EDUCATION IN TARANAKI

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 16 January 1930, Page 8

EDUCATION IN TARANAKI

administrative work . BOARD MONTHLY MEETING. There was a great deal of work upon which reports were received and. important discussions at- tlie monthly meeting of the Taranaki. Education Board at Neiv Plymouth yesterday when members present were Messrs S. G. Smith, M.P. (chairman), P. J. H. White, A. Lees IV. H. Jones, J. MeAlliste’r, J. A. Valentine and 11. Dempsey. . Among the teachers’ appointments recommended by' the selection committee were the following: Mr D. V. Banks, sole teacher, Onion a; Mr D. Longley, Warea; Mr H. Donnelly, relieving teacher (first term 1930), Tokaora; Miss Linda. Hutchinson, domestic science instructress, Hawera and Manaia centres. It was decided to interchange the positions of Miss Hazel Phillips and Mis«. Marjorie Armstrong as probationary assistant at the Bltbam and Okafo schools respectively. , Appointments of probationary as.istants for 1930 were made as follow : Normanby, Aliss Joan Y. Tonics; Eltham, Miss Marjorie Armstrong; Rjaliotu, Mr Arthur N. Samson; Alanaia, Mr Theodore L. Bailey; Opunake, Miss Muriel Cany or: Stratford, Miss Eileen G. Tip pens; Tawhiti, Aliss Lulu AI. Bielieno; Hawera, Aliss Katherine I. Tarrant. Air Maxwell O. W. Gray. Miss Kathleen Kempthorne is to he ap{jointed domestic science instructress at the Stratford and EJltham Subject to the approval of the Minister the following teachers are to be substitute assistants for 1930: Okaiawa, Aliss Edna Flavin. Turuturu, Air Tvan Pepperell; Stratford, Miss Evelyn AlcDonaid.

BUILDING WORKS. A list of projected works in order of urgency was presented by the architect. The works included: Alidhirst, remodelling, £738, application made on August 8, 1929; Alokau, movable room, £IBO, August 10, 1929; West End, special classroom, £5Bl, December 19, 1929; Tarurutangi, application to be made; Opunake District High School; Oaonui, remodelling; Whakamara, reinstatement; Rawliitiroa, remodelling, £1042, November 26, 1929; heating of concrete schools, £830; Alangahume, £220, October 26, 1927; Rahotu, £215, July 27, 1929. The architect reported also that a reply from the department outlining the basis of grants for maintenance of school grounds was received. The system was one recommended bv a commission. Tlie allocation for tlie period ending Atarch 31 was £6688, which was an increase of £144 on the previous year-. Owing to the fact that the financial year for the Education Board terminated in December it was feared the grant would not represent as much as actually appeared. The matter w'as referred to the finance committee.

The architect referred to the housing of the Trimble Library at Stratford, and said that amended plans had been prepared so as to have the building joined to the main school. CONVEYANCE OF CHILDREN. The continuance for three years of the present contract for the conveyance of children from Glenn Road to Alanaia School was approved in a, communication from the department. Mr White pointed out that there was a small discrepancy between the tender of Mr George, which was considered very satisfactory, and the present contract price sanctioned by the department. It was decided to place the proposals for the new contract before the Director of Education.

PROGRESS OF MANUAL WORK. TFe manual supervisor (Air R. G. Ridling) in his monthly report stated the attendance at woodwork classes during the two lessons liad been good, and pupils were occupied in finishing their models and in grinding tools. Satisfactory work had been carried out in all centres, and tools had been carefully ground, oiled and packed for the vacation. In almost all classes the models had been completed, one •class at Eltham and two classes at Manaia being unable to finish their work. The work of the cookery branch dining December consisted of the preparation of meals and the necessary preparation of the equipment and rooms for the long vacation. The work of the girls from standard four had been favourably commented upon by the instructors, for the girls had responded well to encouragement and had done very useful work. Forms I and II had done very good work at most centres, and at Waitara, Opunake and Stratford work of a highly creditable character had been carried out. Classes closed for the year on December 13, and instructors were occupied during the last week in the preparation of returns and the necessary attention, to equipment. With regard to woodwork in district high schools, a notice in the December Gazette stated the department would favourably consdier applications from (District high! scfieq'ls ’for w/cbd work equipment. Application would be made for sufficeint equipment for the Ohura District High .School. The buildings were in good order and conditions except the woodwork room at Stratford .r.vhich required painting inside. The agreultural instructors reported that in the primary schools feiv ordinary visits had been paid during. December but the practical work was found to be well in hand. Preparations were being made in very many schools for carrying on experimental garden work during cbe holidays.

