EDUCATION IN POVERTY BAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3710, 20 December 1912, Page 6

EDUCATION IN POVERTY BAY.

VISIT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

A REVIEW OF VARIOUS SCHOOLS

fBY TELEGR APH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] NAPIER, Dec. 19. At the education meeting to-day the Chairman read the following report concerning his visit to. the Poverty ' Bay schools : Since the last meeting of the Board I have visited the following schools in the Poverty Bay district: Gisborne, Kaiti, Mangapapa, Te Hapara, Matawhero, Whatatutu, Pulia, Te Karaka, Kaitarataln, Ormond, Waerenga-a-hika, Makauri, Patutahi, Te Arai, and Muriwai. lam pleased to say that in the great majority of instances I found the buildings and surroundings in exce'lent condition, while many agricultural plots and gardens were a treat to see. From what I was able to observe very little is needed in any of the schools in the North Ward; in fact their equipment came as a great surprise to me after the many complaints received from that district. It afforded me great satisfaction in meeting many of the members of the school committees, and I found them without exception to be men who took keen interest in their schools and who were anxious to advance the cause of education. The Board will be pleased to know that I was able to remove some of the misconceptions that existed between several of the school committees and the Board, which I am convinced will lead to more amicable relations in the future. I was particularly impressed with the fine type of teachers I met. They are a body whom I feel sure will not only impart sound rudimentary instruction to their pupils, but who may be relied upon to teach their charges to equip themselves as men, when their school days have ended. I deem it my duty to state that in my opinion a good deal of the friction that has existed between school committees and Board in the past lias been created by some of the recommendations made by Mr Inspector Hill. In several instances these recommendations appeal - ' to me to have been of an extravagant nature and should net have been given effect to. In the course of convei’sation with members of the different committees regarding their wants I found it necessary to inform them that 1 could not approve of their works being carried out as I thought they were unnecessary in several instances. Speakers agreed with me and stated that the only reason for making them was that <: tlie Inspector recommended them.” These comments apply more particularly to the recommendations made for asphalting around schools, irrespective of the distance of carting tar. Many schools that have made applications for this work on the recommendation of the Inspector are a considerable distance from Gisborne. They have excellent material around the buildings which is ample for all purposes. Asphalt would certainly look neater, but the cost of such work is not warranted.

There has also in my opinion been an unwarranted expenditure on hyloplate. but certainly the benefit to be de rived is not at all commensurate with the cost. In one school at least hyloplate was attached ,to the walls, even behind the desks, where it cannot be used except by causing great inconvenience to both teachers and pupils. On making inquiries I found that the Inspector had recommended the adoption of this method. In another school, where the teacher frankly stated that lie did not want it, the "Inspector recommended it in his report and, of course, my committee naturally put in an application” was the reply to my query as to why the application had been made in another school. Hyploplate was so liberally supplied that it was even placed behind a door where it is perfectly useless. _ The only schools visited that requires hyploplate is the Makauri School, where it should be substituted for blackboards. I have to tender my thanks to the members of the Northern Ward (Messrs Morgan and McLeod) for accompanying me on ray trip. Their knowledge of the local conditions was of great help, while their, companionship helped me to spend an enjoyable holiday.

Mr Morgan said he understood Mr Hill desired to say something about the report. The Chairman replied that it was not desirable that servants of the Board should enter into an argument with members and he had instructed Mr Hill to put his remarks into writing. The Board adopted the report.