THE SCHOOL WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 10

THE SCHOOL WORLD.

A WEEKLY REVIEW,

HOTES FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Teachers and others interested in the administration ot education are. invited to contribute notes for publication in "Tho School World." . These should bo addressed to the Editor, "1 ho School World," : Tiie Dominion, Wellington, and posted to roach this omco not later than Wednesday in each week. Correspondents desiring . enlightenment upon any question in connection with tho school work, or tho Kencral administration of .iho. education system, ore invited to submit these points to the Editor for elucidation and Where anonymity ie desired, it will do Btrictly observed.

ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTIONS, • APRIL 24. The annual general -meetings of householders of school districts will he held on Monday, April 24, when the reports of the out-going school committees will bo presented and new committees elected for' the ensuing year.

' TRUANCY PROSECUTIONS. j ; DISABILITIES 01' PARENTS. - Complaint was a meeting at, ipiti la'st'iweek-that ii; was very hard on" parents';who .were summoned on-charges of truancy that they should be ..compelled to attend the Court" at I'eilding—thirty miles away—to answer such charges. In Teply, Mr. IMrani (chairman of the Wa* nganui Education Board) pointed out that he had introduced a provision in the Act of 1901, by which the ciise could be' heard., at any public school. Tho provision is •as 'follows: "The magistrate or justices may, at their discretion, attend at any public school :for the purpose of taking evidence, and in such case may dispense with the" attendance at tho Court of tho parents or the child in respect of whom tho proceedings are taken." This provision (he said) was, without alteration, embodied by tho Government in the Education Act of 100S, but it is a question whether it would not he advisablo to amend tho law so as to allow-the preliminary., hearing, where jjossible, to be taken at' the school when, justices of tho peace are available and the school is some distance from the nearest coui't.

A NEGLECTED SCHOOL. " pb'ivET'APU,"itiwKE'S BAT. "Accompanied by Messrs. Morgan and Sheath (members of the board)," reportedthe chairman of the Hawko's Bay Education Board (Mr. C. M. Whittiugton), at its last meeting, "I visited the Puketapu School, which tho settlers liavo long, reported as beings unfit for use. I found that tho buildings and outhouses have been quite neglected by tho committee. The conveniences were in a dirty state, and the spouting of the' school was btockcd with rubbish. No attempt lias apparently been made to repair the damaged weather-boarding, and in ono room an aperture''an inch'deep tin tho bottom ofthe skirting-board hag been permitted to admit cold draughts,, when a strip of, timber would haW'rcmedied' this uncoiii-' fortable and dangerous visitor. After careful inspection I am of opinion that; ■when the-board's painters luivo completed tho renovation of the school the building; will serve their purpose as well as the best for the next,; ten years. There isample accommodaiion'for the children in attendance at the school. .

AN ADVENTUROUS TRIP, THE £ s S. D. 01" IT. ' " Mr. to ■ tlie'' Hawke's Bay Education Board his arrival nt Port Awamii,' his ' new appointment, thus described his adventures en raitc:— "On the way up-tlie'coach was'fcapsized and I was-.dragged under the wheel under the.water,"my hiit'being lost, my clothes ruined by salt water,.and, by innumerable, small tears, ' my" watch ruiiied,' Watch chain torn and lost, and I was obliged to seek medical aid nt Tolaga. I do not. know tho medical expenses, but my personal loss is—Boots,;.iil 55.; hat, 12s. 6d-; suit (tailor-made), ■ J?5 55.; watch anil chain, £2 10s.; total, £9 12s. 6d. For tho bruising and tearing of my flesh, r.na the intense pain I suffered I have maria no s ,charge,' but let .you . know. that you claim^ J 6n r my behalf' in tli£' proper Toomath's letters was ;vr6fefred to the '.Finance.-Committee,J

SCHOOt EXCURSIONS. . AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION. ; A wa6"made a,t the last committee meeting of the Masterton ; Competitions. Society last evening,' that.; arrangements be made for. school children's excursions during the c'om®ctlb:oii3. lc ■was suggested that..tho-school , committees amh teachers bo communicated with, mo idea being t6 arrange two 'excursions' on separate days, one from the north ana the other from south. A sub-committee was set up to arrange details, and to communicate with tho Minister for Bailways: on' the matter. The educational value" of 'the' suggestion would' be "farreaching, and no doubt it will. be taken advantage of by thoso. interested.