GARDENING INSTRUCTION Most of the garden work conducted by the home garden competitors had been judged. The better work was undoubtedly carried out in the country schools, where the interest >of teachers and pupils was high. Parents also L\v ere developing an interest in the work and the boys and girls were being encouraged to grow vegetables and flowers for the house. The town garden work bid been disappointing. la spite of the effort on the part of the c-iass teachers to arouse and maintain interest, the work soon fell far short of what could be done. The only parents who had shown interest in this work .were those who were themselves interested in gardening, and until *.bo parents’ assistance was encouraged, ; indifferent results would be general. CALF REARING In the calf-rearing comp diri ms the judging had been carrin ! out during ilie month. The general .standard of this work was higher than ever and tho interest of parents, teachers and competitors was steadily maintained. • This year <551 animals had been judged. | Last year 526 had been judged. The I advance was due largely to the o | tension of the work to more remote aieas and to the fact that more of the ; .competitors were satisfactorily eom- ' pleting their work. An innovation this year had been the introduction of • pedigree classes in the northern divi-

sion. The scheme now was sufficiently iwide to embrace till interested boys and girls.

HOT WATER SYSTEAIS

The board’s application for a lump sum for the installation of water heating in schools had been refused by the department. Air. White said that as there was only about four months in which to complete arrangements before winter, and as they intended to proceed with the work at all costs, arrangements should be made immediately. The chairman’s motion that the Director of Education, Air. T. B. Strong, be approached on Thursday during his visit, .to New Plymouth was carried. To improve the water supply at the Kapuni and Riverlea residences piping had been laid from the school supply for a well-pumping outfit. Chip heaters had been installed at Alangahume, Kapuni and lAlokoia residences. Repairs had been done at Opunake, Alangahumc, Riverlea, Kaponga, Okato, and Tawhiti. GENERAL The dates of the election of board members .were fixed. Nominations would be called on June 6 and would else on June 24. The election would be on July 16, and on July 31 the official count would be made. A motion that the Education Board’s rooms should not be let to local organisations for the purpose of holding meetings was carried. The question of the supply of grass seed to the Rowan school was discussed and the request granted. The vicar of Whangamomona, wrote asking the board for permission to give religious instruction in the schools in his district and especially to the Church of England children. He is to be advised that he should approach the school committees directly with his proposals and provided the statutory four hours of school work was carried out in the schools the committees had the power to refuse or allow his request.

FORESTRY. The annual forestry return showed that in the schools 54 acres had been set aside for school plantation work, and those areas were being planted steadily. Most of the trees raised- this year had been disbursed among the pupils and planted on the farms. The work in the school plantations had been largely replacement of dead trees and general- care of existing plantations. Absolutely correct figures were difficult to obtain, but the totals of trees planted- were approximately': Finns 21,000. eucalyptus 17,000, cup-

ressus 7750. Except in the ease of the pinus species tlie figures were not much different from last, year’s return. The loss amongst ecunlypts and cupressus had been somewhat, heavy and a good deal of replacement had been necessary.

According to the return stocks in the nursery were higher than at this time last year in the first year trees -only. The figures were: Third year trees, pinus 999, cupressus 312; second year trees, pinus 1456, eucalyptus 1309, -eupressus 695; first year trees, pinus 9018, eucalyptus 12,953, cupressus 5112; totals, ‘ pinus 11,563, eucalyptus 14,262, cupressus 6119. This would mean somewhat restricted planting for the next year of both pinus and cupressus species.