EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14346, 26 October 1910, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD.

schools owing to epidemics was confirmed.

THE MONTHLY MEETING. Tlio ordinary monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held at the board’s office last night. There wore present; Messrs. J. TV ado (in the chair), A. Morton, AV. L. Kennedy, A. H. Halcombe, AV. Rogers, H. Trimble, C. Cargill, G. Adlam, and J. Young. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. The Chairman reported that he had conferred with the truant inspector re his interviewing the committee when in tho Stratford* district, but was quite unable to see any benefit to be derived therefrom, though a copy of any paragraph in his report dealing with the Stratford School might be forwarded to tho committee. As regards tho working foreman, lie (tho chairman) had formally instructed him to try and confer with *tho chairmen of committees as far as is possible, when visiting schools. The various matters of school repairs referred to him had been attended to. TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS. Tho Chairman reported that the following temporary appointments had boon made since last meeting:—Toko, ■ Miss E. Mace; Korn, Miss K. Wili liams; Urnti, Miss M. Rogers; Kina, Mrs. Curtis. ARCHITECTS’ REPORT. Tlio architects, Messrs. Sanderson and Griffiths, reported that the contract for additions at Stratford was completed. Inspection had been made of the 1 arata residence on tho 10th hist., and it was thou ready for occupation. Tho report was approved. YORK SCHOOL. Mr. Trimble reported that it was an error to suppose that no. fence was required on tho north side 6f tho York school ground, as the creek could be crossed by cattle in several places. The chairman of the school committee iiad informed him that it was proposed to throw a largo quantity of timber now lying on the north side of the school into the creek and then erect the boundary fence along line in accordance with plan submitted. He recommended that the proposal be agreed to, Tho report was adopted. TRUANT INSPECTOR’S REPORT. Mr. A. Hooker, truant inspector, re- . ported that for the quarter ending September 30 he had issued GO final notices to parents for failing to send their children regularly to school. He had also personally visited a number of parents both in New Plymouth and Stratford, and in the majority of cases he was satisfied it was sickness which prevented regular attendance. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The finance committee reported ..on matters arising out of correspondence received since last meeting as follows: That re the matter of supplying metal to the Newall committee they bo informed that the board would grant £ for £ on work done up to a specified amount; tbat the amount of subsidy due on the shelter shed at Pukoho be paid to the committee,; that the matter of ronairs to the out offices at Norfolk bo left in the hands of tlio chairman with power to act, and that two gates be supplied and paid for on Mr. Trimble’s certificate; that in reply to Okato committee they be informed that the board would subsidise them £ for £ up to £5 for draining, and that tho board will supply a tank; that in reply to the request for seating in the shelter shed at* Kaimata the board would supply the, material if tlio committee do tlio work; that tho matter of supplying a batli for tho Tuna residence be left in tho hands of tho chairman; that the Stratford committee be informed tbat tho board cannot provide out offices at the baths, and that tho matter of minor repairs at the school be left in tho hands of the chairman to deal with ; that in reference to grates the matter bo referred to the chairman to inquire into and report at next mooting; that the Mangoroi committee be'asked to supply length and probable cost of fence required ; that the matter of supplying manure for school gardens Ik* referred to the chief inspector for his report; that the matter of bettor lighting of the Waitara infant room and tho providing of clocks be referred to the inspector; that tho small requirements at tlio Inglewood Technical School lie left in the . hands of the chairman with power to net; that the account of £1 for extra cleaning owing to an epidemic of scarlet fever nt Uronui be paid; that tho chairman bo empowered to get the foreman to have tho necessary out offices erected at tlio residence at Tataraimaka.

Air. Kennedy moved the adoption of the report. Air, Alorton seconded. Air .Adlam moved an amendment that the Nowall committee be subsidised £2 for £1 for gravelling. The committee, he said, had done a lot of hard work, and was deserving of special consideration. There was no seconder, and the amendment lapsed. The motion was carried, FAINTING. The finance eoinmittee recommended that the following schools be painted ; Fnniwliakan. outside; Tntutawa. school and residence outside; Carrington, school inside and outside; Fohoknra, AVaitni, Kabul, Raupuha, and Urnti, outside; llniroa, residence outside and shelter shed; Waitara and 801 l Block, residence outside, and that the matter of painting the Stratford Technical School he referred to the director of technical education for his consideration. The report was adopted

GENERAL, Afr. Rogers furnished a report with reference to section 17, block 5, Ngatimaru S.D., containing..seven acres, and recommended that Air. Johnson he granted a seven years' lease at os per acre. —Approved, The usual monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was resumed this morning.

