TARANAKI SCHOOL WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1933, Page 14

TARANAKI SCHOOL WORK

EDUCATION BOARD MEETING OFFICERS’ REPORTS CONSIDERED. TEACHERS’ APPOINTMENTS MADE. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held at New Plymouth yesterday, those, present being Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P. (chairman), J. C. Barclay, W. B. Glasgow, W. H. Jones, J. McAllister, J. A. Valentine, H. Dempsey and Dr. W. M. Thomson. The resignations of the following 'teachers, all dating from September 3, were received: Mr. W. J. A. Famell, head teacher, Kaponga; Mrs. A. Reeve, sole teacher, Tokirima; Miss M. Hodder, ■' special class assistant, Hawera; Miss I. K. Holley, temporary assistant, Heao. , ' On the recommendation of the teachers selection committee Mr. A. T. . Honore is to be transferred from Kapuni to Kaponga on account of the imininent fall in grade of Kapuni. The application of the Tokirima school committee for appointment of a male teacher will be acceded to. Miss V. E. Conway is to.be transferred as assistant at Okato subject to the department’s consent to the transfer from Whangamomona being obtained. On the recommendation of the acting ■'• senior inspector (Mr. J. A. Henry) Miss r Mabel E. Dempsey was appointed sole teacher at Waiteika. The application of Mrs. A. Moyes for the establishment of a grade 0 school at Paparata was deferred pending a reply from the Public Works Department regarding a residence. An application for a residence at Tahora was deferred pending a reply from the department to a letter from the board. , An application from Mrs. Larsen for a grade 0 school at Pehu was referred to the chairman and the deputy-chairman. ; Application is to be made to the department for a grant of £67 for the establishment of a school at Tongahoe. A letter was received from the department approving of a grant of £37 ■for remodelling, a classroom in the Stratford manual building for . the use of the Stratford Technical High School. The department advised that it could not approve of a grant for the remodelling of the Huiroa school. PROBATIONARY SERVICE. The board decided strongly to uphold the opinion of the Canterbury Education Board upon the, desirability of teachers serving at least one year as probationers. The department advised: that inspection reports were not the property of the teachers and must not be removed from schools. The attendance at 32 schools visited was good, the attendance officer (Mr. G. Pascoe) reported. The monthly returns from schools showed very little irregular attendance other than that, caused by sickness. The Tarata school committee is to be informed that the board is unable to supply money for trees and hedge plants but the matter has been referred to the agriculture staff who will see if other schools can help; The Normanby committee is to be granted up to one ton of cement for converting the falling-ih area under certain conditions. The architect was authorised to supply six bags of cement and the material for a woodshed at Rotokare.

The hoard viewed favourably an application from the Boy Scouts’ Association for permission to erect a shed on the Central School ground. The arrangement of details was left to the chairman and Mr. Jones.

The department is to be asked to make a grant towards the extra cost of conducting the special class at the West End school.

A grant of £27 10s was made to the Inglewood committee towards the cost of fencing and planting trdes on the new site.

Application is to be made to the department for a grant of about £lBO to cover the cost of additions and remodelling at the Waiau School A letter from the Taranaki Hospital Board about the education of children while in hospital was referred to the senior inspector for a report. An application from the Okato branch of the New Plymouth dental clinic for assistance was referred to the man.A letter from the Tarurutangi committee applying for assistance in sewing instruction is to be forwarded to the department, with the request that the grant for sewing instruction in schools taught by male teachers be restored as soon as possible. A grant of £5 5s was made for the surveying of a part of the Mere Mere BUILDING ACTIVITIES. school site for use as a swimming pool. The architect (Mr. C. H. Moore) reported that at Everett Road the building from Piko was re-erected with a shelter porch to the doorway added and the whole building renovated throughout. The pupils occupied the new classroom on June 27. The area was fenced with entrance gate complete. Thanks were due to Mr. Bracegirdle for his help in carting shingle free from the river and in other ways to help the work along. The site was good and in marking it out, care was taken to have the building in a good situation without taking up too much of the playing area. The chief agricultural instructor would prepare a lay-out scheme for the committee to work to. For the Mackford new school the portable building from Everett Road was carted to the Mokau wharf and then up the river to the landing.. The settlers interested sledged the sections to the site and the building should be ready. Repair work was done at the Inglewood, Bell Block, Egmont Village, Ihaia, Pihama and Kaimiro and arrangements were made for improvements to the Normanby front entrance. The architect was given power to act in connection with the proposed repairs at Kaimiro as outlined in his report. The senior instructor in agriculture (Mr. D. Mackay) reported that in primary schools during the winter instruction was more or less restricted to indoor work, and because of this concentration experimental work was receiving some impetus. The majority of schools satisfied the syllabus requirements in the matter of instruction in dairy science

and later on the practical bearing of this on calf-rearing and food study was taught The note-book work in many schools was of a definitely good standard both in quality and quantity, some pupils already presenting books well filled with notes and drawings of their own composition. Only very few teachers failed to’ appreciate the work and function of carefully made notes, but not a few gave but scanty room to diary record of outdoor observations and operations. Gardens were in good winter order. Several of the Boys and Girls’ Clubs executives discussed activities for the new season and held hopes of being able to proceed with the former types of competition. Schools were circularised regarding the Forest Service supply of trees and a number accepted the offers. At the South Taranaki winter show very good nature study, forestry and agriculture exhibits were staged by the schools. The James and Gillman Shield for most points in the farm and garden section was won by Manaia school after Okaiawa school had had the distinction of holding it for 15 years. The Syme Afforestation Shield was won by Bird Road school after being held by Ohangai school since 1925. Work for both these shields was of a very high order. Reporting on his work as manual supervisor, Mr. Mackay said that all centres seen were working well and making good progress with the scheme of woodwork. Most of the second and third year boys were working individually and required little more than •supervision from the instructor. Both bench and desk work appeared to be .up to the usual standards of work at this time of year. A small minority of first year boys were taking time to adapt themselves but the majority were speeding through the year’s work with good results. Extra lighting was provided at the Inglewood centre. Cookery work progressed smoothly, practical work being well done. Except that, the theory side needed a little more attention, a good start had been made on the second term’s work. With the exception of one or two schools suffering from epidemics, attendance had been good. Conveyance arrangements worked well. The Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union delegates visited the Eltham cookery centre. At the New Plymouth winter show Miss Wolferstan presented an interesting display from her centre, and at the Hawera winter show Miss Helyer and Mr. Entwistle had a well arranged court displaying the work at Manaia and Hawera centres. These exhibits occasioned interested and favourable comments.