EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143976, 19 December 1912, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held at the board’s offices, Lemon Street, on Wednesday afternoon. The chairman (Mr. H. Trimble) presided, and other members present were: Messrs. G. A. Adlam, J. Young, R. Masters, A. M. Bradbury, W. L. Kennedy and A. Morton. Messrs. W.-Rogers and A. H. Halcombe were granted leave of absence. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. The Chairman notified having made the following appointments during the interim:—Mangaehu, Miss May Moir, sole teacher from December 1, 1912; Tariki, Miss W. Jemison, assistant from January 1, 1913; Kaimiro, Miss F. L. Smith, head teacher from same date; and Okate, Mr. R. O. Larsen, head teacher from February 1, 1913. Received TECHNICAL DIRECTOR’S REPORT. The director - of the Technical College (Mr. A’, Gray) reported that the classes had now finished throughout the district, and in many cases the students had signified their appreciation of the work done, and their intention to become pupils again next year. Miss Colson, a pupil in the millinery class, had done some very good work, which entitled her to the college certificate in that branch. The day technical classes closed with a roll number of 21. He had sent to each school circulars pointing out the benefits to be obtained from attendance at these classes. Next year he proposed to have the courses arranged more definitely, so that students would be able to give more time to the practical work. Also he was trying to arrange for a mechanical engineering course. The best thanks of the college were due to those gentlemen who had allowed the commercial class pupils to visit their offices on one day a week in order to obtain practical knowledge of office work. Also he had to thank the secretary (Mr. P. S. Whiteombe) and the office staff for help in this direction. He recommended the usual bonuses to the superintendents at New Plymouth 'aud Stratford, and, on account of the day classes having increased the duties of the caretaker, the director recommended increasing his salary by £l3 per annum from January 1 next. In a supplementary report Mr. Gray recommended the usual refunds of £2 2s' each to 18 pupils attending the day classes, and £1 5s each to eight pupils attending the evening classes. The reports were adopted. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The building overseer (Mr. C. H. Moore) reported that nearly the whole of his time had been put in at the new Oeo School, which was now completed, with the exception of the radiator. He valued the old buildings at £6O. A start had been made with the general repairs authorised at Opunake, and the painting of the, Warea residence had‘. been commenced. The folding doors required at Norfolk would be attended to during the holidays, together with the painting of both school and residence.—Received. CHANGE OF READER. • The committee set up at the last meeting of the board to inquire into the question of adopting a new miscellaneous reader, recommended that the “Pacific Reader” be now used in place of the “Imperial Reader.” After some discussion the board adopted tile committee’s recommendation. The Chief Inspector (Mr. W. A. Ballantyne) pointed out that this was possibly the only district in the Dominion now using . the Imperial Reader. This book was now considered out-of-date, and was out of print, local booksellers being absolutely unable to secure additional stocks. Most of the other districts were now using the Pacific Reader. SCHOLARSHIP REGULATIONS. • . After carefully considering the question of the revision of the sokolavship regulations referred to them by the board, the inspectors recommended that clause 11 be amended to read as follows;—“Tho annual examination for competitors for Junior Scholarships shall be the examination for Junior National Scholarship and the annual examination for competitors for" Senior Scholarships shall be the Civil Service Junior Examination.” The inspectors added that they had also considered the question of raising the age of candidates for the Junior Scholarships, but have no recommendation to make in this direction.—The report was adopted. THE CENTRAL SCHOOL. Mr. F. P. Corkill, the Ven. Archdeacon Evans, and Mr. H. Dempsey, from the Central School Committee, formed a deputation asking for subsidies for various works which the committee contemplated making. Mr. Corkill explained the bad state state of the playground, and referred to the offer of the board to find the material to make the necessary repairs, providing the committee paid for the labour. At the time tho offer was made the committee was unable tv take advantage of it, but it now was in a position to do so. The next, improvement required at the Central School was a new shelter-shed for the boys, the present building being' quite unsuitable. The committee estimated the cost at £6O, and was prepared to find half the money. At the Courtenay Street School it would be greatly to the advantage of the children if a portion of the playground could be asphalted. The committee was prepared to make the same conditions here as at the Centivl School. Another matter requiring attention was the swings at Both schools, which were in a very dangerous condition and had been condemned for some time. The committee intended putting them in order during the holidays, and as a considerable amount of labour and material would be required, thought the board might subsidise it to some extent for this purpose also. Mr. Dempsey mentioned tho necessity of repairing varieties cupboards and locks throughout the school. After tho deputation had withdrawn tho board considered the various requests, and on the motion of Mr. Morton, seconded by the Chairman, resolved that the following grants be made:—Supply material required for repairing asphalt at Central, supply material for new asphalt at Courtenay Street, subsidise £ for £ up to £3O for a new shelter-shed; and that the foreman be instructed to repair all necessary locks and cupboards. A further application will be made to the department for a grant for the sheltershed. SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. Mrs. Dowling and Mr. R. L. M'llroy, representing the Taranaki Teachers’

Institute, formed a deputation asking that the holidays arranged for last year he rescinded in favour of those in force in previous years. