SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1922, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

TARANAKI ASSOCIATION. THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual conference of the Taranaki School Committees’ Association was held at Inglewood yesterday, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P. (president), presiding. Other delegates present were: Messrs. J. B. Simpson, W. Brash, C. H. Owen and T. A. Buison (Lincoln Road), W. Batten (Waiongona), G. King, A. Haskell (Bell Block), J. Hueker (Tariki), W. W. Avery and H. Wakeley (Waitara), W. K. Waswo (Rahotu), A. H. Jordon (Albert Road), J. Hall (Hillsborough), G. Capper (Kaimiro), C. Mundt (Kaimiro), Mesdames Coldwell and Partridge and. Mr. P. M. Glennie (Inglewood), C. J. Simons and J. Rieve (Norfolk Road), T. M. Avery and S. G. Smith (Central), J. Garcia (West End), W. J. Morris (Oakura), H. Trimble (Education Board), T. J. Hodges (Durham Road). Mr. S. G. Smith, in declaring the conference open, said the attendance was sufficient justification for the holding of the conference in Inglewood. Mr. J. Sutherland (Mayor of Inglewood) extended a welcome to the delegates on behalf of the people of Inglewood. Inglewood was one of the most centrally situated towns in the province, and he could not understand people saying that there would not be an attendance if the conference was held in Inglewood. Referring to the value of education, he agreed that no matter what walk of life a boy or girl was taking up he or* she should have a good education.

Mr. Smith apologised for the absence of Mr. P. J. H. White (chairman) and members of the Taranaki Education Board, and also read an apology from Messrs. Kemp and Pinhey, delegates for Te Wera and Stratford respectively.

THE BOARD SYSTEM. Mr. Smith, on behalf of the executive, moved: “That this conference expresses itself emphatically in favor of district education boards, and urges the Dominion conference to take every possible measure to prevent any alteration in administrative control that would in any way tend to further cen- , tralising the control of education in ! Wellington.” Mr. Smith said there had been an agitation by the teachers for the abolition of board control of education. At present they had nine education boards in New Zealand, and it was said that if these boards were abolished it would reduce expenditure. But they had men on the local boards who knew what was wanted in their respective districts, and if the boards were abolished it would leave educational administration entirely in departmental hands. The motion was seconded by Mr. ; Mundt and passed. j “That the capitation now paid to i school committees being insufficient to meet all the charges under the heading of incidental expenses, the Government be' urged to grant a (further increase,” was a motion moved by Mr. Smith on behalf of the executive. He contended that the capitation was certainly not sufficient, no matter how economical a committee might be. Mr. Gordon said that the system of expending the capitation adopted by some committees militated against an increase to more deserving committees. Mr. Smith said there were over two thousand schopls in New Zealand, and each might have a credit balance of £lO, and the aggregate would be a large sum. but unless a proper balancesheet were returned no one had the right to say that no increased, capitation was required. The motion was carried.

TRANSFERS OF TEACHERS. “That the conference consider the question of urging the desirability or otherwise of having school teachers (particularly in country districts) transferred periodically,” was moved by Mr. Brash on behalf of the Lincoln Committee. Mr. Trimble said the complaint was frequently made to him that the teachers were changed too often, and he thought the complaints were justified. There would be removal expenses to meet if the remit were given effect to, and they would be considerable. Mr. Owen said under the present system if a committee had a poor teacher they could not get him out unless he were “pitch-forked out,” and he thought there should be some system adopted to give the school committees more power. Mr. Smith agreed it was difficult to get rid of an unsuitable teacher. The board often got the blame for this, but the board was only carrying out its obligations. Other delegates thought there should be a time limit to teachers.

Mr. Garcia said the remit opened up a wide question. Other speakers had referred to the system of transfers in other Government services, but this was on a basis of promotion. Teachers were at present free to apply for positions vacant elsewhere, and the teacher applying with the highest certificate would get the position. If a lower certificated teacher were appointed the case would be open to appeal. If a teacher got up to one of the highest schools in the country and still had to be transferred, he would have to go on the downward grade. Before putting the blame on a teacher the authority should see that the committee was not to blame. He agreed that in some cases a teacher was unhappily situated and would be benefited by a change. The delegates agreed it would be a difficult system to bring about, and ■the remit was lost on the voices.

INSPECTORS’ REPORTS. On behalf of the Oeo Committee, Mr. Waswo moved that inspectors’ reports be read at the annual meeting of householders. The motion was seconded by Mr. Garcia, who said he thought the inspectors’ reports should be open for perusal by the householders. Mr. Smith said the Act made it illegal to publish the inspectors’ reports. If the reports were published they would be restricted, as inspectors would be much more careful and would say less. Committees should use their discretion in dealing with inspectors’ reports. Mr. Garcia said the committees knew what was going on in the schools, and

mowledge to the next meeting of louseholders. Mr. Trimble said the inspector’s retort to a teacher could only be seen y the goodwill of the teacher. He ontended that the people had an-aliso-ute right to know, what was going on ■t the schools and to see the inspecor’s report. The motion was carried. SIZE OF CLASSES. ; That the department be requested to mprove the system of staffing country schools, and that it be urged that averj school with an attendance of over 32 be entitled to an assistant, and that such ssistant be not removed unless the atendance falls below 28 for the two preceding quarters; and that in such caes the school shall again be entitled to the services of an assistant two quaters after the atendance again reaches 3.” This was moved by Mr. Mundt on behalf of the Kaimiro Committee. Ie said that in many cases teachers hd far too many to teach properly. , Mr. Snritbsaid there must be a limit somewhere, rat at present it was fixed too high. 3 was manifestly unfair to expect a techer to teach, say, 36 children in perhps 10 classes. An amendjent was moved that the 32 referred t be altered to 30, and the remit was thn carried. ow MATTERS. Mr. Glenni moved, on behalf of the Whangamomaa Committee, that when a high schoo. is changed to a technical school, herd allowance should not be discontinue. In the past it had been clearly sown the board allowance has enabled iany country parents to give their chlren the advantage of a secondary eoc&tion. Mr. Smith referred to the ase of the Stratford Technical High where, when the name was ehangl from a “high school” Ito a “technical Igh school,” the allowance was immediely discontinued. The children in the b&blocks were entitled > Ito the privileges pvided by the remit. The remit was caied unanimov. ' Mr. Smith move, on behalf c. * Stratford Commits. that the dep merit be urged to instate the tion previously pai for swim classes.—Carried. A letter was receive from the . School C< mittee of methods of .••.ppointing aew teach* the school. On the rttion of Smith the letter was rerred to > incoming executive. “That the Education De.rtmen? urged to allow voluntary l»or in provement of school grounu to co for subsidies, such labor ttbe es ■ mated in value at current ras,” w. a notice of motion moved by N SmiU on behalf of the Manaia Scht Comj mittee. \ ELECTION OF OFFICER i The following officers were toted for the ensuing year: President, & S. G. Smith, M.P. (re-elected); seen and treasurer, Mr. T. M. Avery Mr. W. G. Reid, resigned); c dents, Moaars. J. Garcia mouth), Rev. W. W. AyeAwakino), P. M. Glen? ,t ‘ G. L. Bacon (Whan . a-t W. W. Pinhey (Strata ger (Eltham), W. X V <• nake), W. K. Morris W. J, Williams (Hav "-•< naia-Kaponga); execu' e <• King (Bell Block). V .r (Central), F. Lee (Fra - h R. George (Fiteroy), ; !V -- (Vogeltown). When the business wa * delegates were entertained tea by Mesdames Coldwell -• | ridge, who were accorded a vote ox I predation.