Qh.UMOUR. IN THE SCHOOL, •'rA' FEW. MORE': '.'HOWLERS.". ''t Of . "howlers'," and 'good "howlers":.-at' that, there •is 110 end. Hero aro a/few* amusing examples "from . tho Ponatahi School (Miss M. J. Marten) Q.—"His clothes wero in tatters—What does that'lmeau?"-! >• f A—"Running doftn his back in little pieces." Q—"What do you mean by 'an"awful fate ? A.—"The biggest hiding you ever' got." 'A quadruped has four legs—a table is a quadruped." "A window is. meant to let light in; a door is'.meant'to keep dogs out!"

THE SCHOOLS FROM WITHJN.

MEWS AND NOTES. A big budget of school news', principallyfrom tho country districts, has como to hand this week. By:an unfortunate oversight,, notes from tho Lansdowne, Manganao, "and Tauoru Schools, received in time for last week's series, were not included in the initial publication of "Tho School .World." '

i..- '':'. Lansdowne School. 1 he. new school' at Lansdowne, situated just outside tho northern boundary of Masterton, has now a roll number 170, and 'a teaching staff of five, under Mr. R. C. Drummond, formerly of Clareville. School. " During the year a picnic and school concert aro held,.tho surplus funds being devoted to improving and beautifying the school grounds, and providing suitablo games for the children. The cbmhiittee is now engaged in tho establishment of a miniature rifle rangeand the erection of a flagstaff for tiie 6chool. "The one thing now wanted to complete, tho schoo! is," states the committee, "tho extension of the school site. We are cramped for room, and the school is prowing rapidly. Tho Education Board ami School Commissioners have treated Lansdowne well in tho past, and wo hope they will see their way .to complete our school by granting ati;area sufficient for all time;" The application has teen sent in to the Commissioners, and tho committee is now awaiting-a. reply.

Mangahao School. Mangahao School, three miles from tho Pahiatua station, is prettily situated on tho banks of tlie Mangahao Biver, on the Main Road'between Pahiatunnnd Phlinerston North. Tho school is quite .a featme.;,of; the-district;just jiow, as it has h pretty;, garden, now.blaze of colour, [aid. out;between it. .and the road. Gardening receives a good .share.of attention of both a practical and theoretical kind,and an hour a week.!.is. set apart for keeping it in. order, planting, etc. The pupils are entliusuistio in their work, and cheerfully swriiice -their own amusement •when necessary,- The boys have lately enlarged their ground, and the whole work of reino-ia; the gosts, re-

adjusting and straining the wires, etc., was readily undertaken by them, and very creditably performed indeed. They grow vegetables of all kinds in their plots, and this year some-experiments.in, manuring- Snd the, growing of a variety of grasses are being undertaken. Tho girls look after the llower beds. The attendance is very good, absences, except from sickness, being rare. , There:, have 'ljust come' to liand the supplementary'readers which the Government is providing free for Standard IV, and keen interest is being evinced in "Tom Brown's Schooldays" by both readers and listeners. . The finely-illustrated history readers'are ~nlso the source of much pleasure to the pupils. In Standard V and Standard VII, a study is being made of Dickens's "Christmas 'Carol;" a great favourite in school.

Taueru School. Tho attendance at the Taueru School for the week ending March 24 was 42.6 of a roll of 43, and this in spite of the iact that children come two, three, and live miles to school. On Thursday, March 23, Mr. Bakewell (tho board's inspector) visited the school, anil spent half a. day, chiefly in the iufant department. Miss Kogg, who has been acting temporarily as assistant, has been permanently appointed to the position, the appointment to date from March . The swimming classes held during the summer have been very successful, lhc Taueru Stream possesses several pools which arc ideal for bathing purposes, and full advantage was taken of them... .Boys who could barely swim at tho beginning of tho season now swim across tho river with their clothes on. A start has also been made with life-saving practice,

-•;. -, Brooklyn School.' \y J • -The monthly meeting of- the .Brooklyn 'School Committee was, held at-the schooliroom on ; Tuesday-last, Mr. Willis ill. tne 'chair. The headmaster's report- for the month of March showed the roll number to bo COO, with an average attendance ot 570, or Oti per cent. A portion of the schoolground .is now being excavated, iwhich will provide a larger play area, and will be used by tho smaller children. The committee has prepared a scheme ot levelling a largo portion ot the playgrounds, and when this is completed a very large area will be available for tne children. Tho annual report and balancesheet for the year, to bo presented at the annual meeting of householders, wero adopted.

