PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1925, Page 10

PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Taranaki board meets. REPORTS OF OFFICERS. CHANGES IN SCHOOL STAFFS. The Taranaki Education Board met at New Plymouth yesterday. Present: Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P. (chairman), P. J, H. White, A. Lees, F, H. Sim, R. J. Deare, H. Dempsey and the Rev. J. L. A Kayll. Leave of absence was granted to Air. 11. J. Eaves. The chairman reported having made the following relieving appointments during the month:—Miss E. Burkhart, sole teacher, Tokirima; Air. L. DesForges, sole teacher, Hiaia; Air, G. WGraiiam, sole teacher, Kirihau; Alias E. MacMillan, assistant, Douglas; Mr. P. S. Taylor, head teacher, Alahoe; Alias A. Kelleher, assistant, Central; Miss V. MacDonald, sole teacher, Alahirakan; Mr. J. Craig, head teacher, Frankley; Miss G. Leech, infant mistress, Aloturoa; Miss G. Barak, assistant, Rahotu; Alias E. O’Sullivan, assistant, Opunake; Alias A. Kelleher, assistant, Tawhiti. Appointments were made as follows: Central, infants, Mrs. I. Larkin; Central, Mrs. Firth; Waitara, Miss I. G. Dement; Alahoe, Air. A. J. Carroll; Afahirakau, Air; F. W. Kerr. Sewing mistresses were appointed as follows: —Ackland, Airs. J. Taylor (May 8 to June 30, 1925), Miss Oldridge, as from July 1, 1925; Hapurua, Mrs. H. S. Kibblewhite, as from May 22, 1925; Opatu, Mrs. R. Poulson, as from June, PJ2S. The resignation of Alias E. G. McMillan, assistant, Douglas, to take effect from July 29 was received and accepted. Transfers were detided on as follows: Miss M. P. Poletti, Kaipikari to Ihaia; Miss C. L. Bayly, Otunui to Mangatupoto; Air. W. A. Jennings, Mangatupoto to Otunui (these last two dependent on suitable accommodation for Miss Bayly at Mangatupoto); Alias Evans, Huirangi to Motunui; Mrs. Cartwright, Waiongona to Huirangi; Mr. H. W. Young, Pukeho to Waiongona. The application of the Central School Committee for additional staffing was referred to the senior inspector. IVORK IN AGRICULTURE. Agricultural instruction during the past month was reported on as follows ■by the senior agricultural instructor (Air. R. G. Ridling);— Primary Schools. —Visits to tbe primary schools have been continued throughout the month, and the work is in most cases being satisfactorily carried out. Efforts are being made to overtake some of the work that was missed because of’ the extended vacation. In most cases experimental plots in the school gardens have been unsatisfactory, and time usually given to those has been given to restoring the condition of the grounds. The members of several school committees have been interviewed, and there is a general move at ground improvement being made. Teachers’ Classes.—These have been carried on during the month, and satisfactory progress with the work is being made. During my absence in the Ohura district the New Plymouth class has been conducted by Air. Connell, of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, who kindly consented to relieve me so that I might be freed for the work in the distant part of the district. District High School Classes. —Mr. Syme reports that the work at Opunake and Manaia bas been regularly carried out. Advantage was taken of the farm school at Manaia, and the pupils were enabled to attend the lectures given there. Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs.— The work of judging the plots of the boys and girls engaged in root growing competitions has been completed throughout the district. A satisfactory standard of work has been maintained. 'Shows.—Displays of the work done in the schools were made during the month at both the New Plymouth and the Hawera Shows. In the New Plymouth show an excellent display of the work of the boys’ and girls’ clubs was made, but the entries in the rural section were smaller than usual. The rural section at the Hawera show caused keen competition, and the James anti Gillman Shield for most points in this wmrk was won by the Okaiawa school. Forestry displays were made at both shows. The ■work exhibited by the Waiau school at the New Plymouth show was excellent. The competition for the shield at the Hawera show was keen and great interest was evinced in the display. The shield was won by Otakeho school with 1:22 points, Ararat’a obtaining 121 points, and Ohangai 120 points. A special prize of shrubs given by Messrs. Dunean and Davies of New Plymouth w r as awarded to Ohangai school for the best display of named and mounted native plant specimens. The afforestation displays at both shows were exceedingly encouraging, and demonstrate the valuable work which can be accomplished in this section of the school work. NEW WORK AND REPAIRS. Reporting on new work, the architect (Mr. C. H. Aloore) stated that the improved conveniences at Stanley, Auroa and Pihama were just about completed. At Stanley be had installed an electric pumping outfit. At Auroa he had to fall back on a windmill as it would probably be at least two years before electric power would reach that part. He was installing a pumping outfit at Pihama similar to the one at Opunake. The sanitary conditions at these schools should be very satisfactory, and the progressive spirit of the committees was to be commended. A repair gang was at the Pungarehu school at present. He would ask the board to give some consideration in regard to the accommodation ip general at this school. Plans had been prepared and applications made to the department for additions to Waitara, Fitzroy, Vogeltown, Opunake and Manaia schools, and a new residence for Oakura. He had plans just about ready for a new infants' school at Hawera, and a movable building at Kapuni, and applications would be made immediately. Grants had come forward for two now rooms at Fitzroy, new schools at Omata and Pembroke, and remodelling of Norfolk, so with this work and prospects of a lot more to come his department should be fairly busy again. The attendance officer (Mr. G. Pascoe) reported that he had visited 26 schools during the month and the attendance had been good. Something required to be done in the matter of attendance at the Waitara School on Tuesday afternoons. At present as many as thirteen children of Standard 3 had stayed away' on a Tuesday afternoon when technical

