WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 294, 18 June 1907, Page 2

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

CHIEF INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr Braik reported as follows: — Reports : — Sixty-seven reports on the efficiency of schools are presented. The Inspectors speak in uniformly favorable terms of the work done in the schools, the tenor of the reports on the Palmereton group being uniformly good. What the,lnspectors complain of chiefly is the nature of the schemes of work. In no fewer than 20 cases the teachers' schemes are condemned on the ground that they are mere transcripts of the work as set out in the syllabus, devoid alike of suggestion and vitality. Much improvement in this respect is certain to be secured ere the year runs out. In addition to these school reports there are submitted to the Committee reports on the following : —Saturday Training classes for teachers j Saturday training classes for pupil-teachers; Cookery classes and Woodwork classes; and school building and school requisites. Winter School.— The Winter School will start on Monday, 24th inst. Arbor Day. — I would suggest that at the Board's schools this day be given up entirely to tree planting, the improvement of school grounds aud the beautification of the class rooms. Supply of Teachers. — It would be well to endeavour, even at this early date, to find out how many of the students at the Training College are willing to take service under the Board. It is not enough in this important matter to trust to chance. I would suggest that the Board should at once find out to what extent uncertificated teachers may be displaced by teachers from the Training College, and. to secure the services of the latter before they receive more tempting offers from other districts. School Records. — It is highly necessary that each school should be supplied with a box to contain the school records and other papers, which are now sent to schools in such numbers. All these are the property of the school, and should be treated in the same manner in every school. Technical. — Central district; Mr Varney reports that the attendance it Wanganui continues good, especially in the trade classes; that work at Marton has begun under entirely fivoroble circumstances,, and that the building there is drawing near completion; that work has also com!!;onced at Bulls, where lessons by Mr Orant and Mr Browne are especially desired ; and that good work is being S done at Turakina, Hunteryille, and Taihape. Southern District: Mr Amos reports that in his district there are now 30 classes attended by 340 pupils, the classes being conducti cd at Feilding, Ashhurst, Halcombe, Kimbolton, Bunnythorpe, Rongotea, and Colyton. There is a prospect that classes will be started at Pohangina and Apiti also. The Feild- ! ing classes, on the recommendation I of the Department's Inspector, have ! removed to more suitable buildings. Northern District: Mr Hintz supplies an analysis of the subjects taught, and of the attendance in ms district, from which it appears that there is a roll number or 517, with an average attendance to date of 403.2, the work being carried on at Hawera, Eltham, Patea, Mama, Maugatoki, Normanby and Matapu. The work being done, Mr Hints states, is of an elementary kind, the problem of the future being the difficulty of securing competent instructors. Mr Hintz states that the Riverdale Dairy Factory has donated £7 7s. and the Kaupokonui Dairy Factory £5, towards the erection of a Dairy Science Room at Manaia, and that th* Eltham Borough Council baa made the handsome donation of £4Q towards the Eltham Technical §chool. The suggestions contained in the report were adopted.