EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1922, Page 7

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. PAST MONTH’S WORK. The Taranaki Education Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. P. J. H. White (chairman), H. Trimble, W. Lees, and R. J. Deare. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P., R. Masters,, M.P., H. J. Eaves and J. Hoskin. APPOINTMENTS. The following recommendations from the teachers’ selection committee as to appointments were approved:—Awakino, sole teacher, Mrs. A. O. Calvert; Kabul, sole teacher. Miss M. Williams; Kina, sole teacker, Mr. F. Robinson; Marokopa, sole teacher, Mr. R. Landells (conditional) ; Mokau household, sole teacher, Miss T. Sage; Mokau, sole teacher, Mr. C. W. Whittington (conditional) ; Tarata, sole teacher, Mr. F. C. Campbell; York, sole teacher, Mr; A. V. Gilbert; Central, ninth assistant. Miss P. B. Heal; Frank-

ley, first assistant, Miss A. I. McGill; Lincoln, assistant, Miss L. F. Corney; Manaia. ttdrd assistant, Miss F. A. Mullinger; Newall, assistant, leave over; Marco, assistant, readtertise; Ongarue, assistant, Mrs. R. D. Meehan ; Pungarehu, assistant, Miss M. G. Fleming ; Stratford, seventh assistant, Mr. V. Stanton, and Miss D. Martin offered ninth assistantship; Tahora, assistant. Miss Q. Divehall ; Tawhlti, second assistant, Miss H. Hunter; Whareroa, assistant. Miss S. M. Richdale ; Toko, assistant, re-advertlse. That Mr. A. Palmer be transferred from Otangiwai to Tataraimaka. That the chairman be authorised to make the remaining appointments of pupil teachers and probationers as soon as the results of the senior free place and the intermediate examinations are known. That the senior inspector’s report on, and the recommendations for, the appointment of pupil teachers and probationers be adopted. PUPIL TEACHERS AND PROBATIONERS. Central, four pupil teachers. Geo. McC. Thomson, Beatrice P. Jones, Jane R. Mitchell, Myrtle Noble; Eltham, pupil teacher, Nellie G. Kopke; probationer, Winnie Doris Brown; Fitzroy, pupil teacher, Madge L. Olson; probationer, Aileen H. Abraham; Hawera, three pupil teachers, Rachel Moore, Rita G. Beauchamp, Margaret Windelburn, E.A-; three probationers, Len. J. Rowe, Merle Henry Wood, Mary Leighton, M.A. ; Inglewood, pupil teacher, John C. Nicholls; Midhirst, probationer, Jas. Chas. Manning; Motunul, probationer, Joyce V. Musker; Norfolk, probationer, Cecile .C- Heal; Normanby, pupil teacher, Grace Harkness; probationer, Jessie E. Smith; Okalawa, transfer Rachel Moore to Hawera and appoint Jessie Merle Hooker (Matapu) intermediate, in her stead; Stratford, three pupil teachers, Percy Alger. Eva McMillan (transferred from Waitara), George J. Hall; probationer, Marion L. Bremner; Waitara, pupil teacher, Jas. Reg. Ratteubury; probationer, Kate M. Shaw: West End, two pupil teachers, Stella Lawrence and Ada Mary Olson ; probationer, Nita Ivy G. Jones.

In an accompanying report on the question of the junior appointments, the senior inspector (Mr. J. A. Valintlne) stated: There are 43 applications, of whom the qualifications range from the intermediate certificate to me higher leaving certificate. It Is pleasing to be able to state that this year there are nine applications from boys—a higher number than usual. I should recommend that positions be offered the 30 qualified applicants according to the list accompanying this report. As far as possible the candidates are recommended for positions near io their homes, though this could not be done in every case. We have not had enough qualified applicants to enable us to fill all the positions open. Hence I would recommend that as soon as the results of the senior free place and the intermediate examinations are known, the chairman be authorised to make the appointments remaining to be filled. There are. perhaps, ten of these, all of them probationerships in various country schools. The following resignations were received: — J. E. Marshall, third Assistant, West End; E. Bary, head teacher, Mangatoki; A. M. Giddy, assistant, Lincoln; M. G. Fleming, sole teacher, Mangamingi; E. M. Moss, head teacher, Tataraimaka; G. J. Lock, second assistant. Fitzroy; I. Therkleson, sole teacher, Matemateaonga; S. A. Cowles, sole teacher, Awatuna; M. E. Joyce, assistant, Huirangi. WATCHING EXPENDITURE. The finance committee’s report stated that a circular bad been received from the Education Department urging curtailment of expenditure wherever possible. They recommended that the architect be asked to report on proposals In regard to building staff and maintenance work for the ensuing year.

In moving the adoption of the report, Mr. Lees said the committee’s resolution was not intended to convey the idea that they thought extravagance was being practised. Probably

it would be found that the business was being run as economically as possible, but it was just as well to become acquainted with the actual position of administration. There was a general tendency to cut down wages, ‘and he was quite satisfied that wages would have to come down in tlie next few years.

In considering any reduction of that kind, however, the board should look at the position In a broad light. Every case should be considered on its merits, as very often the higher paid official was more economical than the one receiving a low salary. ARCHITECT'S REPORT. The architect (Mr. C. H. Moore) reported as follow: Office additions. —Practically the whole of the outside staff have been engaged on the office additions. The outside is about finished. except the painting, and the inside is well on towards completion. As we have several urgent small works to attend to, I propose to concentrate on them during the remainder of the school holidays, and let the office work stand over for a time. Painting repairs have received attention at Warea and also at TataraimaKa. The workshop staff are well on with the fittings for the Hawera science laboratories. Tables and chairs have been ordered for the Stratford High School. A grant has been made for a small school at Matemateaonga, and the proposal is to use one of the moveable batches for this purpose with the addition of extra windows.

