PRIMARY EDUCATION

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1929, Page 5

PRIMARY EDUCATION

SCHOOL COMMITTEES MEET ' NORTH TARANAKI ASSOCIATION. MANY PROBLEMS DISCUSSED. The annual meeting of the North Taranaki School Committees’ Association was held in New Plymouth yesterday, Mr. F. A. Coleman presiding over an attendance of 25 members from all parts of the district. A welcome to the delegates was extended by the chairman. ‘ * The annual report stated: — The affiliation fees received for the past year, although showing a small decrease, are still up to the average, and there is no cause to assume lack of interest. The balance-sheet shows a credit of £3O 14s 6d and total funds amounting to £3O os Id, as compared with ‘those of last year of £33 and £37 3s 3d respectively. The schools are now working under the curriculum of the new syllabus, and' much curiosity exists as to whether tne anticipations of those who formulated it will be realised.

The question of smaller classes is one that should engage the attention of committees, seeing that there is no lack of teachers available. A little, however, has been accomplished in some of the larger schools which does not in any way meet the general urgency of the need for smaller classes. A scheme is under consideration which may materially influence this question, and perhaps considerably alter the policy governing education, not only that for primary schools but that for secondary and high schools as well. The scheme is to remove standards V and VI of town schools to a central building, which suggests the possibility of the engagement of a staff of teachers who are specialists in their subjects. This move conforms in some respects with that in vogue-in country centres where favourable conditions alloiv of the consolidation of several nearby schoois. Should such a change come about, many matters of interest to school committees will -be involved—rthe status of schools depleted of the higher standards with the possibility of reduced capitation without any corresponding lessening of maintenance charges; the constitution of the education board or boards under the changed conditions; the mode of electing members to such board or boards. These matters and possibly others will require earnest consideration, and should be closely followed by school committees to ensure that any prospective change is in the best interests 'of the children..

HAWERA DENTAL CLINIQ. It is pleasing to note that dental clinics have -been established at Hawera, Stratford and Eltham, in addition to the one existing at Courtenay Street, New' Plymouth. That there is still a great need to extend these services to the more remote centres is obvious, and this association should continue to push the claims of those who have not these facilities. The medical examination of school children and school surroundings now being under the whole-time supervision ■of a resident medical officer, Dr. Mecredv, must tend to improve the general nealth of the children. That this is so is gleaned from the reports of the educational officers of the board. fhe Minister of Education, in answer to the remit of last conference pertaining to the staffing of schools .on the average roll number of schools instead of the average attendance, states that no material change would take place in the present staffing, and this answer confirms the finding of Mr. Infill, the Taranaki board’s secretary, when approached regarding the payment of capitation on similar lines, as the principles are relatively the same. The executive wishes to record with appreciation the interest Mr. W. H. Phillips has taken in the efforts of the various schools that foster the art of swimming and life-saving, and to thank him for so promptly distributing the certificates gained by the pupils of those schools. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman said he considered it was mainly through the activities of school committees’ associations that certain benefits had been enjoyed by schools throughout the Dominion. Each year further improvements were being provided, and he thought this provided justification foi the formation •of associations.

MR. F. A. COLEMAN PRESIDENT.

The election of officers for the ensuyear resulted: —President, Mr., F. A.° Coleman (New Plymouth); vicepresidents, Messrs J. Klenner (Kaimata), C. J. Harris (Oakura), Butler (Rahotu), Wakeford (Ohura), W. H. Hones (New Plymouth), W. Hoskin (Stratlord), W. B. Glasgow (Waitaia), A. Lee (Frankley .Road), G. Burr (Fitzroy) and Canon H. R. B. Gillespie; executive, Messrs R. L. Parkin (Bell Block), J. 0. Turner (New Plymouth), G. 11. Gallaher (Fitzroy), H. J. Abram (West End), J. W. Darby (Westown); honorary auditor, Mr. C. F. A. Waters. The appointment of an honorary secretary and treasurer was left in the hands of the executive, the retiring secretary, Mr. T. M. Avery, being requested to continue in that capacity in the meantime.

