EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1922, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held at New Plymouth yesterday. Present: Messrs. P. J. H. White (chairman), H. Trimble, S. G. Smith, M.P., A. Lees, R. Masters, M.P., F. Hoskin, and R. J. Deare. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. H. J. Eaves. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that during the month he had made the following relieving appointments:—Okaiawa, Miss L. Walker, assistant ; Upper Mangorei, Miss L. Corney, sole teacher; Normanby, Mr. W. J. Metcalf, assistant : Te Roti, Mr. W. J. Metcalf, head teacher: Fraser Road, Miss C. Frank, assistant; Mangatoki, Miss I. E. Perrott, assistant; Inglewood, Miss A. Leslie, assistant;, Waltara, MISS I. Therkleson, assistant; Stratford, Miss L. Corney, assistant; Inglewood, Miss P. Murray, assistant; Fitzroy, Miss T. Simpson, assistant; West End, Mr. M. J. Smith, assistant ; Huirangi, Miss H. K. Rigg, assistant; Koru, Miss M. Hodder, sole teacher; Otangiwal, Mr. J. C. Commins, sole teacher.— Adopted. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL. Various recommendations by the manual and technical committee were : That Miss Earl's resignation be accepted as from May 30, 1922; that application be called for a domestic science instructress at Hawera; that the matter of hedge plants for the Man.gorei Upper and Kina Schools be referred to Mr. Johnson to report to the next meeting of the board. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The finance committee recommended: — That the board’s architect bring down a report on the salaries of his staff as set out under the Department’s circular; that application be made to the Department for a grant of £75 to build a teachers’ room at the Hawera school on condition the committee find £ 25; that the architect supply one spring for the door at Hawera; that the senior inspector’s reports on the accommodation at the Mokau and Marokopa schools be received; that the matter arising out of the senior inspector's report on Matemateaonga be left in the hands of the chairman.—Adopted. TEACHERS’ SELECTION COMMITTEE. That the whole of this month’s vacancies be re-advertised, specifying that a male assistant is required for the third assistant and a female for the fourth assistant position at West End, and an infant mistress for the second assistant position at Inglewood, and that the Koru committee be informed that fresh applications are being called for the position concerned, were recommendations made by the teachers’ selection committee, and adopted by the board. TEACHERS’ APPOINTMENTS. The recommendations by the senior inspector (Mr. J. A. Valentine) in relation to the appointment of teachers to certain vacancies were adopted. ARCHITECT’S REPORT. The board’s architect (Mr. C. H. Moore) reported : New Work.—Stratford Technical High School furniture and fittings: The staff are engaged on fixing the fittings and erecting benches in the science labs. The plumbers have also made a start. Astwood Movable Class Room: grant has been made, and the building will lie put in hand as soon as possible. Owing to the difficulty of getting the material on to tills place I would suggest making alterations in the construction. I would suggest we cover the outside with iron and line the walls with beaver board. The building will stilt be erected on the easily movable plan.

Repair Work.—Hulakama School and Residence : The general painting and repair work was completed, and also a new shelter shed. Tiie committee are paying up to £35 towards this work. Tututawa: Painting repairs have been completed at both school and residence. Puniwhakau: Painting and general repairs have received attention at this school. Douglas : Painting of the outside of this school has also been completed. Pukearuhe Residence: Inside painting is receiving attention along with sundry repairs. Whilst In this district I propose to attend to the work authorised at Mimi and Urenui.

General. —Hawera Primary School : At the Invitation of the new committee, Mr. Lees and myself met the members on the school grounds and discussed various matters in connection with school affairs in general. Liability of the board to renew a manhole cover in more permanent material was agreed to, and permission was given to the committee to make an alteration in the girls entrance to the infants’ latrines owing to the carrying out of improvements to the playing area. The question of a teacher’s room was fully discussed. The committee brought forward the suggestion to take over the depot used for general maintenance in that district. The building is required by us, and was erected for a special purpose, and I raised objections. Eventually the committee agreed to find £25 towards making one end of the old gymnasium into a teachers’ room and putting in a pair of doors at the other end to enable the remainder to be used for shelter purposes. This offer is to be put in ‘writing before the board with a view of getting a grant from the department. A school of this size should certainly have a teachers’ room for the assistants. A request for three door springs was also made; these will cost about £2 10s each. The matter of bubble fountains was brought up; the committee were asked to bear the whole cost. Nothing definite was settled. The committee pointed out that, with the exception of the old gymnasium, there was no provision of shelter for the children in wet weather, and it was suggested to the committee to try and interest local sports clubs to raise funds and build a large gymnasium for their use as well as for the school, on the school grounds. This idea was favorably received.

A supplementary report on the Normanby residence stated:—l visited this residence and went carefully into the question of some improvements to the bathroom and also washhouse conveniences. Tfi'e construction and arrangement of these places were never satisfactory ; the wash-house has tubs, but no drainage, and the bath was fixed in a small internal space (evidently intended for a pantry) without any lighting whatever. The washhouse is a very old structure, and. an application was made to the Department to renew the building, but without success. I would respectfully recommend taking out the bath and replacing it in a small spare room 10ft x 9ft, and lay on water and connect drainage to the wash tubs. ATTENDANCE REPORT. The attendance officer (Mr. Pascoe) reported that during the month of April he had sent out 61 irregular attendance notices to parents of children attending primary schools. The monthly returns show very little irregularity. The following 28 schools had been visited: Dudley, Durham, Hawera, Inglewood, Kabul, Kaponga, Kapuni, Lincoln, Manaia. Mangatoki, Midhirst, Norfolk, Normanby, Oaonui, Opunake, Otakeho, Pungarehu. Pihama. Rahotu, Stratford, Tariki, Tawhiti, Te Roti, Tokaora, Vogeltown, Warea, also Manaia and Stratford Convents. The attendance in each school was very good, what little irregularity there was being mostly due to sickness and wet weather. SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.' The following action was taken in connection with requests: Oeo.—A petition, signed by 39 residents, was received in reference to overcrowding at the school, characterised as a grave injustice and a menace to the health of children. The average attendance for the last two quarters was given as 55 and 58 respectively, during which period the average roll was 62 and 64. The floor space was 540 square feet, an average of 13 square feet for each child. The confusion caused by having 64 scholars and two teachers in one room was stressed, and It was asked that the school be made habitable.— The senior inspector will be asked to report, and, if this was favorable, the architect was instructed to prepare plans, when an application for a grant will be made. Mokola.—This was an application for increased accommodation. The present cramped position was described as against the health of the teachers, and prevented teachers from ' , «IUU£ the best results. liiaiury

