EDUCATION BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 May 1925, Page 10

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki Education Board met at New Plymouth yesterday, the chairman (Mr S. G. Smith, M.P.,) presiding. There were also present: Messrs A. Lees, P. J. H. White, R. J. Deare, H. .Dempsey, E. H. Sim, and the Rev. J. L. A. Kayll. , The following: recommendations or the teachers’ selection committee and the senior inspector were adopted: Auroa (first assistant), Mrs E. Cotrell; Mata (sole teacher), that Miss M. Mathieson be appointed to this position provided no application is received by the Board from the Mata School Committee re conveyance of children to the Eltharn School; Opunake (probationer), Miss Irene Neilson; Mahiralcau, that the transfer of Miss C. L. Barnett from Mahirakau to head teacher, Te Boti, as from May 18 be confirmed; Waitara, that Miss Walker be transferred from Waitara to fourth assistant, Manaia.

The request of the Manaia, Manga iningi, Pohokura, Pukeho and Puniwhakau schools to alter hours from 9.3(1 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. during the winter months was approved.' The attention of committees, however, was drawn to the fact that an hour must be given for lunch. Permission was granted the Caledonian Society to organise an essay competition among the schools. The date for the second election of school committees not yet appointed was fixed for Monday, June 15. August 19 was fixed as the date for the election of the boards of managers of' the New Plymouth Technical College and Stratford and Hawera Technical High Schools. In regard to a, safety first campaign amongst school children suggested by the Taranaki Automobile Association, it was decided to reply that the hoard had already conducted a campaign amongst the schools, and proposed again to call the attention of teachers to the need of emphasising this instruction. It was also decided to consider the printing of suitabe posters for placing in schools.

It was decided to circularise school committees, requesting them to arrange all picnic and snorts gatherings on a Saturday to avoid the closing of schools in view of the shortened year. The department advised that no reductions in pupil teachers’ lodging allowances would he made during the epidemic period.

MANUAL CLASSES

Mr R. G. Jtidling, supervisor’, reported that attendance at the manual classes had been satisfactory at all centres except Waitara, Stratford and Inglewood. Satisfactory attendance at Giese centres could only be maintained by a system of conveyance to meet the requirements of the Department and the teachers.

Regarding rural science and manua' work, he said the attitude of the Department on the question of conducting rural science classes at centres had changed the whole outlook of the classes a*- the Stratford centre. He led the time-table that had been arranged. (; iitC.'L 1 ,TUR AL INSTRT T CTION.

Mr R. G R idling, senior agricultura instructor, reported that 39 primary schools lv ' been visited. The grounds of most schools were much overgrown as a result of the long vacation, and much of the garden work had come to naught. The teachers were making an effort to re-establish the work as .speedily as possible.

Regarding rural science c'asses, he sgid that their continuance must be con side] ed hy the board, as it was perfectly clear that the- Department would not approve of them, and the cost- of upkeep would have to be borne by the board’s funds. The capitation earned bv these classes in 1924 was £57 8s 3d, and the estimated maintenance cost of the classes during the year was £62 10s. . , . Classes in agriculture ana dairy science, had been commenced at, the Manaia District High School, and in natural science and dairy science at Opunake District High School. The work in these schools was at present being carried out by Mr ft. Syme, but the headmasters of the senools- understood that the teachers in the schools must make themselves proficient in this work so that they could undertake it when the work was. thoroughly established-

The Forest Service/ had offered to provide a maximum of 200 assorted trees to the schools, chosen by the various instructors. These trees were offered free-on rail at Moturoa. ARCH ITEGT’S REPORT. Mr C. H. Moore, architect, reported that the Fraser Road additions and remodelling were completed and ready for occupation when the schools opi ened. The board made' a special grant out of maintenance (to enab.e the work to be carried out) to coi er the cost of turning the school round at right angles hexore adding new class-room. -He felt sure that ix the advantages of- adopting this system where schools are badly placed were realised, no schools would be- added to unless they faced the proper way; the child'en Had plenty of sunshine and . entilation. GENERAL. * 'flie Erase,- Road School committee wrote thanking the hoa.d ior- the work done in enlarging the school.-and fit tiny it .up in such an up-to-date manner. The headmaster was very gratified and expected better- resn.ts in the fut .re it was also desired to compliment the board upon its fine set of workmen It was a treat to see the way in wh.c the work oioceeded. -Mem :ers e.*:p«e.--s e<l satisfaction with re.ei.ing such r tiib"te to the staff, which proved clear. |y the value and advantages of ihe hoard’s scheme over contract or day abour schemes. 11 E.l - I FA' IN G APPOINTMENTS,. The. chairman reported that dm mu the month, lie had made relieving appointments, including the following • Kapuni teacher), Miss N. Anderson : Kaplun (assistant). Miss A Kel teller ; Kapuni (head teacher). Mrs Cottrell. RESIGNATIONS AND LEAVE. Leave o-f absence wnr ; g granted to, among others-, the follow mg: Miss M. ]. Kin th, assistant, Tawhiti, March 31 to April 27; Mr. A. T. Hon ore. hea'l-ma-ster, Lnp-uni, M-ay 4 to- June 15. Rle.sign avfar.is ijeie accepted as follow : Miss I. Edwards, head teacher. Te- Roti, May 1.5; Miss E. Ear-qulia-r, assistant, Auroa, May 31: Mr 1. Jarne-s, assistant, Ka.po-nga, May .31 ? Miss M. E. Stevenson, assirtanr Manaia. 'Mary. 31: Miss K. E, Smith head teacher, Mahoe, June 14.