September 25; D. D. Henderson, assistant, 2 half days for exam; J. C. Hall, acting head teacher W%ltara, 2 days for exam. ARCHITECT’S REPORT. The architect (Mr. C. H. Moore) reported:— Stratford Technical High School. —This work is progressing steadily. The plasterers are now making better progress. I would suggest that some interest could be taken in the general surroundings with a view to having the front and the sports ground graded. If the grounds could be given attention now, it means that the playing area would be ready when the new school is occupied. The lists for furniture and fittings were completed and application for a grant forwarded. Olfato New Residence (in concrete). —The plastering work is completed and I expect to have the men back from Ngaere this week to finish up the building. Ngaere New Residence (in wood). —This building is also well on towards completion. Matapu.—The new latrines and septic tank and other work authorised is well on towards completion. The committee have agreed to pay the cost of the porch (shell only) asked by them, to be erected on the north side of the school. This wßi’k is in hand. Opunake Residence.—ln regard to the request of the school committee to have various matters attended to at the teachers’ residence, I would recommend that the place be painted outside and the kitchen and scullery painted, range parts renewed or a new range if found necessary, and also a new bath. In regard to the hot water service, I can only suggest that i; can be put in if the committee and teachers wii' pay for it. In regard to the washlouse conveniences. As there are no further grants from the Department for this work, I am unable to make any recommendations in regard to the copper and tubs. Carrington School.—Plans have been prepared and application made to the Department for a grant to cover the cost of the proposed alterations to the Carrington School. I further considered the matter and came to the conclusion ti'gt it would even be better to turn the present building round at. right angles to the present position and add on the extra porch etc. I would ask to ha.ve this confinmed by the board. Lepperton Residence. —Alternate plans have also been completed for additions to the above residence or a detached movable bedroom. The present residence is within 12ft. of the boundary, and the general construction .does not lend itself for a very convenient addition to the main building. Tie report also dealt with repair work which had been carried out at Tarata, VVaitui, and Tikorangi. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. The attendance officer (Mr. G. Pascoe) reported : During the month 36 irregular attendance notices have been sent to parents of children attending primary schools. For the month of August 42 schools failed to send in a return. 1 have visited the following schools: Ahititi, Bell Block, Carrington, Denbeigh, Frankley, Huiakama, Huirangl, Huiroa, Koru, Lepperton. Mt. Messenger, Norfolk, Okoke, Okau, Pembroke, Ratapiko, Tariki, Toko, Vogeltown, Uruti, Westown, Waitara Convent, Stratford Convent, and Inglewood Convent.

Heavy colds affected the attendance in one or two schools during August, I»ut since the holidays the attendance at the schools visited has been very good. The monthly returns also show very little irregularity. PROPOSED SCHOOL, GLEN RXJAD. A report was made by the Senior Inspector on the proposal regarding the eatablisi’inent of a school at Glen Road. He stated:—' According to the forms sent in there are 47 children living along this road. Of these 3 are 14 years of agt, and 13 are Maoris. The distances given on these forms seem, so far as 1 can ascertain, from measurements made on the Lands Office maps, somewhat exaggerated. but for all that no child on the road has less than 3 miles to travel to school, those at the upper end of the road being about 3 miles from Kapuni and those at the lower end nearly the same distance from Manaia. The other children have to travel up from 3 to 4(A miles to r<ach either Kapuni or Manaia. The proposed site is about 2% miles from either end of the road, and if as school were built on it, no child would have to walk more than about 2’4, miles and the greater majority would be much nearer —some only a few chains away. Hence at first sight and in normal times it would appear that the setuern here have a good case for the erection of a school, especially in view of the fact that the attendance of nearly all of the children just now, either at Manaia or at Kapqnl, is more or less broken owing to the long distances to be travelled.

My recommendation is that every effort, to secure the conveyance of these children to 1 the schools already existing should be exhausted before any application is made? to the Department for a grant for a school, if after strenuous efforts to provide for conveyance, this method cannot be carried out, then the board will have to reconsider the position. I would point out that a conveyance! starting at either end and carrying all the children tb a school would earn at least 22s pd per day, and possibly this could be supplemented by newspaper and mail and parcel dfistribuiion - The chairman said careful inquiry been made in regard to the position In this district. The latest suggestion from the residents was that the board sfcouW’ P ul ' chase a motor car for the coaveyaa<X e w children, but this would create a precedent which would not be desirable. He thought lr was a case for a movable school, ’ The report was referred back to the sienior inspector, who was instructed to confer 5 with the architect on the question, and io report to the chairman. HALF-TIME SCHOOLS.