Newtown District High School. ; Tho .school flag at Newtown was flown at: half-mast for two days this-week, as a mark of respect for the "laic--Mr. J'carman, a member of the School Committee. Mr. Pparman, who had been in failing health'for some time, died suddenly at his residence, Newtown, on Sunday, and was buried on Tuesday* He. leaves , a •widow-' and' young child. By his. d?ath ■the schobl loses:;a; generous; helper , and willing Worker. Tho chief event of the week has been th« fixing of more hyloplato (the modern and ideal tvpe of "blackboard") round tho walls of the Infant School. The hy oplate now extends round all ■ four walls of the infant room, but more is needed for tho' other rooms. , The. teaching staff is rejoicing in tho prospect of a new teachers' room, Mr. Parkinson kindly offering to exchange his room for a smaller one, so that the staff might be better accommodated in this respect.

: , New Plymouth, Central School, , The Central School, New- .Plymouth, has.a.roll 0f,59i pupils, and out of this 'number no fewer than 347 made a full attendance for the quarter ended March 31. This excellent result is .'accounted for. .partly by the... exceptionally,', fino, ,wgather experienced .(luring, thejast three months," and to some extent by the liew .regulations,requiring attendance for every day that-the schd6l>is opeiij In addition ■tp these, however;-the unusually _ largo number has resulted from other circumstances, for which the individual members of tho stalT arc responsible. • The ' second' assistant- master,' f Mr. 'Boisock, leaves at the end of .the presentttiko cbarse of a-country school, 'while 'two' of tho -staff, Sullivan and •Mifif Crawford, arc; in-consequence, being promoted. The position rendered vacant will be filled by Mr. Wngstalf, who is at present assisting' in the country.'Mr. Sullivan,'one of tho school, staff,-' carries 011 the scout movement with great enthusiasm. The Central-:Battalion . now, iconsists of nine or ten patrols. Mr .1. -P. Corkill, chairman of tho School Committee, has placed at the disposal of tho 'boys a club-room, where, they meet, for instruction every -Wednesday evening. An effort is-being made just now to establish a swimming, bath in the schcol grounds. In • fact, the boys had actually started the excavation, when they .were fought up with. an. .uncomfortable sudproposed- , to-'.be.-leviod-..by. the Borough.Council. :.,!t. is,. that: council,'to be elected during the present month, will look upon tho project more favourably than their pre,decessor9 have done, and that the baths paj/yet be . an establishedfacti

New, Plymouth High School. I. ..Two-relay races, were recently., held at, the Municipal Baths by the boys attend--ing tho New Plymouth High School. The judges were Messrs. Pridham, G. Tisch, ,H. 11. Ward, Wills, and Morris. The 'first event was a gymnasium teams' relay race. Six teams, each consisting of nine' boys, started, making a total of 5l boys swimming in the event. The finish proved very exciting, Grant's team winning. There was a great struggle for second place, Adlam's team gaining this, verdict from Goss and Little, who woro fourth. The following comprised the winning teamßrown, Mai fell, Blundell, ,Weston, Teed, Day, Salt,.-. Grant, and A. ißacoh. Tho next event was an inter-:-form contest, and-for'this , four teams Centered, of fivo boys each. Thol'ast boys :of tho fifth and third form, A; and E. .Bacon respectively, (lived,off simultaneously, and" kept "together as far as tho turn, when the senior lad began to forge ahead,' and - won 'by-Mi; yarjt--.-'.'-Tho'-race resulted:—Form V ; (Bacon, Howell, Salt, Bayly, Sinclair), 1; I'orm 111, 2; Form VI, 3;-Form IV, i.

i Waiata School. , Tho attendance at the Waiata School has been-, very. good since the Christmas holidays. Whether it is .-due to the now regulations regarding compulsory attendance or not is uncertain, as tho children don't stay away unless they can possibly help it. The school work is progressing favourably. The first term ends at-Easter, and is. • followed by, a week's £ vacation.Tho first term examination will be held' beforo breaking up. On March 21 tho annual picnic was held at Denton's Ford, on the Ot-oua River bank. It was a delightful day, and the teacher and committee worked hard to make it the success it undoubtedly was.

• ■ NEWS IN BRIEF, r : The Campbell ..Street' School .ston North) reports an average roll of -725.5, averago attendance: :G7G, highe.st atPresent roll 718, half day's open ■ Tho : highest . attendance ■ ever reached "was during tho week "ending 'March 10. Owing to tho ' prevalence of measles tho attendance has fallen somewhat lately. Tho blinds applied for had been forwarded and hui)ff. The school had been repainted-outside. Tho distempering of the rooms inside, however, was much more necessary. Tho desks applied for had not yet arrived. Tho secretary was instructed to write the board asking for the desks to be forwarded as soon as possible. Tho special thanks of the officers and cadets wero expressed to tho chairman for his gift' of a silver cup for competition in shooting.