ACTION CONFIRAIEI). The action of the Fihnina committee in closing the school from the 3rd in 7th inst. on account of the accidental dentil of the headmaster’s son was confirmed, and it was decided to’ forward a letter of sympathy to Afr. and Airs. Mason in their bereavement. The action of the Pembroke committee in closing this school cm account of the illness of the headmaster’s w'fo was confirmed. The action of the Fnniwhakau and Raupuha committees in closing their

RESIGNATIONS. The following resignations were accepted ;—Mr. E. Turner, Kina school; Airs. Turner, sewing teacher, Kina school; Air. AV. S. Symc, pupil teacher, Ngairc. APPOINTMENTS. Aliss J. Fraser was appointed teacher of the Tarata school, and Air. A. E. Day teacher of the Raupuha school, the appointments to take effect from December 1. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. The following teachers were granted leave of absence owing to illness: — Airs. "Warner, Koru; Aliss Bicheno, Uruti; Aliss Lawrence, Stratford; Air. Evotts, West End. Miss Westrup, AVest End School, and Air. L. Bucher, Opuha Road, were granted leave of absence to attend examinations. PUKEHO SCHOOL. * The Pulcebo committee asked when the board intended to call applications for a permanent teacher for the school. —lt was resolved that the committee be informed that the board will ti»kc into consideration their request when making transfers and appointments in December next. TRANSFER OF TEACHERS. Messrs. Govett and Quilliam, the board’s solicitors, submitted their opinion with reference to the transfer ot teachers. This stated Jliat tho board had full power to transfer a teacher from one school to another without the teachers’ consent. Before the transfer can bo made the committee of tho school to which the teacher is to bo transferred must bo consulted. By section 54 of the Education Act, 1908, tho board has express power to remove teachers from one school to another within the district, and, section 55 (2) provides that the committee shall bo consulted. Tho same section (as amended by section 14 of the Education Amendment Act, prescribes tho manner in which the committee is to be consulted. The board must send to tho chairman of the committee the name of the teacher proposed to bo transferred in a statement of his length of service and other qualifications. If the committee desires to express any opinion or make any recommendation tho same must be forwarded to the board three days before the appointment of the teacher to the new school is to be made, and the board must take tho committee’s opinion or recommendation into consideration before making tho appointment. The board must also take into consideration tho fitness for tho vacant position of all the teachers (if any)' in the employment of the board, who have signified to the board their desire for transfer. Whilst the board is, as above stated, bound to consult the committee before making any transfer in our opinion, the board is not bound in any way by the committee's views. In Lyne v. Education Board, decided by Air. Justice Chapman, in'November 1909, His Honour says; “The hoard must hold a bona fido consultation with tho committee without which it cannot act. It need not act upon the committee’s views. It may, indeed, sot them aside, but it must listen to and. consider them.” AVe have given the provisions of the Act somewhat fully because we consider these provisions show that the committee of the school to which the teacher is to he removed is the body to bo consulted, and not the teacher himself. Wo cannot find any authority for the proposition that the consent of the teacher must he obtained before the hoard can remove him from one school to another, and in onr opinion, the legislature never intended to place so unreasonable a restriction upon education Boards, in administering tho Act. WELLINGTON TRAINING COLLEGE Tho secretary of the Wellington Education Board,‘notified the re-election unopposed of .Air. G. Carson on the Committee of Advice of tho AVollmgton Training College as Representative of tlio hoards other than the Wellington Education Board in the Middle University District. OKAU, WHANGAMOMONA, AND ACKLAND GRANTS.

Tlie Department wrote that with reference to the grants for the establishment ot schools at Okan, AVhangamomona. and Ackland, the Mblister was prepared to regard these authorities as one for £787 upon the understanding that the accommodation specified in each ease shall ho adhered to, that the hoard supply mi account ot tlio expenditure-on. each building, and that, when claiming any instalment of the total sum tlio hoard certify that the balance will ho sufficient to complete the remainder of the works.

Mi s s E. Bricked asked for (he hoard's instructions ns to the closing or otherwise of the Taurakawa School, as three out of the five pupils would he leaving the district shortly.—Action deferred. A petition was received from parents in the Tongaponitn district asking that when the Okan School is built, a halftime school he opened in conjunction with the Tongaporutu School at the Tongaponitn Hall. —Referred to the inspector. A nctition from settlors asking for a school on the Ilmia Hoad was also referred to the inspector for a report. Air. Amoore- (Tataraimaka) was granted leave to close his school on the 31st inst. In pursuance of the recommendation of the Bird School Committee it was decided that the Bird School he closed on December 23, 1910 and re-opon on February 6, 1911. Mr. H. A. Stratford, headmaster ot the Inglewood School,, wrote accepting the position of superintendent of the Inglewood Technical School. It was decided to inform the Rowan Committee that the hoard was satisfied with the teacher’s explanation, ami sees no good reason to re-open the matter.