EDUCATION BOARD MEETS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1928, Page 15

EDUCATION BOARD MEETS

PRIMARY SCHOOL CONTROL INGLEWOOD SITE—NO REPLY. pbT OF 1 R..ENT WORKS REVISED The monthly meeting of the Taranaki g location Board was he’d yes'.erdiy. esent: hle.sire. S. G. Smith (chairBanj P. J. IL White, H. J. Eaves, R. J. JJeare, and H. Dempsey. Apologies for absence were received "from the Rev. Canon J. L. A. Kay 11, F. IL Sims and A- Lees. "It is time the department placed Some confidence in education boards," Said Mr. White after the chairman had reported that no reply had been receivtd to the application for a grant to purchase a site of 11 acres at Inglewood. “Surely the department cannot know What a gift is being offered them,” said Mr. Dempsey. “I was amazed that such a fine offer was made,” said another member. The department notified approval of grants for an extra classroom at Moturoa, a portable building at Raekohua, additions at Ararata and Waiteika, an increase in ground area at Tikorangi and fencing at Eltham. The secretary said application had teen made for a new room at Rahotu. Confirmation was received from tjie department of its grant for a manual centre at the Opunake District High (School, and of its approval of the ex change of sites. Concerning the decision of the depart ■ inent that the science room at Opunake should be used as an ordinary classroom, the ehairman said it was a pity efficiency was to be sacrificed to expediency. The idea would not ‘be satisfactory in practice. Mr. White claimed that if the department could not make better arrangements than those indicated it was time a royal commission inquired into the whole system of administration. MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS. Refusals to make grants for residences at Lower Mangorej and Hillsborough were conveyed in letters from the department. The request for a movable residence at Waiteika was referred to Mr. White with power to act. The architect was instructed to prepare plans for remodelling the Huiakama, Newall, Central, Opunake. and Manaia schools to provide separate classrooms for each teacher. The board was asked to review the applications for a partition at Manaia and heating at Hawera. It was left to the chairman to make further representations to the department regarding conveniences at Mahoe. Authority for the sale of the teacher’s residence at the Central school was received and notification was made that the Valuation Department would supply details of a fair selling value. Regarding an application for a new school at Waitaanga ths department pointed out it had been endeavouring to follow the hoard's list of works in order of urgency and that (his work was sixth on the list. It waa suggested a port-

able room available at Opunake should be moved to Waitaanga instead of Pihama which was likely to qualify for a permanent building. It was decided in view of the circumstances that the board should again impress on the department the needs at Waitaanga. Forty-six irregular attendance notices had been sent out and he had visited 18 schools reported Mr. G. Pascoe. Except for absence through colds the returns showed little irregularity. THE WHAKAMARA SCHOOL. A deputation waited on the board to ask for extra accommodation at the Whakamara school. Mr. Dobson said the number on the roll was 42 and there were two rooms 21 feet by 17 feet. The average attendance for May was 38.2, though in the early part of this month it had dropped to 31 owing to special circumstances. Three children of school age were ready to start. The playing area was very small. In reply to the chairman. Mr. Dobson said Whakamara was 4| miles from Mokoia and nine miles from Ohangai. “Those of us who have seen the Whakamara school agree that it should be rebuilt,” said Mr. Smith. The board would consider the points raised and make representations to the department. Possible negotiations for the provision of extra ground were also mentioned by Mr. Smith. Mr. Dobson brought up the question of obtaining an extra teacher, but it was pointed out that this depended on the average attendance. He said the oommittee was grateful to the board for what it had done. After the deputation had retired it was decided that, subject to a favourable report from the senior inspector, application should be made for the reinstatement of the Whakamara school. The architect was instructed to prepare plans for remodelling the infant department at Stratford. The department wrote that it could not agree to the institution of special classes at Hawera. The establishment of classes for subnormal children was under consideration. In his report on the auditing of school committed 1 accounts, Mr. Goddard remarked that, with few exceptions, town schools appeared to find it difficult to meet all claims at the present rate of capitation. y It was decided that schools in South Taranaki should have a holiday for the winter show. AGRICULTURAL WORK. The finance and buildings committee made grants of £5 each to the Huirangi and Waitui committees for W'ork on the school grounds. Agricultural instruction was reported on by Mr. Ridling as follows: —In the primary schools visited it was found the work was receiving careful and adequate treatment and satisfactory progress was being made. For the rest of the month the work has been confined to the judging of crops grown by the boys and girls of the agricultural club scheme. Satisfactory progress with the work on school ground improvements wag being made. The supervisor of manual instruction (Mr. R, G. Ridling) reported it was being found that generally greater benefit was being derived by the country children than by the town children from the jwork, je| sows °f work produced

by the town children from New Plymouth schools for the winter show was of a surprising standard. The favourable remarks of the judges on school cookery*and the school displays gives evidence of efficient training and interest. The reorganisation of the district to permit the smaller centres coming under the control of one cookery instructress was being undertaken. Regarding woodwork, Very good work, both practical and theoretical, was being carried out in most centres, although in New Plymouth and the central district the work was somewhat further ahead than it was in the southern district. Greater attention to the practical side of the work was now being given at Eltham, llawera and Manaia, and the children’s interest was being stimulated. There was a definite shortage of bench room at both New Plymouth and Manaia centres.

