PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1926, Page 7

PRIMARY EDUCATION.

SCHOOLS IN TARANAKI MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD. REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENTS. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. S. G. Smith (chairman), P. J. H. White, A. Lees, R. J. Deare, and the Rev. J. L. A. Kayll. Leave of absence was granted Messrs. H. Dempsey, H. J. Eaves and Sim. The hoard decided to forward to the department the resolution of a meeting of Inglewood residents urging the policy of establishing junior high schools throughout New Zealand. On the motion of Mr. Lees it was decided to apply for the appointment of an assistant at the Hawerk dental clinic. This proposal was agreed to in view of- the necessity for country children receiving attention; MOVEMENTS OF TEACHERS. The following resignations were accepted: Miss J. Cassie, sole teacher, Bird; Miss K. V. Douglas, assistant. Whangamomona; Miss A. S. Dale, head teacher, Tikorangi; Mrs. F. M. di 'Menna, sole teacher, Uruti; Miss R. J. A. Jefcoate, assistant, Oaktira; Miss M. I. Giddy, sole teacher, Croydon; Miss H. Sampson, sole teacher, Mangatoi; Miss J. C. Slattery, assistant, Hawera; Mr. F. C. Campbell, sole teacher, Tarata. It was decided to call applications for a male assistant at Manaia and to ask the department to approve the provision of an assistant at Ararata School, owing to the increased attendance. The following appointments were confirmed; Sole teacher, Rotokare, Miss M. Granville; sole teacher, Purangi, Miss F. M. Webb. Relieving appointments had been made during the month as follows, it was reported: —Mr. J. Craig, head teacher, Midhirst; Miss M. Olson, assistant, Hawera; Mrs. J. A. Whitehead, secondary assistant, Opunake; Mrs. F. 0. Hucker, sole teacher, Waingongora; Miss E. McHar(lie, sole teacher, WaitewhCna; Mr. L. Des Forges, assistant, Eltham; Miss M. E. Leech, sole teacher, Dudley. AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION. The senior agricultural instructor (Mr. R. G. Ridling) reported:— The-work in the primary schools is proceeding quietly, but the commencement of experimental work in the gardens has been hampered by the unsuitable weather conditions. Success has followed the planting of some of the crops, notably potato and fodder crop trials, but root crops are not yet everywhere planted. A high standard prevails in the majority of the town schools where the difficulties of handling practical work on a suitable scale are great. The Fitzroy school deserves credit for removing this disability by obtaining on loan a suitable area fairly close to the school. Generally the actual, teaching of principles from experiment and observation has reached a high standard. A few schools still show weakness in attacking the work, but these are exceptional. Due attention is being given to ground improvement in our schools and the major schemes in operation at the present time are proceeding satisfactorily. Areas adjacent to several schools in the district have been planted with trees both as demonstration areas and' as school reserves. Too much credit cannot be given to those, committees, teachers and scholars who have shown initiative in this matter. The pupils and the teacher at the Mahoenui School have cut lines through scrub, in many places 12 feet high, and have successfully afforested some 2J acres of the ground. At Manaia, Ohangai, Mangahume and Matau considerable areas have been established. The replacing of dead trees has been successfully carried out at Koru. It is evident from observations made upon, the plantations already established that it is next to impossible to establish plantation of eucalyptus in North Taranaki in wind-swept areas. At Koru some hundreds of gums withered and at Mangorei 70 of the gums will have to be replaced by pines or hardier trees. The work being carried out under the auspices of the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs is proceeding satisfactorily. Visits in connection with this work to give instruction in both calf-rearing and in root-growing have been made. The work in the district high schools is proceeding satisfactorily. Some of the apparatus ordered has already been delivered at the Manaia District High School.Teachers’ classes continue to be held at all centres and instruction is proceeding satisfactorily. MANUAL WORK.