Lepperton School (re lighting the main class room). —The class room is not well lighted, although there are plenty of windows; they are arranged on three sides. The children therefore have back lighting and also right and left hand. Probably the best way to tone the lighting down will be to frost the right hand and back windows a green tint. This would be a great improvement. Otherwise I am unable to suggest any satisfactory or economical remodelling of this room owing to tte general construction. Mokau School (te general remodelling).— I suggest that the board make further application (if the attendance warrants it), to the department on the plan already submitted The department made a small grant of £25 to enable more windows to be put in, but this was not satisfactory from the board’s point of view, and it was decided to hold the matter over, expecting in the meantime for the school to go up in attendance to warrant the bigger scheme. Waitara School (remodelling of part of the present building) .—This matter has already received consideration, and a proposal was sent in on the suggestion of the department. I have recently consulted the new headmaster and he would like to see how lie can arrange the classes in this particular part before anything definite is done. I would tterefore ask permission to hold over this report until the next meeting. General.—Holidays to a considerable extent interfered with our work at. Christmas time, and owing to the school holidays being on then and urgent works required more or less, it will probably be better to reconsider the matter of holidays with a view to letting the men have them later on, except, of course, the usual statutory holidays. In respect to the general painting repairs, personally I am dead against so much painting during the winter, and I would suggest concentrating on this work during the first four months rf each year as far as possible. ERASER ROAD SCHOOL. The question of accommodation at Fraser Roac was reported on by Messrs. Lees and I Raves. They stated; The roll number for the I lasi quarter of 1921 was 51. with an averag° ' attendance for the quarter of 41. The floor totals 440 square feet. Although the

attendance at present makes the school overcrowded, there would be no chance, on the present figures, of the department erecting another room. Tfce worst feature at present is the fact that two teachers are compelled to teach in thia overcrowded room. This difficulty could be got over by erecting a good shelter shed with suitable lighting accommodation, and utilising it as a class room. Donations have already been promised towards this object and we arranged with the commissioners to find out the exact amount that, could be raised In this direction. When this information is available, the matter could be further considered. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL. The following report from the unanual and technical committee was adopted: That the Stratford Technical High School Committee De asked to call applications for a caretaker at £3 10s per week, and to make a recommendation to the board in thus connection; that the Stratford Technical High School Advisory Committee be asked to make suggestions to the board with regard to the laying out of the fences and grounds; that Mr. Trimble be thanked for his gift of eucalyptus, and for the interest which he has taken in the agricultural classes throughout the district. That after consideration of the question of asking assistance from the Agricultural Department towards the expenses of carrying on the boys’ girls’ agricultural clubs, the committee is of opinion that it is inadvisable to ask for a grant. MOVABLE BUILDINGS. Advice was received from the department that a grant of £296 15s had been made for the erection of a movable school at In response to a request from settlers for a sehool at Otaraoa Road, it was decided to make application to the department for a grant for a movable building. The department notified that a grant of £220 had been made for tte erection of a movable residence at Mahirakau.—lt was decided that in view of altered circumstances the department be asked to approve of the transfer of the grant to Tokirfana. PROPOSED NEW SCHOOLS. The conveyance of children from Glenn Road and Inaha to the Manaia School was the subject of a report from Messrs. Lees and Eaves. They stated: According to tt e committee there are a number of young children in these localities not attending any school on account of the distance from the nearest school. The distance which these children have to travel varies from three miles up to flue miles. After discussing tte (matter, we arranged with the committee to call tenders for the conveyance of the children and submit the tenders to the board for consideration.— It was decided that in view of the large number of children who are residing on the Glenn Road over three miles from the nearest school, ti e department be asked to erect a sehool on the road, or as an alternative to make an additional grant to cover toe coat of the conveyance of the children to the Manaia school.

Application was received from Mr. A. G. Mouat on behalf of settlers desiring the establishment of a school at Mangatoi (Mokau river). —The (matter was referred to the senior inspector to report on. ORGANISING TEACHERS. In view of tte appointment of Mr. Insull to the position of secretary to the board, the question of distributing the staff of organising teachers was reported on by the senior inspector, and his recommendations wero adopted. For the month of February Mr. Howarth will be employed as temporary head teacher of the Stratford school. Mr. Curteia will work the central area and other localities ■ to be decided on when the staffing of the schools is decided, and Mr. McKinney will remain in his present field for at least the first term of the school year. After that it is probable he may work the district round New Pljenouth and Inglewood. (JENERAL. The department notified that a grant of £55 19s 4d tad been made for the supplementary readers’ fund. A request from Urenui that repairs be effected to fences and shelter shed was left in the hands of the chairman and Mr. Hoskin to report on. A report was received from Mr. S. G. Smith, .M.P., stating that in company ivun Mr. R. Masters, M.P., he had interviewed the Minister of Education witt: regard to the application for additions to the residence at Lepperton. The Minister had now promised to submit the matter to Cabinet for re-consid-erftion. Mr. Smith also intimated that the question of securing a grant for the extension of the site at Lepperton had been gone into fully, but had been deferred pending the return from holiday of the department's officer in ctarge of this branch.

In reply to the board’s request for a grant for the removal and re-erection of the Hurlmoana school ,the department. wrote expressing the opinion that the amount was a large one. and suggesting that the proposals be amended. —It was decided to reply urging the necessity <)the architect’s proposals being given effect to.