A. remit from the Oakura committee, “That the Education Department be asked to grant a subsidy to parents sendiim children to high school wha have to send them by motor bus, considering that those children who are living near the railways receive hoe transit,” was carried. p The remit was supported by Mr. y. ,). Harris, Oakura, who said that in the coastal districts the cost of transporting pupils to the New llyinouth hi"h schools debarred many good.scholars from attending. Pupils living at Puniho or Rahotu, for instance, could attend the Opunake District High School by obtaining a subsidy on their f al ® B from the department, whereas with Okato children attending the New Plymouth high school the whole cost ot the fares had to be borne by the parents. He considered that what was lair for one end of the district was only reasonable for the other. Canon Gillespie said the subsidy on bus fares applied only to district big i schools at the present. He considered it absurd that children should be encouraged to attend the district high eehool and not the "proper high school The Central School remit that school committees hold office for two years in lieu of one year as at present, was defeated on the chairman’s casting vote.

Mr. J. 0. Turner (Central) said the continual change in the personnel of committees brought about by the annual election was not satisfactory as far as the working of the school was concerned.

It was pointed out by Mr. Avery that often a school committee raised a considerable amount of money and it sometimes happened, owing to the yearly change, that it could not control the expenditure of the money. This, he thought, was most unfair.

The remit was opposed by Mr. L. T. Aylward on the grounds that householders, especially in towns, were glad to have an opportunity each year of finding out how the affairs of the school were progressing. If a committee was “live” enough to raise a considerable amount of money during the year the householders would not vote it out. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. “That this committee protests against the formation of junior high schools for country districts,” was a remit from Warea which was defeated. It was considered by Mr. Lilley that the formation of junior high schools would be detrimental to country districts where many farmers, when their children reached standard 4, required them to assist in the milking sheds.

It was explained by Mr. J. A. Valentino that a successful junior high school would require a minimum of 150 scholars. While there was no doubt that the system was advantageous in the towns, he would prefer to eee an

extension of the district high school scheme in the country. Another remit from Warea, “That owing to restricted income some financial aid should be given towards daily cleaning of schools,” was carried. Mr. Lilley said his committee found it hard to make ends meet with an income of only £8 15s a quarter. It cost 30s a month to clean the school and that meant that other matters had to be neglected. Several members stated that amount per month for cleaning purposes seemed abnormal, and one suggested that the committee should have its cleaning appliances attended to.

The third remit from Warea, “That teachers be appointed by roll number instead of average attendance,” met with strong support and was carried. It was stated by the Warea delegate that his school had 50 children in the primers and he thought it, impossible for one teacher to do them justice. Mr. Valentine thought the matter would create great difficulties for the department, which would probably raise the number of pupils to be taught by one teacher.

The following remit from West End was adopted: “In view of the disorganisation caused through the appointment of probationary teachers to do the work of assistants, this committee considers that probationary teachers should be additional to and not part of the permanent staff.” Rahotu agreed with the remit, said Mr. Butler, who mentioned the diffi-

culties the school had experienced through the system at present in vogue.

ACCOMMODATION NEEDS.

Another West End remit, "That the association make some, protest against the department’s continued use of the gymnasium as., extra rooms,” was car-

ried. In supporting the remit, Mr. Jones stated that it was not the experience of West End only but also of Fitzroy and possibly of many other schools. The gymnasium was used as a classroom. In most cases the gymnasiums had been built by public subscription, but in the course of time, owing to the schools not being large enough to accommodate the increasing attendance, it had been used as a classroom. The remit from Onganie, “That representations be made to the educational authorities pointing out the need of the schools lying east of the Tangarakau Gorge having more direct representation on the Taranaki Education Board, either by a member, from the district or having the district created a separate ward, in which case we could elect our own member,” was lost. The chairman stated that to a large extent it was the districts own fault. Three men had been nominated fiom that end for membership and he thought that had the district displayed more united efforts it would have had direct representation. The present men representin* the district were thoroughly emcientand the district was getting goo.

service from them. Unanimity was shown in the adoption of the executive’s remit, “That the Minister of Education be urged to give education boards greater discretionary powers in the appointment of teachers, especially married women teachers.” The chairman said the executive thought the time opportune tc bring the matter before the department again. There had been a change o' Government and there was now a Minister of Education who had intimated his intention to give the boards more power. A large number of good teachers were out of work while married women teachers, whose husbands were in good positions and well able to keep them, were employed all over the country. . He was sure if the boards were given more power that power would not be abused. “That in view of the winter holidays in May being too early they be held in June,” was a remit from Kaimiro that was lost.

Votes of thanks were acemrd-’d '’’.e Messrs J. A. Valentine and H. W, Insull.