IN ORDER OF URGENCY. The following list of proposed works in order of urgency was placed before the board: —Croydon (permanent school), Waitaanga (movable school room), Rahotu (additional classroom), Fitzroy (additional classroom), Waitara (rebuilding and additions), Tikorangi (remodelling), Tataraimaka (remodelling), Lincoln (remodelling), Tarurutangi (reinstatement), Whakamara (reinstatement), Pihama (additions), Pembroke (additions), Ngaere (additions), Newall (additions). On Mr. White recalling that Waitara was first on the list in January, Mr. Smith said it had been put back because, in view of the large amount involved, [ the department had said it could not consider the matter during the financial year. Mr. Smith said the application now in for Waitara was for rebuilding and the question was whether this should be replaced by a request for open-air classrooms. It was decided to apply for open-air types of rooms at Waitara and a “free” room. It was decided to alter the list to the following order: Croydon, Waitaanga. Rahotu, Waitara, Whakamara, Fitzroy, Tikorangi, Tataraimaka, Lincoln, Tarurutangi, Pihama, Ngaere and Newell. Pembroke was not included, as the I inspector said it was dropping in grade. Among the recommendations adopted from the manual and technical committee was one that the application for the supply of trees and shrubs for the Ohura residence site, Rahotu residence site, and Musker’s school be left to the supervisor. OPEN AIR AND SUNLIGHT. Reporting on new work, the architect (Mr. C. 11. Moore) said, in part: Ohura (school and residence): The school additions and remodelling are just about completed. The new residence is well in hand. Eltham (remodelling): The remodelling of the infant school has progressed well and by the end of this month the building should be ready for re-occupation. Kaipikari (movable bach): The teacher’s bach was completed in the workshop and taken out and reerected on the site. Raekohua (movable classroom): We have the sections for the movable classroom at Raekohua well in hand at the workshop and they will be railed to Tangarakau as soon as possible. Opunake (district high school and manual building): I have the timber secured and hope to put this work in hand in ftbput Jbre§ weeks’ time.

Hawera (remodelling and special rooms): Vie are making another start immediately on this work. As reported I had to take the men away and. concentrate On the Eltham remodelling. Hawera new infants’ (special type of free air and sunlight).—The school has been working for some time and it is satisfactory to know that the lighting and system of ventilation is free from the defects Usually attributed to openair schools. To anyone with practical experience the lack of knowledge shown by the recently expressed opinions on open-air types of schools by educational authorities must appear rather appalling. The cause of this misconception is partly owing to a wrong type of building taken as a standard. After all, open-air and sunlight cannot alone be considered. A room that is more or less neglected in regard to teaching facilities must be a failure. Surely it must be recognised that there are many i features to take into consideration in desgining a classroom besides open air and sunlight, and it seems commonsense to combine all these features to make a satisfactory room from all points of view.

The architect said he was having the heating at the Stratford primary school attended to.

A supplementary report from the architect said that plans had been prepared and application made for the following works:—Fitzroy, addition to infants’ school; Croydon, amended plan for permanent classroom; Rahotu, detached classroom, new free air and lighting type; Manaia, plan for extending the Manaia manual building instead of a temporary measure; isolation ward, plan for an isolation ward at the High School.

j MOVEMENTS OF TEACHERS. ; The following appointments were (made on the recommendation of the l senior inspector:—Kaimata, assistant, I Miss I. L. Mackenzie, 8.A.; Okau, sole teacher, Miss Florence . Worn; Westown, I assistant, Miss T. Simpson. Miss J. Hurle Was transferred from Turuturu to Waitara and Miss R. Taylor was appointed to Turuturu. On the recommendation of the teachers’ selection committee, it Was decided, subject to the department agreeing to a boarding allowance, that Miss D. Cannon, probationer, should be transferred from Oakura to the Central school. The appointment of an assistant woodwork instructor at Stratford was left to the chairman. Resignations were received as follow: Mrs. A. Baker, assistant, Central; Miss E. K, McDonald, sole teacher, Paraketu Valley; Mr. B. Wicksteed, probationer, St fatford.