EDUCATION IN TARANAKI

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 19 October 1933, Page 10

EDUCATION IN TARANAKI

BOARD’S ' MONTHLY MEETING

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education. Board was held yesterday at New , Plymouth, Mr. J. A Valentine presiding. There were also present' Messrs H. Dempsey, J. McAllister, W. H. Jones, J. O. Barclay, and Dr. W. M. Thomson. Tx.-ave of absence was granted Messrs S. G Smith, M.P., and W. B. Glasgow. 'J’he attendance officer reported that during the eight weeks ending October Id lie had issued 47 irregular attendance noth es.

The following 22 schools had been [visited: Tawhiti, Urenui, Leprperton, Kora, Onuita, Opunake, Mangatoki, Okaiawa, York, Denbigh, Upper Mangorei, Hawera, Manaia, Tokaora, Ararat a-, Eltliam, Kaponga, Pihama, Geo, Opunake Convent, Kaponga Convent. The attendances at all schools except for a little sickness was good. The supervisor of manual instruction reported that in. both woodwork and cookery the third term’s work had bc-gun and was proceeding with a good I swing. At this time, there was no | need for comment on any aspect of , the work. I AfiIUGULTtRAL WORK. The report of the agriculture instructor (Mr. D. MackayJ was as follows : . , , Primary Schools. —Visits to schools • were continued during the month, and i most schools had either completed i spring sowing and planting operations or had the work well advanced. It was. I pleasing to note that plans were now( | being prepared beforehand, and bV| working to these well-arranged gardens I resulted. There were relatively few [schools where arrangements were wanting. The instruction through the garden experiment was being well p-re-I sen ted. A problem was found to exist and teachers had their classes 1 work out the various steps to determine by variety trial, mammal trial, or cultivation experiment the solution i of tiie problem; The result was that pupils- had a very real interest in then garden work, which this month had monopolised the science time. 'J’lie notebook work of some, of the schools visited was highly c rein table, I both in written matter and in drawing. This side of the work varied from school to school, but quantity of work covered and quality of note-making; w as generally satisiactory. in nature study, seed studies, bud studies, emerging insects' and awaking hie generally, had afforded ample scope. The difficulty seemed to be to record m collection," in chart and nature boon the number of topics, presenting themselves. , Eorestrv.—Early sowing, particularly of the" cypress seeds supplied, had taken, place", and better germination results than usual were anticipated. 1* rallies were in use in nearly eveii school of the 120 doing forestry work. Nursery stocks, except of last year’s seedlings, had been, cleared out. Bovs and Girls’ Clubs. —The entries for tiie various competitions had been most satisfactory. Calf-rearing entries for North and South Taranaki showed a big increase bn last year’s record numbers Entry numbers from Tainui and Ohura districts were not yet to hand. The field- root competitions, a section not so - strongly promoted in recent years because of cost, were be ing revived in North Taranaki. Some uncertainty as to- -whether these competitions- were to be proceeded with had led to a falling off in the numbers in South Taranaki. Pukearnhe school had been awarded the Henry Lane Dominion Challenge Shield for excellence in club results. Makarewa school (in

the South Island) was the previous holder. Pig-rearing. in the central district were being continued, and increased numbers and keen local interest indicate scope for some valuable work. Tntnrnimaka school’s pig club of some Id pupils rearing 27 pigs was being warmly supported by the school committee and head teacher. Altogether some 75 pigs were being reared, and the experience gained last year, the inaugural year, had enabled the organisation to be put on a more definite basis. Repairs and general work had been done at Okniawa, Matapu, Tawhiti, Koru and Rahotn.

GRANTS FOR RESIDENCES

The Education Department notified approval of grants of £750 for a new residence at Oaonui to replace that which was recently destroyed by fire, and of £lB2 for the purchase of a Public Works cottage for use as a residence at Ta’hora. A memorandum from the department approved of leave for teachers for military training on full pay. The following recommendations of the teachers’ selection committee were adopted: That the appointment be confirmed of Miss Elsie Mullou, additional assistant at the Central school;- that Mr. G. W. Wellington’s appointment as temporary teacher at Tanga hoe be confirmed; that it bo a recommendation to the board that Mr E. C. Caigou s application for a transier to wtakeho be granted. On the recommendation of tlie finance and buildings committee, applications of the llatapiko school committee lor trees and the York Road school committee for grass seed were referred to the senior agricultural instructor. .

The Tawhiti school committee is to be informed that the board cannot be responsible for the payment of water rates. . . i Appreciation of the board’s visit and thanks to the board for its assistance and expressions of satisfaction with their efforts to beautify the school grounds were received from the Riverlea, school committee. STAFF CHANGES. Resignations to take effect from the end of the- school year were accepted as follows: Miss C. M. Robertson, mi fant mistress, Central, and Miss 11. r ■ 1 McCa rtie, assistant, Otakeho. The chairman reported having made the following relieving appointments: Miss M. Murray, assistant, Mangatov.i; Miss K. M(‘•Kenney, assistant, Stratford; and Miss N. K. Burgess, assistant, Elthani. -I Leave of absence was granted tor varvmg terms as follows:, Miss M. I Rav, infant mistress, Elthani; Miss M.‘ Bowden, assistant, Mangatoki ; Miss J. W. Allan, assistant, Piliaina; Mr E K. Cameron, sole teacher,. Op ua; Mr. G. H. Gorringe,. woodwork, instructor; Mr. A. J. Carroll, bead, teacher, Mahoe; Mr. A. M. Wilson, sole teacher, Rawhitiroa; Mr C. J. O’Dea, sole teacher, Koliurataln; Miss D Corbett,’, assistant, Okaiawa.; Mr. Gi. H. Percy, assistant, Hawera; Mr M F Kedglev, head teacher, Awatuna; Mr. H. R. W. Higgins, sole teacher, Rotokare-; Mr. B. E. assistant, Manaia; IVJiss 1?. M INlillei, assistant, Mariaia.