EDUCATION BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 June 1924, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of tin? Education Board was held at New Plymouth Wednesday. Present : Messrs. A. Lees, (chairman), Dempsey, it. Masters, M.IL, G. Smith, M.P., White, lie are, and J'.aves. FINANCE. The Finance Committee reported that the following matters had been referred to the architect, with power to act: — Mokoia, oaliphont; Eltnam, repairs to roof; Stratford, grant for feme. Arrangements were to be made fqr a supply of hedge plants for Rahotu residence. The committee recommended that provided the committees raise the sum of £‘so, and the Department provides a. like amount, the-Board will carry out the erection of septic tanks and flush latrines, etc-., at the Auroa, Stanley and Biham a Schools; that application be made to the Department for a grant of -=£7s fo,r the erection of a partition in the Hawera infant room; that the senior agricultural instructor be authorised to spend up to £2O on the purchase of suitable hedge plants for schools approved by him; that the question of appionting a caretaker at the Hawera old Technical School be left to the chairman (Mir Lees), with power to act; that- the charts required by the agricultural instructors be printed and clistribtued to the schools; that the tender of Mr C. H, Brough of £6O 4s 9d for oainting the Hawera Old Tech nical School be accepted.

ARCHITECT’S REPORT. The architect (Mr C. H. Mooire) reported as follows: —New work —The additions and remodelling at Riverlea are now completed, and the school is being conducted under much better conditions. The additions at Warea are just about completed. Sufficient advancement with the work enabled the school to open again on June 2. We have the new additions at Mahoe well on towards completion. School is being held in the hall in the meantime. We are trying to get the work done as soon as possible to enable the children to get back in the school. Owing to the cold weather, the hall is not satisfactoiry. The completion of the dividing partition and a heater at Cardiff is receiving attention, and will be completed within a few days. General repairs. Stratford : The painting and general repairs to the infant school, and the wooden portion oi the main schol is well on towards completion. The inside was painted during the recent holidays, and did not. interfere with carrying on the school work. Riverlea: I had the general renovations to the residence put -in hand in conjunction with the new additions and remodelling of the school. The work is nearing completion. Mahoe: General repairs and renovation will be attended to at both the school and residence whilst we are carrying out the additions to the school. Warea: At Warea we are also generally renovating the school and residence. AGRICULTURAL REPORT. The agricultural instructor (Mr Ridling) reported: Primary Schols. —During the month 31 schools were visited. Excepting a few remote schools which have been visited for the first time, the work is proceeding satisfactorily. ► Rural Science Classes.—During the month classes have been commenced at Eltham. It was found impossible to commence at Hawera because: of difficulties of seating accommodation. This is being attended to, and classes will commence in June. The rural science work is proceeding now at Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham and Manaia, and satisfactory progress is being made. The attendance has suffered at Stratford because of the weather conditions prevailing. Teachers’ Classes. —Consistent progress is being made with the work in the teachers’ classes. Mr Dean lias relieved Mr Johnson at the Stratford class. The attendance at these classes has been satisfactory.

Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs.—'The. judging of the work done in connection with the root growing competition was commenced after the holidays in the Northern Divisin. Much good work has resulted from club activity, and some of the competitors have produced fine crops. This is distinctly encouraging, since many farm crops of roots have failed because of the prevalence of “rot” this season. MANUAL TRAINING. Mr H. W. Insull, supervisor of manual instruction, reported: The manual classes in woodwork, cookery, etc., are proceeding at Waitara, New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera and Manaia. The total roll number is approximately 200 children. Several country schools have expressed a wish to drop out during the winter months. This has been acceded to. Hawera Manual School.—The fence in front of the building is dilapidated. I suggest the fence he done away with altogether, and the small stretch of ground in front kept as an open lawn so as to be in keeping with the adjoining Soldiers’ Club property. Mr Syrne has offered to keep it in order. I shall be glad if a caretaker can be appointed to look after all the rooms in this building. Several of the instructors are not working the full number of hours as required by the Department. Unfortunately, this cannot be obviated (even by reducing the number of instructors) if the schools now receiving instruction are to continue. Opunakc Committee are still anxious that manual classes be established there, but without proper accommodation it is impossible to accede to their request. Mr Masters complained at the delay by some of the Board’s officials in furnishing reports, and said that members were able to gain information from the daily press before it was placed before them in the form of a report. Mr White said that since an application had been made two months ago for a permanent school at Pungureliu an offer of a site at a reduction of £lO per acre on the first offer had been made. At Onua Road the building was a dilapidated old cottage, and the roll was up to 30. They had information that it would probably he reduced, but even so the children should be taught under similar conditions, and the visiting committee recommended that an application should he made for a moveable school.—This was agreed to. Mr Smith replied at length on a number of matters ho had investigated with Mr Spencer while in Wellington, in regard, to applications made by the Board, and was accorded a vote of thanks. The chairman reported that, he had arranged with the Hawera School Committee for them to have the use of the shed owned by the Board as a shelter, arrangements to he made with the architect with regard to site, and the committee to pay the cost of removal. A report was presented reeommendimr that permission be given the Ornate Tennis Club to lay tennis courts in the school grounds. One clause in the report provided t hat no play/was to take nlace on the courts while church services were, being held near 1)V • "Mr Whit-* objected to this on the ground that by inference the Board was consenting to play on a Sunday,