Reporting to tho monthly meeting of tho Feilding lligV School-.: Committee, tho headmaster stated:'that ;the iattendanco had been very satisfactory, thp;';,iuiinber on tho roll now being. '115. The averago attendance for. .the'.past quarter was: •Primary 1 department, '352^89'Secondary class, 72.0!); total, 28.98. The., Visiting Committee reported that they had,; sanctioned a number of small repairs, l whjch'i when enrried out, woljd place the school and grounds in a satisfactory condition.

• Thc v attendance, at? tlic Ivorifo school during tho past quarter has bee'ii very pood. -Tho'number on the roll is'thirtytwo; fourteen children attended full time and cloven .missed only one day—a result •which is very creditable, some of tho children, having to- journey betw.eea....t.wo' and . three miles, with no ..footpaths such as town children have, . The. f.ollowing.ara the names of those who attended. regu. : ■larly:—Full time; Percy Coad, Ernest Coa'd, William Acsford, Stanley Coad, Er-

'nest Williams,-Archie Cond, GordoSi Miles, Beatrico Keast, Dorothy Miles, i'reda Keast, Elsio Williams, Eileen Coad, lira Williams, .Minnie Anst'urd. Aliased iono day: Leslie -Chatlevton, Williain James, I: 1 red. Belli, Mary James, Richard Belk, Olivo James. Dorothy Molloy, James, Clarice Fuller, Elsio James, Ediv.li ■Miles. • •

. The average attendance at the Martinborough Public School for tho Quarter ended March 31 was 1-3, being two abovo the number requisite to keep tho school .in its present grade. Tho number on the roll on tho above dato was 131. Tho .course of elementary agriculture for boys '•has been commenced, and a swimming .class for boys has also been commenced |by tho headmaster. The Education Board •has decidcd to renovate tho •headmaster's residence.

A committeo meeting of organisers of ;the AVaipawa School Sports Association was held on Monday last, when (he programme committeo submitted a draft of :their proposals, which were adopted after" eomo alterations had been made. Mr. Bowen's oft'er was accepted of a challenge -cup, which is to become tho property of •the winner of championship events, if 'won two years in .succession. Jfr.° Tl M. :Bloor donated a brooch for .the winner of ;the girls' championship' events. ■' '.Both wero accorded a vote'of thanks for'their generosity. Afte?. discussion it-was decided to ask tho Mayoress, -Jlrs.-.W.': I. Liinbnck, to form .a ladies' committee to canvass the townspeople... for donations .'of 2s. Gd. each. For .this amount, tickets •.will be issued admitting-a family free to ■the ground.

- At the monthly ,'rrieetiiig of the Maurice-,-villo East School' Committeo some minor .works were ordered to be carried out dur>ing the ensuing month. A hearty vote of ( thanks was accorded the schoolmaster for :the trouble ho had gone to in acquiring ■a hazard rifle target and outfit for the Tho chairman very kindly gave a. 'donation of half a guinea to bo given for the_ highest aggregate score of six competitions, firing to be carried out-at two : ranges.

According to the headmaster's report, .presented to the last meeting of the il c , 00 Committee, ihe Damiev.irkc North School has a roll number of 315, with an average attendance of 296. It' was reported that the school fence was in such a condition that it would be unwiso to spend money on repairing it. Many of the posts and rails were in such a stato of decay that- an entirely new fence was a necessity.. It was decided to leave tho matter over for the new committee to deal with. The draft report for tho annual meeting of householders was adopted.

it the monthly meeting of the Durham, Road (Maketavca) School....Committee' the inspector's. report: was . considered; and. members expressed-pleasure ot the'satis-.' factory nature of the remarks. Information was also received that a dressmaking class was being formed at the Technical School under the supervision of Miss ■'Dempsey.

Tho Maxwelltown School vas visited recently. by Inspector Strong and Technical Instructor Browne. The buildings are now .receiving their much needed coat of paint. It is proposed to hold a school concert before midwinter in order to raise' funds to execute small improvements in the grounds, etc.

' The Eaetihi School has been closed owing to the prevalence of scarlet fever in the district.

Miv' T. ,li. Fleming. Chief Inspector to the"Wellington Education Board, paid a ■visit ."of inspection ' to the 'Kaip.aroro School;(luringfj:he : ;.\v.^ek;r.

The avertf£fr lit t cYfd'a 11 ce'f or" the" March quarter at. Jty-haiahi, School, was, 15,...0ut of an- average.-'roll 'number'''of : 17v Mr. J. S. T.ehnant,- the board's inspector, visited the school last week,

PERSONAL NOTES. Miss King—lttiSr .jo-ined'the staff - : pf tho AVoodville .iMtosLO iivho has gone to 0110 of the Napier schools. Tho vacancy on the staff caused by tho resignation of ,J.lisu Dagg, owing .to ; illhealth, has'been filled by Mr.' C. ! A.' liendle.