The manual supervisor ('Mr. Ridling) reported:— The exercises being done in the various centres is, developing a keen inter-, est in woodwork among the pupils. The scheme as laid down is practically completed, /ind the pupils are working upon special models, in most cases those they have themselves chosen. The first-year students show considerable facility and handle the tools with confidence. The course has proved of undoubted value. The classes in domestic science have been held regularly-, and the attendance and conduct of the pupils have been good. The instructors report that the scholars are improving in their work and developing a keen interest. Miss D. Hayes relinquished duty at the Hawera centre on October 3, and Mrs. L. Rankin took over the work as a relieving teacher. A Gazette notice No. 75 issued on November 4 removes the land, buildings, furnitui'e, and equipment of the Stratford manual school from the control of the board and places the control in the hands of the Stratford Technical High School Board. Replies so far received indicated that 177 teachers had made their own arrangements concerning board during the proposed refresher camp, 30 would be in camp, and 21 would not be coming, seven of them having resigned. On the recommendation of the manual and technical committee it was decided that the teachers’ Saturday classes should cease as from November 20. The supervisor was authorised to proceed with the arrangements for a refresher course. ARCHITECT’S REPORT. New work had been completed at Whangamomona, Norfqlk, Riverlea, Te Kiri. Awatuna, and Korito. reported the architect (Mr. C. H -- Moore). He had visited the Kapuni- school in connection with a site for the new latrines. Owing to the drop in attendance he proposed to

reduce the size by one compartment and suggested the movable class room erected last April was no longer needed and could well be used for the Matapu hostel. In respect to Matapu he recommended that the building be left at Kaqtuni until next year when it would be (known whether the assistant teachers would occupy the place. General repairs had been, or were being carried out at Waitui, Ratapiko, Arawhata and Rahotu. It was recommended. that Upper Mangorei school should be painted and that two small porches be placed over the .doorways to protect them. Alterations to one of the shelter sheds to make it suitable for teaching a class in. was proposed. Application would bo made for a new shelter shed and conveniences at Raekohua. WEST END REMOVAL. “I have gone carefully into the matter of removing and remodelling the West End school .and prepared plans and estimates of the cost,” reported Mr. €'. H. Moore. “Application has gone forward with a request for urgent consideration. It will mean a considerable amount of work in altering the sizes < most of the rooms., and I also propose to add one extra class room to make up for the present gymnasium where classes are held at present. I also propose to instal hot water heating and renew the main windows with a more modern type. If the department will allow the board to carry out the work according to the plan submitted the school will be quite up to date and will probably last another 25 to 30 years and save more than half the cost of a new balding.” The removal of the West End school to the new site and the question of making application for a grant was left in the hands of the board. The architect’s recommendations regarding Upper Mangorei were approved. Half the cost of sliding doors at Wfrstown will be applied for to the department, on the recommendation of the finance and buildings committee. Several applications from school committees were referred to the architect. Applications for subsidies are to be made as follow:—Auroa £35 14s lOd, Ohura £lO (for gramophone and records), Stanley £5 (for gramophone and records), 'Mokoia £1 17s fid (board liable 9s fid), Tahora £3, Lepperton £6 (board liable 13s), Ongarue £39, Kaponga £2O, Kapuni £l3 Bs. TEACHERS’ REPRESENTATION. A request that the New Zealand Educational Institute should be represented on any committee of the board set up to inquire into complaints against a [teacher was made by a deputation comprising Messrs G. A. Lyall (Fitzroy), and L. J. Furrie (Stratford). Mr. Lyall emphasised that no complaint was found with the board\in its actions in these matters. The institute merely wanted to safeguard the interests of decent men and women. It was felt that if it had representatives at inquiries much good would result and the presence of a teacher would be of great -assistance. After the deputation retired the board decided to defer consideration of the matter till the full meeting of members. The department notified that grant's were approved for additions to the residence at Tatu and for the provision ol -furniture at Mokaii. • It was decided that applications should be forwarded to the department for replacements at Hawera iniaccordance with the approved plans. With reference to remarks made at the last meeting of the board notifications were received that in future reports of medical and dental officers would be submitted to the board. The Division of Dental Hygiene wrote that the children at the Tawhiti School should attend the clinic in Hawera. Board members accepted an invitation to be present at a farewell to Miss Mynott, of the West End School on December 16. z Schools in the Matiere district were granted permission to close for the annual sports, and the action of the committees at Okoke and Haparua in closing for mumps and scarlet fever respectively were confirmed. l 'Matters concerning the amalgamation ol the New Plymouth High and Technical Schools and the control of the Stratford manual building were discussed in committee. Forty-four irregular attendance notices had been issued and 23 schools had been visited, reported Mr. G. Pascoe. With one or two exceptions the attendances had been satisfactory.