THE SCHOOL WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1180, 15 July 1911, Page 14

THE SCHOOL WORLD.

A WEEKLY REVIEW. NOTES FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY. Teachers and others interested in the administration of education arc iuviteu to eontributo notes for publication in "'i'lic School World." Tlii'so should uo addressed to the Editor. "'l.V c „. . „ World," The Dominion, and posted to reach this oflice not later than Wednesday in each wceK. Correspondents desirinc enlightenment upon any auestion in connection with tile school work, or tho general administration of tho education system, are invited to submit theso points to tho Editor for elucidation and reply. Where anonymity is desired, it will bo strictly observed. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. C.J.— I Thanks for your kindly appreciation. Clause 122 of tlie Act states that "if a member of a. school committeo is absent without leave of tho committee during three consecutive months from all meetings of tho committee, except from illness, or other cause to bo approved by tho committee, or if a member ceases to reside in the school district, hb shall cease to be a member of the committee, and his oflice shall thereupon bo vacant." "A.L.B."—Thanks. Notes from small schools are especially acceptable. THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT COURTEOUS. A HINT FEOM WANGANUI. Writes a correspondent:—"The Hawke's Bay Education Board recently appointed tt committee to draw up regulations for compulsory attendance at continuation schools, and this committee in due course presented them to the board, neglecting only to say that they were an exact copy of draft regulations drawn up for tho Wanganui Education Board, but which were afterwards amended and adopted. 'Che chairman of the Wanganui branch informs 1110 that it is pleasing to find their ideas so readily accepted, but suggests that indebtedness to the other fellow's brains deserves some acknowledgment." . A NEW SCHOOL FOR PATEA. "NOTHING LESS WILL SATISFY." "Several Court eases under tho compulsory attendance regulations were heard at the Magistrate's Court, I'atea, last week, and fines were inflicted in most cases (writes a correspondent). "In conscquence of the disgraceful state of the school building, much .dissatisfaction is felt among the parents, as what with dampness, draughts, and decay, the school is not fit to send a child to on souio ot the wet and cold days of winter. A committee of tho Wanganui. Education Board is expected to visit Pa tea within a day or so, to see if matters can be improved without rebuilding, as tlio board, according to the Minister for Education, has misapplied its re-building funds, and cannot see its way to re-build. One thing is certain here, however, and that is that nothing less than a new school will satisfy the people of Patca." WHERE ARE THE MEN? A SOUTHLAND INSPECTOR'S COSIPLAINT.

Inspector Hendry, reporting to tho Southland Education Board on. certain applications for positions as probationers and pupil teachers in tlie board's service, remarks that "most of the eligible candidates appear tc> ho .vei? promising young persons, and when admitted .into the board's service might be expected to develop into useful and capable members of the teaching profession," and drew attention to an aspect of tho case was much less gratifying. "Of the 41 candidates interviewed/' lie sau!,_ only one was a boy-. -Tho disproportionate!} Bmall number of males offering themselves for appointment bad in previous years Wen matter of comment, and reasons moro or less cogent had been put forward to account for the fact; but ou no previous occasion within his experience lind the disproportion been so marked os on the present occasion." He added; i t is, liowover, in the last degree nil[likely that tho profession .of teaching' will fail to attract to itself a fair proportion of capable lads; and a possible explanation of their non-appearanc# at the- selected centres may be found in the assumption that liead-tcacliers, though duly advised by circular from the office, neglected to notify boys to present themselves for interview by the boards inspector.

MARTON V, PATEA. RIVAL CLAIMS DISCUSSED. At a special meeting of the Wangann Education Board which was held on Wort ne=day last, the chairman (Jlr. I. Piram 'reported having attended a meeting ol representatives of the various public foodie: ill Jlarton regarding tho erection of: now school. It was estimated that Ihi cost of the now building would he about JE-1000, font as tho Minister had promisee to contribute the difference between tin cost in wood and brick (say, =£1000), am as tho old site would fetch at least .£>oo this meant that tho board would havi to find .£2500 out of maintenance. Taking in tho erection of a now school at Patea and spreading the expense over two years ho thought the board could manage it The new si to at Marton would have t( foe considerably improved. It was suggest cd that if .£2oo were Taised, tins, with tin Government subsidy, would foe sufficien for this purpose. A list liad therefon 'been sent round in the room, and iil oi X7B had been raised, tho Mayor of Jlartoi contributing i£2s. In a/.veek J2OO hai been subscribed. It was wonderfully gooi work, and tho Jlarton people were to bi complimented. Jlr. Pirani said ■ho pro posed to ask tho board's endorsement o a building scheme for Jlarton. lie though there would be more chance of gettiiif the I'atea School then. The board hai been deceived over Patea, and the Pate; public had promised nothing towards tin A representative of tho Northern Ware (Jlr. Dixon) dared to champion the causi of I'atea. Jlr. Pirani listened patientl; to Jlr. Dixon's arguments, and then de scribed liini as "tho niost parochial mai ho had ever met." Mr. Pnrnell deprecated the putting o one school against another. If P hat a prior claim to Jlarton, it should w gone on with. But tho board cxpectce the residents to provide part of the cost as was insisted on in other schools. Hi moved:—"That the chairman's scheme fo' the erection of a now brick building a Jlarton bo proceeded with, and that Jlr ]3attle be asked to prepare/ plans ane specifications, and make application to thi Department for a promise to contnbuti the difference in tho estimated cost o brick and wood." At this stage au amendment was movei that tho llaiton scheme bo deferred til tho deputation had inspected tho Pate; School. Mr. Pirani pointed out that the Mar ton School was an urgent one. It wa: growing, and was likely to grow vor; much, and tho conditions at Patea wer< not on all fours at all. Over ,£2OOO wouh como out of the board's funds in re-erect iiig tlio Patea School tho same size as a' present, while J-2500 would be require! to erect a school double the size at Jiar • ton. Tho estimate for tho I'atea Schoo was .£2205. Tho board had been told thai the Jlinistoi- had promised a grout, foul lie had promised only A'-liiO. Tho boan would nover agree to tho extravagant pro ' position of ,£2-'SOO. It wouid pause befon I expending a sum like that, in Jlartoi \ there was .a growing district, a good mas ;■ ter and committee, and' an enthusiastie public. What was there at Patea? No lliing font bickering regarding paltry e.v ponse in cleaning out tho school. Then was a prosperous future l>eforo the schoo, at Jlarton, and then they were told that Patea should be put on the same basis a; Jlarton. If Jlr. Dixon were frank lie could say there was no great future fnt Patea. (A denial from Jlr. Dixon.) The board hail to tako the merits nf the schools into consideration. Other school; had to be considered as well, but the first were Jlarton and Patea. The board would not agree to put np a monument to memI bers who barracked for one. Tim Patea i proposals wore extravagant. The finesP Hon of two buildings would mean .EtflfJO, g which could be spread over two rp.ir?, £ and could be commenced in a few: months,

All parlies would be satisfied, and justieo would 1)0 done. It would be no assistance to I'atca to delay Marlon. He hoped the members of the hoard would seize the opportunity of the Minister's promise and yet. rid of one incubus. The amendmea': v.ai lost bv four to three, and the motion was carried. The chairman then announced his intention of resigning from the deputation which is to visit I'atca. lie added that there was no doubt the board could go oil with both works if they were urgent.

A committee of the board is to inquire into the <|iic.-tioii of rebuilding the J'atra District llgli School at I'atca on Monday light.