PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 December 1925, Page 10

PRIMARY EDUCATION.

MEETING OF TARANAKI BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held at New Plymouth yesterday. There were present: Messrs' S. G. Smith (chairman), A. Lees, P. J. H. White, H. J- Eaves, R. J. Deare, F. H. Sim and the Rev. J. L. A. Kayll. Leave of absence was granted to Mr H. Dempsey. MOVEMENTS OF TEACHERS.

The resignations of the undermentioned teachers were accepted: Miss I. Brown, sole teacher, Rowan; Miss E. B. Cannell, sole teacher, Piko; Mrs Finch, sole teacher. Bird; Miss M. Tiickev, assistant, Opunake; Mrs M. G. Mansfield, sole teacher, Hurford; Miss P. I. Purvis, head teacher, Newall; Miss E. Sartori, head teacher, Stanley. Leave of absence was granted to the following teachers: Miss W. Boon, pupil teacher, Vogeltown; Miss E. M. Burgess, assistant, Tawhiti; Miss M. Frood, assistant, Kapuni: Mrs F. Firth, assistant, Central Miss. A. E. Guppy, assistant, Ohangai; Mrs J. I. Harrison, head teacher. Tariki; Miss I. J. Neilson, probationer. Opunake; Miss T. G. Penlington, assistant, Omata: Miss M. M. Papps. infant mistress. Central.

The chairman reported the following appointments had been made: Miss O. Ducker. assistant. Ohangai; Miss R. McCartie, assistant, Matiere; Mr J. Craig, head teacher, Kaponga; Miss A . Mace, head teacher. Awatuna; Miss C. Palmer, assistant. West End; Miss C. E. Price, assistant. Central: Miss G. Leerti. assistant, Manaia: Mr G. W. Graham, sole teacher, Kirihau; Miss E. Burkhart, sole teacher. Tokorima: Mr L. Des Foreree. sole teacher. Mahiraknu; Mr W. A. Jennings, sole teacher, Mangatupoto; Miss E. Surman, assistant. Motunui; Miss B. P. Jones, assistant. Waitara: Miss G. Barak, assistant. Waitara ; Miss F-. N. O’Sullivan. assistant. Awakino; Misss A. Kelleher, assistant. Upper Alangorei; Miss •T. R. Mitchell, assistant. Douglas: Mr H. R. W. Higgins, sole teacher, Pukeho; Miss E. C. Shepherd, assistant, Mangahume. HAWERA DENTAL CLINIC.

The chairman of the Hawera School Committee (Mr J. W. Harding) wrote asking what had been done towards establishing a dental clinic at Hawera. He understood that there would be nurses available in the New Year, and the board had promised that Hawera should have an establishment as early as possible. He understood that sufficent work would he found in Hawera district to occupy the time of three nurses.

The board decided to emphasise the urgency of the matter, and to ask the department to expedite the establishment of a clinic. APPLICATION FOR SCHOOL.

An application was received for the establishment of a school at Inaha. There were 50 children concerned, of whom 19 were at present under age and six between the ages of five and six years. The application stated thatthe other 25 children were attending school at Manaia, Tokaora and Okaiawa, .and all three schools were about three miles from the proposed site. Messrs Lees and Eaves were asked to report concerning the merits of the application. AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION. The senior agricultural instructor reported as follows: Primary Schools. —Instructors have continued their visits to primary schools during the month, and their reports upon the work carried out are very encouraging. The more frequent visits paid to the schools of the central district this year have raised the standard of the work throughout that district. The teachers of thfe schools in the Ohura district deserve commendation for the effort they have made to raise the standard of the work in their schools, and their efforts have been completely successful, for some of the finest work seen this year has been carried out in these schools. Instruction in Agriculture.—lt is encouraging to he able to report that in those schools where instruction in nature study and agriculture has improved the power of expression of the pupils has improved also. The more comprehensive and scientific course laid down for the schools has largely been responsible for this, and the methods used in dealing

with agriculture work have beneficially influenced the other work of the school, and scholars exhibit a pleasing spirit of self-reliance and earnest attention to all branches of school work. Afforestation Work. —This work is being enthusiastically carried out in many schools. The planting; of shelter trees round the grounds, of timber belts on rough school areas, and of shrubs and trees in the grounds has been efficiently performed. This interest in afforestation work in the schools is communicating itself to the farmers of the districts, who are realising as never before the advantages of laying down shelter belts and of establishing belts of timber trees. Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs. —Seeds and manure have been distributed to the various competitors in the. root-grow-ing competitions, but failure is report, ed in many eases because of the vicissitudes of the season. Secondary Schools. —The work at Opunake and Manaia District High Schools has been carried on satisfactorily during the month Teachers’ Classes. —These were discontinued on November 7. Very sound practical work has been carried out by the teachers at these classes throughout the year, and the periodical examinations held show that considerable benefit has been derived from them. MANUAL CLASSES. The supervisor of the manual classes reported as follows: Woodwork and domestic science classes have been conducted regularly during the month at the various centres, and both the work and the general conduct of the scholars has been satisfactory. The schemes of work arranged for the year have been almost completed in each centre and have fulfilled expectations, for there lias been general progress throughout the course. Examinations are being conducted in all centres to test the efficiency of the pupils. Ihe results of these examinations will be forwarded to the head teachers of the schools concerned after completion of the work. The superintendent of technical instruction visited some oi the centres in this district in company with Mr. Reynard during the month. Difficulties regarding the conveyance of scholars from two schools have arisen, and scholars from Rawhitiroa have been riding to the Eltliam centre each week in order to complete the course of lessons. The girls from this school have been forced to cease attending, as no new means of conveyance could be arranged for them. WHAKAMARA RESIDENCE.

The architect, Mr. C. H. Moore, reported as follows concerning the Whakamara residence: “As instructed, I visited the above school and interviewed the teacher in regard to his occupation of the residence, and lie assured me that he was prepared to occupy the residence as soon as it was

renovated and improvements made. As it would make a good deal of difference to the teacher in having to pay rent for a house during the holidays, I am putting the work in hand immediately, so as to enable the teacher ■to take possession before the schools close.

PIHAMA SCHOOL

The senior inspector reported on the accommodation at the Piharna school as follow's: “As soon as it is clear that the average for the year will entitle the school to another assistant, provision should be made to increase the accommodation .available. The present floor space provides for 76 pupils, and the average attendance for the year so far is 83. The average for the current quarter will probably be higher still.” DIXON BANNER COMPETITION. An application from the Tawhiti School Committee for a holiday on December 16, the occasion of the Dixon Banner competitions, was received.—lt was decided to grant a holiday to all schools competing in the competition. GENERAL. That all teachers qualified to enter a training college should go to Christchurch next year was the basis of a communication received from the Education Department. As the Board had received several applications for extension of the time befor e going to college and as several objections to going to Christchurch had been raised, it was left in the hands of the chairman to report on the merits of the cases. It was decided that during 1926 the board should meet on the third Wednesday of the month. This alteration was made in order to allow Mr P. J. H. White to attend the meetings of the Victoria College Council. The architect reported that plans and specifications for the Eltham Memorial Gates had been completed and forwarded to the Memorial Committee. He believed that tenders were to he called immediately. The attendance officer reported visiting 17 schools and having sent out 62 notices regarding attendances. One parent had been summoned for his children’s absence from school. Convictions had'been entered and penalties were to he fixed later. The Manual and Technical Committee recommended that the Department be requested to reconsider the grant for science equipment and material for the Opunake District High School in order that sufficient material to enable the work to be carried out to the requisite standard might be obtained.