and he did not think that they, as a board, should do that me view of most members was that the club would not play while church services were in progress.

Mr Eaves saw no reason why people should not play tennis on a Sunday if they pleased, or why it should interfere with church services. It was decided to delete the clause, and the report was adopted. An application was received for a school at Roto. The secretary said there were eight children who would attend. The cost to the Board, if the request was granted, would he £l2O a year.—lt was decided to make application for a household school.

The Department wrote asking for a special plan showing the 4 acres offered at £6OO for a site for the Man gore i School. A letter was received from the Department upholding the work done by the correspondence school, and stating that there was much testimony to the value of the work.

Mr Dempsey said it was his honest opinion that tuition by correspondence was not satisfactory.

The Department wrote in reply to the application for a grant of £6455 tor five new classrooms in concrete for the Eltham School, requesting that a block plan be forwarded showing the outbuildings and the provision for extension.

The chairman said that in forwarding this plan the. Department should have its attention drawn to the fact that the rural class was provided for in the same room as ordinary instruction was given, and that this was very undesirable in the interests of the’ children.

Tawhiti School Committee wrote, asking for a. definition of Dr. Gunn’s duties. The matter had been referred to the Department, which stated that ,t had been (referred to the Director of School Hygiene and the Board would be communicated with later. The Department forwarded a form for the Board to fill in showing the number of feeble-minded children in the. districts under its control.

Mr Dempsey said that in all his experience as a school teacher he had come in contact with very few feebleminded children. >

Mjr Lees said the worst cases wete not at school.

The Department forwarded the names of teachers who had impersonated others at examinations, and stating that all had been dismissed from the Department’s service. The Department wrote stating that complaint had been made that some teachers were permitted to transfer before serving a 'reasonable time at- a school. It was suggested that two years was a. reasonable minimum. The opinion of the Board was asked with a view to having an amending Bill passed if necessary. Mr Dempsey said they could only look at the matter from the standpoint of the pupils, vand looked at in that way he did not think a teacher should remain at a school less than two years. On the motion of Mr Lees, seconded by Mr White, it was decided to approve of legislation to prevent frequent trails fers, the minimum at one schol to be two years. The Manaia Committee, forwarded a list of 30 pupils in Standard VI., including 9 who had proficiency certificates, and made application for a D.R.S. The chairman said that to save time the applicant-ion had been forwarded to the Department at once. A circular letter was received from the White Cross League urging the need, for teaching in sexual hygiene at public schools.—No action. The Wanganui Education Board forwarded for endorsement a resolution favouring one page of the School Journal being devoted to vocal music, including part singing. The senior inspector said that in view of the limitations of children’s voices great care should be exercised in teaching part singing. Few teachers were able to classify voices. Messrs Ijees and Masters said they were against the proposal, and it was decided, to inform the Wanganui Board that they could not support the resolution in regard to part singing, but were of the opinion that greater attention should be given to the development oi musical talent. Two teachers wrote in reference Ic oictovial instruction to school children. Both wore of the opinion that as given at present more harm than good was done, and if full benefits were to be derived no charge should be made, and attendance should be more or less compulsory. One school teacher preferred magic lantern views, and this idea met with favour from Mr Dempsey. Mr "White said that foe* pictures to b? really beneficial they should, be part of the schol curriculum, not under private control.