A sub-committee consisting of Messrs Trimble and Deare, and the Senior Inspector, reported having considered the questions were referred to them with reference to tlue Hapurua and Waitewhena half-time schoollS, and they recommended that these should Ue opened as full-time schools from the beginning of next year. The report As there is no building available at Hapurup we recommend that the Department be askefl to make a grant for the erection of ft rn ' J ' : Ml buUiiUig, aud that it ha ‘JV

land to be leased from one of the settlers m such a position as may be considered most convenient to the residents. Mr. Instill reports that the number of children attending next year will probably be 15 at Hapurua and 16 at Waitewhena. DIFFICULTY ABOUT SITE. Reporting on the question of a site for a school at Wtareroa, Mr. A. Lees stated:— I inspected several suitable sites along with members of the school counmittee, but so far, the owners of the land inspected, have declined to sell, with the exception of one resident, who has promised to consider the matter of putting a price on a section of 4 acres. I again niet the committee and a number of parents an the 10th instant, and explained the difficulty of procuring a suitable site, but none of those present could suggest anything further in the matter. It was decided to communicate with the owner of a property ip view, and request that he put a price on the land. THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT. Mr. Lees reported on an application for additional playing area at Oeo, stating:—The committee undertook to interview the adjoining owner, and submit a proposition to the board for consideration regarding the additional area required and the cost of same. With regard to the school, the two teachers have to teach in one room at present, which carrot be conducive to the best results. The prospects of the school appear to be in the direction of an increased attendance, and it is quite evident the question of putt-ing in a partition will have to be considered by the board. The Senior Inspector was delegated to report on the question of further accommodation at this school.

Mr. Lees r sorted having visited the Matapu school in company with the board’s architect, and discussed with the committee the question of enlarging the porch. Eventually, however, the committee asked for a new porch to be built on the, north side of the school, and they agreed to guarantee the cost of erection. The committee was carrying out improvements in connection with the ground, particularly round the scliool residence. It was also due to the generosity of the residents that the septic tank system was being installed. The following arrangement was made with the Manaia committee in conuection with the erection of gates: Double entrance gates to be erected with wings for a single gate in each wing, on condition that the Manaia Committee contributes £3O towards the cost of erection. A report from the architect and Mr. Lees stated that the following arrangeiment had been come to with the Hawera Technical Advisory Board, in regard to the erection of gates: Front double entrance gates with two side gates for pupils, to be erected apposite the school. Another gate also to be erected for wheel traffic at the east corner of the ground, together with a small wing gate for pupils entrance to engineering shop. The Advisory Committee agreed to erect the necessary fence fronting street In front of school, the proposed fence to be built in cobble stones with top rail In concrete, fence to be 4ft. high. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL. The report of the manual and technical commiittee stated: That the board be recomme.|ied to grant a sum of £1 Is towards the. exjienditure Incurred in holding Technical Education Conference held in May, 1921; that the matter of the additional cost of draining the site for the Stratford Technical High School be referred to Mr. Masters to confer with the department; that applications be called for the position of director at the Technical High School at Stratford, applications to close on November 7, at a salary according to scale; that in view of a circular from the department dealing with instructors’ travelling expenses, the board regrets that it can not pay for meals paid for b/ instructors, if these meals do not come within the provisions of the circular named. The report was adopted. GENERAL. Applications for the establishment of schools at Otarawa Road and Waikiri, were referred to the senior inspector (Mr. J. A. Vai intine) to report on. The secretary (Mr. Thornton) that application had been Jjiude to the department for a grant of £3622 for the erection or two rooms to form the nucleus of a new building at M° tur oa. The department, liqwever had suggested certain alteratiojis, and correspondence was being exchanged on this question. As the result of an application’ from the Frankley Committee for additional playground area, it was decided to apply to the department for a grant. A communication from Huiropgi with reference to additions to the school site was deferred pending the receipt of a report on the circumstances. The Rangi School Committee wrote applying for an increased allowance to cover rent in connection with the building used as a school. It was decided to gpply to the department to make an increased grant. The Lepperton School Committee’s application for permission to place a roil of honor in the school was approved. The chairman reported that tie sub-com-mittee which had previously been appointed to enquire into the question of a site at West End had not been able to meet. It was decided that the chairman and Messrs. Trimble and Deare report to the next meeting of the board on this question.