SCHOOLS AND STAFFS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 46, 23 August 1926, Page 10

SCHOOLS AND STAFFS

SITES SHOULD BE

ACQUIRED

REPORT OF EDUCATION BOARD

The annual report of the chairman of tho Wellington Education Board sets out in detail the position as regards staffing, etc., in the AVellington Education district.

It is shown that tho total of adult teachers last year was 7G6, of whom 699 wero certificated, 8 were licensed teachers, and 59 were uncertifieatcd. There were 139 probationers and pupil teachers, and ono organising teacher. The staff of tho Training Collego and manual instructors brought the total to 936. The total number of students at tho Training College was 336 (323 in 1924), 118 (100) men and 218 (223) women.

Remark is made that, notwithstanding tho difficulties arising from the closing of schools until after mid-April on account of the infantile paralysis epidemic, the good work done by tho staff, both in tho special allotment and correction of work prior to opening, and in the subsequent effort, resulted in an excellent year's work. SECONDARY EDUCATION. Tho average attendances for the year 1925 at the district high schools in the district were:—Cartorton, 37; Eketahuna, 29; Featherston, 24; Greytown, 23; Hutt, 40; Levin, 91; Martinborough, 31; Pahiatua, 44; Petone, 49. In addition a secondary class of twelve pupils was conducted at the Pongaroa Public School, making a total average attendance of 380, as against 430 for the previous year. The secondary departments at the Hutt and Petone District High Schools after years of most useful work were closed from the end of the year, giving way then to the Hutt Valley High School. There were current at the end of 1925 46 senior and 76 junior scholarships. On the 31st December, 1925, five senior and eighteen junior scholarships expired. On the results of the 1925 examinations 21 senior and 21 junior scholarships were awarded. A Heckler Memorial Scholarship, tenable for two years from Ist January, 1926, was awarded to David Blair M* Donald. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL. Handwork was undertaken in all schools. In twenty-three schools under iontrol of male teachers classes in needlework were carried on by special instructresses. A new manual centre to serve the eastern schools of the city was erected at Coutts street. The consolidation of the Mount Cook group will render necessary the erection at an early dato of a centre for the middle area of the city. Improved provision for science, woodwork, and cookery is not yet supplied at Martinborough. Appreciation is expressed of the worjt of the medical and dental services, and of the assistance rendered by the city library and the central schools' libraries at Featherston, Carterton, and Masterton. BUILDING AND SITES. The chief rebuilding works of the year were the erection of tho new main school at Mount Cook, of chaste and useful design in brick, and of a new school of three rooms at Kaiwarra. A school was erected at Kekerangu and a manual centre at Coutts street to serve the eastern suburbs. Additions wore provided at Seatoun, Paekakariki, Karori, Hataitai, Otakj, Springlands, Plimmerton (portable), Lyall Bay (portable), each one room. Remodelling was undertaken at Paekakariki, Springlands, and Kahutara. The old Clyde quay infant school, which had been damaged by fire, was improved as to lighting in the reconstruction. Sites or extension of sites were acquired at Coutts street, Ncwtown East, Ngaio, Porirua, Pukerua (partly donated by Mr. C. Gray), Trentham (partly donated by Mr. Cottle), Kahutara (gift of Mr. BidwelV), Kekerangu, Seatoun, and Springlands. The board considers that where future population is assured, especially in urban and suburban areas, the policy of early purchase should be steadily pursued. Thus many sites should be acquired on the outskirts of "Wellington and in the Hutt Valley. No junior high school has yet been established, though tho site has been procured at Coutts street. In tho absence of early provision here heavy capital expenditure will be necessary at the neighbouring primary schools. Public opinion was steadily growing in favour of conveyance to central schools from the surrounding country, where suitable arrangements at a reasonable cost could tie made, rather than to increase the number of small schools.