elicited the fact that the floor space was -720 square feet, with an average roll of 54 and an average attendance of 52. The board regretted it could not accede to the request. West End.—The absolute necessity of providing an adequate shelter shed was pointed out. The shed voluntarily erected by the committee had- been taken by the board for use as a class-room. The application was supported by Mr.- Deare, who stressed the difficulty met with in wet weather.—The architect estimated that a shed of the size needed would cost at least £lOO. A suggestion he would make was that a high fence could be erected and a roof attached to meet the case. It was later decided that Messrs. Smith, Deare and Moore (architect) should inspect a suitable site and report to the board. Tawhiti.—A resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Tawhiti householders, haring reference to the need for money for increased accommodation at schools and the need for decreasing the nusber of children in classe." was read. A copy will be forwarded to the Department. Fraser Road.—ln accordance with the Inspector’s recommendation it was deemed advisable to wait till the average attendance for the June quarter is known, and then, if the roll number is not decreased, the facts of the case were to be placed before the department. The request that the floor for the detached room be wooden, and not concrete, and that a door be provided, was noted. Lepperton.—The question of the extension of site by taking in Sissons' Terrace, dn unused road, the ase of which had been gtanted to the school committee by the Taranaki Comity Council, was referred to Messrs. Smith and Deare, with power to act. Mangatupotu.—An application for a shelter shed was granted, the board agreeing to #ay £2 to £1 up to £2O. A request for a larger tank was referred to the architect. Whareroa.—The question of the lining of the hall was referred to the architect for a report. Hillsborough.—An application for 6 cwt. of wire and staples for fencing purposes was granted. Cardiff.—-A request for a new class-room, floor was acceded to, subject to the architect's report being satisfactory. Bell Block.—The board regretted it could not authorise the painting of the interior of the shelter shed. Other repairs were referred to the architect. Mangahume.—A request for new steps was granted. Vogeltown.—-The request for heaters for the Sunday School was granted, provided the committee agreed to pay for the current. The number of heaters was left to the architect to decide. TEACHERS’ MOVEMENTS. Leave of absence was granted to: Mr. J. <5. Hall, assistant, Waltara; Miss J. McLean, assistant, Opunake; Mr. D. Henderson, assistant, Hawera; Miss M. Tarry, assistant, Inglewood; Miss M. Olson, probationer, Fitzroy; Miss A. McGill, assistant, Franktey; Mr. C. V. Smith, sole teacher, Otangiwai; Miss I. Miles, sole teacher, Korito; Mr. H. Ransixjttoin, sole teaebdr, Mahoenul; Miss H. Harford, assistant, Fraser Road. The following resignations were accepted: Miss H. Tracey, assistant, West End, June 30; Miss H. J. Harford, assistant, Fraser Road, May 31; Mr. W. A. Brown, head teacher, Ngaere, May 31. The appointment of sewing teachers as follows was approved: Mangamtngi, Mrs. Jolley; Makaka, Mrs. Morris; Tarata, Mrs. Campbell; Waltewhena. Mrs. Kibblewhite; Matemateonga, Mrs. Young. GENERAL. The chairman and Mr. Trimble reported in reference to the Toko paddock that after due consideration of this matter, and after hearing the teacher state that he did not wish to press for the right to occupy the small paddock on the north side of the railway line,, they reoorn* mended that this paddock be handed over to the control of the school committee. The committee should be informed that the board reserves the right to at any time revise its decision, and reasonable notice must- be given to the teacher so that he may make arrangements for the removal of any stock which may be grazing on the land. It could not be too clearly emphasised that these reserves were pri inarily Intended for the use of the school and the teacher, and were not intended for endowments. The inspector recommended that an application' for the establishment of a school at Opua Road be forwarded to the department, and this course was adopted. The Inspector reported that there waa no hope of receiving a Government grant for any extension of the existing accommodation at Mokau. It is not yet advisable to apply for more' room at Matapu, the senior inspector reported. On the motion of Mr. Masters, seconded by Mr. Lees, it was resolved to pay the expenses of the chairman, secretary and architect, for the purpose of visiting the schools In the Wanganui district for the benefit of the Taranaki district. It is proposed to make the visit about May 24. The matter of the Mahoe horse paddock was left to Messrs. Trimble and Masters to arrange with the Stratford County Council, with power to act. It was resolved that payment be made to those probationers who had taken up duties under the board, but who were unable to carry on, on account of failure to pass the medical examination. A letter of appreciation will be sent to Miss Tracey, the Canadian teacher who took up temporary duty at the West End School earlier in the year under the system of the Inter-ehange of teachers, on the eve of her resignation of that position. Application will be made for a movable residence at Marakopa. Accounts amounting to £9713 16s 10d were passed for payment.