On assuming his new duties as liead--master ■ of the Gonvillo School (Wanga•;nui), Mi-. C. 11. Bowater was introduced ;to the teachers and children by the chuir|man of the Gonville School Committee :(Mr. F. Webb-Jones), who, on behalf !of tho committee, wished him success in his new sphere of . influence. Mr. 80-water -water thanked tho chairman for his. good .wishes, and in a brief address to the children, -reminded theni, of the old adage, "Work.Awhile;' play while you play,"- and . expressed,HleUfope 'that they •,nvo^|d!- v w'osfe'' a in 'school, ;'and : !als'6 play ..well---w : hen v relieved {of schobl duties.,; He reminded:the cliil.dren that he was hot': only ...their' schoolmaster,'.but their friend, and they would jhavo his sympathy - and practical aid in .everything ■ that,.tended to . thcir. ; welfare. illo would'faker-part with them 'in their [games as well \as aid them in their -'studies, and he hoped thoy would all work together to make the school a conspicuous success. Upon relinquishing her appointment on the teaching staff of the Shannon School, 'Miss Mason was accorded the best wishes of tho district. Miss Fitzgerald Eager has been appointed to fill tho vacancy caused by Miss Mason's resignation. On the-Gvo of his departure fr,om Gonville School, last week the headmaster (Mr. P. Kime, M.A.), who is exchanging positon with Mr. C. H. Bowater, of llongotea, was presented with a handsome travelling rug. The presentation was made on behalf .of the teachers and pupils by Mr. F. Webb-Jones (chairman of the School Committed). 1 ; Ho referred to the, marked increase in the number of children attending tho school, and the progress they had made since Mr. Kime took charge a'little over two years ago, and .remarked that Mr. Kime carried with .him the very best wishes of both pupils and parents at Gonvillo for success in his new-sphere of work and influence. ; Miss Anderson, on severing her connec-tion-with the stall' of the Napier South School to enter into matrimony, was the recipient of a cut-glass picklo jar from her scholars and a pair of solid silver candlesticks from the teaching staff. The presentations were made i the headmaster, Mr. Dodds, .who expressed his satisfaction with the work done ; by Miss Anderson and extended to her !the best of good wishes for happiness in the days to come. Miss Nisbet, of the Lepperton School staff, is being transferred to Egmont Village. She is to be succeeded by Miss D. Cumbenvorth. Mr. iT. Watts, who has been connected with - the Torero School as headmaster, left by tho Saturday exprcis for Maranui, where ho has.Uccepted ,a more lucrative position. He,,will be'; greatly missed, as he was a keen sport, and took a prominent part in swimming and football. Last reason he donned the jersey-for ;the Civil'' Service Club. He'intends to join the Maranui Old Boys' Club. Miss D. Barnard,, who. has , resigneed her appointment as an assistant teacher at Torcre School, was given a farewell by the scholars and parents on her departure. Mr. Goldsbury, the headmaster, in a neat and, appropriate spe-ech, presented to Miss Barnard on behalf of the scholars a case of handsome silver spoons. Other presents were also given by members of her class. Mr. Mosely, a former member of the teaching staff at Newtown District High School, is at present teaching in Auckland. Recent appointments and resignations in the Ilawke's Bay district:— Appointments: Miss Keys, assistant, Napier South; Miss Orr, assistant, Tolaga Bay; Miss Ilannay, assistant, Napier Main; Miss B; Stewart, solo teacher, Mangatoro; Miss M'lntosh, pupil teacher, Makaraka; Mr., C. A. Eves, headmaster, Tikokino; Miss Z. Enting, assistant, Tikokino; Mr. Murphy, assistant, Waipukurau; Miss J. P. Grigox, sole teacher, 'Kumeroa; Miss Symes, solo teacher, Mskaretu South; Mr. Olstn, assistant. Mangapapa; Miss Turlcy, assistant, To Hapara; Miss Sheen, assistant, Gisborno; Miss Ejips, assistant, Gisborne; Miss G. Black, assistant, Gisborne. , Resignations: Miss Dagg, pupil teacher, • Woodville; Miss Symes, solo teacher, Riss'ington; Mr. Lindaeur, solo teacher, Ilop'elands. • :• Miss G- Watts, of tho staff of tho Feilding High School, has resigned her appointment. The committee, at its last : meeting, placed on record its appreciation ot Miss Watts's long and efficient term of service at the school,