EDUCATION BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, 24 May 1910, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

CHIEF INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Chief Inspector, Mr G. D. Brail presented the following report to th Education Board on Wednesday even ing : — PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Inspection. — 75? reporta are presented The Reports Committee will probabl; agree that though exception may b taken to many details, the schools in spected are on the whole working oi sound principles. It is somewhat re markable that the Inspectors shoul( find it necessary to animadvert so fre quently upon the slight importance tea chers attach to the writing lessons. Thu matter has been referred to in success ive Annual Reports, but too many tea chers still fail to realise its importance In several cases the Inspectors find ii necessary to call attention to unsatisfactory attendance. Perhaps the steps taken by the Board at its last meeting may do something towards securing im})rovement. A total disregard for tb.€ aws of health is commented on in connection with several schools, e.g., neglect of ventilation, and dirty lavatories and towels. It is ' needless to remark that the condition of the school lin respecb to sanitation has much to do with the attendance of pupils. Given a neat, clean, attractive school, and a bright and pleasant tone, good attendance will as a rule follow as a natural consequence. Empire Day. — In accordance with the Board's wish, a circular ha.s been sent to the Chairman of Committees and head teachers, inviting them to make special arrangements for the- celebration of Empire Day. There is reason to believe that m a large number of schools the lessons given jn the 24th of May last' year, on the origin, development, and aim of our country and Empire uere apposite and educative. This year the lessons will doubtless be memorable and impressive on account of the death of His Late Majesty, our Sovereign Lord, King Edward VII. Medical Inspection of Schools. — It is understood that this question is at present under the consideration of th© Government. It is to be Hoped that before the effects of bodily disorder are treated, the causes, so far as they are attributable to school conditions, will be grappled with. So long as there are schools — and these are not rew — with inssufficient breathing space (with lights wrongly placed and seats wrongly constructed, with playgrounds wet and sloppy, and with inadequate drainage), so loug will the schools produce the disorders which, it is proposed by medical aid and advice to remove. In Great Britain medical inspection of school children has been shown to be beneficial, but it is open to question whether in New/ Zealand the first appropriations for this purpose should not be spent improving school buildings and equipment, and so remove one "cf the causes ■fchat* make medical inspection necessary •■>.•■', „ \ //11/ 1 Northern District. — Mr Browne gives* the enrolment at Hawera as 241, a vlry, remarkable development,.. Work of various kinds ,is a^o being carried on sat Eltham, Patea, Waverley, Okaiawa, Kapiini, Matapu, and' Normanby, the total numbers for the district up rto the end of April being '422 s . A subst^n-: , tial increase in the number- in attend- . ance at the country classes is expected during the second term. Mr Browne suggests that a special staff of instructors should be detailed for service ;in his district. If Manaia were constituted a District High School, s.uch an ar-, rangement might be necessary.