classes were taken in the technical building, and the Standard 3 children had to go into the shelter shed for lessons. HAWERA SCHOOL. Alessrs. Smith, Lees and Dempsey reported on a special visit they had made to the Hawera school on June I'B. They stated that the gross floor space was 854 Q square feet, but, after deducting for the space occupied by- fireplaces and cupboards, it was 8286 square feet, which, at 12 square feet each, gave accommodation for 693 pupils. The present roll number was 662, and the average attendance 666. The building_.gencrally was of an obsolete type, especially six of the rooms, and was incapable of re-modelling. Two of the rooms were in the original school built in 1875, and two' more were added in 1882. These appeared to have been remodelled later, and four more rooms were added a few years after, though the office records were incomplete. It appeared that three of the rooms were erected in 1902, and in 1918 part of the gymnasium was converted into class rooms for infants. The proximity of three of the rooms to the lavatories, which were of an out-of-date type, made it essential that no unnecessary delay should be met with in dealing with the application. There was a continued increase in the population at the I'uruturu district, and this must also be considered. In the meantime, they- recommended that application be made to the department for a separate infant building in concrete to permit of additions for the gradual replacement of the whole building. It was decided to make application to the department as suggested. ELTHAM IMPROVEMENTS.

Regarding the Eltham school, the board decided, as authorised by the Minister, to spend the amount of £434 18s unexpended in the construction of the new school on completing concrete paths, obtaining 124 dual desks, removing the open-air class room and shelter shed from the old site and re-instating them on the new site to accommodate the girls, and erecting a new open-air shelter for the boys. SCHOOL PRIZES. The sub-committee of the board appointed to go into the question of school prizes stated in a supplementary report: "We duly conferred with the members of the School Committees’ Association and Head Teachers’ Association in regard to the distribution of prizes. It appears the resolution of the Head Masters’ Association in October last did not purport to abolish prizes, but affirmed the desirability of their elimination. We are of opinion that in districts where the school committees wish to give prizes, the head teacher should carry out the wishes of the committee and assist in the matter to the best of his ability.”—The report was received. RE-BUILDING AND RE MODELLING. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to vote a grant of £390 out of the re-building fund for the re-modelling, of the Norfolk Road School. The work will be proceeded with as soon as possible. A grant of £290 out of the re-building fund for the replacement of the Omata School was also made. The department is to be asked to re-consider its decision regarding the arrangement of the rooms in the new' Omata School. The department is to be asked to expedite a grant for the re-modelling of the Central School. It was decided to advise the Auckland Education Board that the Taranaki Board was in sympathy with the principle underlying its resolution recommending a halfyearly winter course of cultural and technical instruction for students over 15 years of age in district and technical high schoqls, and to say that the Taranaki Board will take whatever action appears necessry to give effect thereto. Application is to be made to the department for a grant for a movable school room at Kapuni. The inspector was asked to report on the proposals to provide schools at Everett, Road and Richmond Road. Reporting on a visit paid to the Lincoln School, the chairman stated that he wished to compliment the school committee on the fine appearance of the grounds, their wise choice of trees, and the care taken of the plantation. The board expressed itself in sympathy with the movement to revive Old English songs and folk dances, and decided to recommend the Education Department to advise exchange teachers going to England of the best method of gaining practical experience. GENERAL MATTERS. The question of the establishment of a school at Richmond Road was referred to the senior inspector. The matter of heating the Ongarue school was referred to the architect for a further report, and the question of supplying a new heater for the Tokirima school was also referred to the architect with power to act. The letter from the Education Department approving of the transfer to the credit of Kaipikari movable building account of the sum of £2OO held on account of the proposed Tokirima residence was received and approved. The Riverlea School committee is to be informed that the board cannot see its way to supply the gates asked for, but the board's architect will be instructed to confer with them regarding any renewals that may be necessary. The Ethani school committee is to be advised that the board has no funds at present available out of which it may supplement their capitation allowance, but their request will be favourably considered should the Government make a grant for such purpose. The Rahotu school committee is to be advised that the question of providing protection for the porch windows is one for the school committee to deal with, and that the board is using’ every endeavour to obtain approval for the proposed remodelling of the Rahotu school. The matter of repairing the window sashes, etc., will be attended to directly finality is reached regarding the proposed remodelling of the school, which is now before the department. An application is to be made to the department for a grant for additions to the Pungarehu school as a special case, and the matter of making representations to the department was left to the chairman. It was decided to make application to the department for subsidies as follows, the board to contribute the amounts indicated in parentheses:—‘Cardiff, £4 10s (Ils); Central, £5 14s (£5); Finnerty, £4 10s (Ils 6d); Newall, £7; Okaiawa, £4 13s fid (£2 Is 6d); Omata, £4 10s (14s 9d); Stratford. £7l 0s lOd. It was also decided to provide a window and sashes for the new shelter shed, the provision of a verandah being left to the committee when funds are available. It was decided to make application to the department for new lavatory accommodation, in view of the proximity of the lavatories to the class rooms, and the present state of the building.