TARANAKI EDUCATION

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1934, Page 12

TARANAKI EDUCATION

MEETING AT NEW PLYMOUTH WORK AT DISTRICT SCHOOLS. QUESTION OF TEACHERS’ SALARIES. Stating that the present was not a suitable time to undertake a general amendment of the regulations relating to teachers’ salaries, a letter from the Minister of Education was received and discussed at yesterday’s meeting 'of the Taranaki Education Board. It was decided that no other action could be taken in the matter.

Those present at the meeting were Messrs. S. G. Smith (chairman), J. C. Barclay, W. H. Jones, J. A. Valentine and Dr. W. N. Thompson.

It was reported that the following list of appointments of teachers had been made: Heao, sole teacher, Mr. J. D. Coyne; Mangatupoto, sole teacher, Mr. K. J. Duncan; Otaraoa, sole teacher, Mr. J. Galbraith; Auroa, infant mistress, Miss C. M. Munro; Egmont Village, assistantmistress, Miss E. G. Tippins; Kaimata, assistant mistress, Miss V. L. Mullon; Manaia, infant mistress, Miss C. O’Donnell.

Resignations had been accepted as follow: Mr. T. A. Nicoll, headmaster, Vogeltown; Miss A. M. GreenaU, sole teacher, Puniwhakau; Miss L. M. Bicheno, sole teacher, Kirihau; Mr. W. G. Johnston, sole teacher, Otaraoa; Miss G. Harkness, assistant, Auroa; Miss J. Allan, assistant, Pihama; Miss P. Gannaway, assistant, Nprmanby; Miss P. McCluggage, relieving. . The manual supervisor (Mr. D. Mackay) reported that at woodwork first year boys were making satisfactory progress. Scarcely sufficient drawing work had been done to assess the standard of the first year boys’ work but the second year boys were progressing very satisfactorily. Good progress was also being made with domestic science instruction and seasonal interests, such as food preservation. The crowded state of the New Plymouth centre with its unwieldy classes called for the board’s attention.

The architect, Mr. C. H. Moore, reported that he had prepared a further revised plan deleting the free room at the Inglewood school and arranging the whole of the class rooms in one ’block. At Oaonui the school roof had now been painted and a claim submitted to the department.. Repair works and general had been carried out at Te Kiri, Hawera, Warea, Ohura District Highf School, Fraser Road, Mimi, Huirangi and New Plymouth High Schools. At Mangatupoto a plan showing the school building and shelter shed and the required position of those buildings when the road deviation was put in hand was forwarded to the Public Works Department with a request to have the work- done during the coming holidays. AGRICULTURAL REPORT. The agricultural instructor (Mr. D. Mackay) reported that visits to primary schools had been continued during the month and -he work was found to be well under way. Some few teachers delayed notebook work unduly, but the quality and quantity of notes were generally satisfactory. Schemes were well organised and were being systematically developed. The work books showed careful forethought of the work proposed. In the gardens, there was further evidence of regular ' work. Tidying up, harvesting and green manuring were general. Owing to curtailment of grants, it had been impossible for the board to assist schools'with.seeds and manures as formerly, and school gardens had had to become self-supporting. The increased attention to the economic aspect had been attended with much success and schools now realised very satisfactory amounts on the sale of garden produce. In home project work the club plots were being carefully attended and there was promise of satisfactory results both in instructional work and in crop. Beekeeping results, in spite of an unfavourable season, had been very satisfactory. The Tisch' Shield had been presented to Niho Niho school by the chairman of the board, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., who was accompanied by Mr. J. A. Valentine, chairman of the manual and technical committee The Teachers’ Selection Committee’s recommendation. that the Tarata school committee be informed that as soon as the school numbers reach 36 the board will endeavour to send an additional assistant was approved. It was decided that the Makahu, Opatu and. Turoto schools be advertised. On the recommendation of the finance and buildings committee, it was decided that the Puniho school committee be commended for its efforts towards improvements to the school grounds, and that members of the board visit the school and meet the committee at an early opportunity. Repairs and maintenance matters at several schools were referred to the architect with power to act. In regard to Puniho and Midhirst it was decided that the committees be advised that the members of the board will include those schools in their itinerary when next an official visit is being made to the district, ■pie schools where repairs are to be caried out are Matau, Fraser Road, Puniho, Tangahoe, Eltham, Ohura,-West End and Puniho. INSPECTION OF SCHOOL BUSES. It was decided that, following a memorandum from the department regarding the inspection of school buses, inspectors and itinerant officers of the board should be asked to approach the board with reports from time to time on the vehicles in use. The attendance of private secondary school pupils at manual training centres, a matter raised by the department, was stated to be confined within the board’s area to one school, the New Plymouth Convent High School which sent a class of 22 pupils. No tuition fees were paid. In connection with the purchase of a building from the Public Works Department for the Ohura school, in connection with which the department wrote to the board, it was stated that the board was under the impression that the department was dealing direct with the Public Works Department in the matter of purchasing the portable school building for £l2 10s as recommended by the board. In reply to the Auroa school committee asking for a portable room, the board decided to inform it that after careful consideration the present school attendance did not justify the cost involved in the provision of an additional class room and that the application must consequently be declined.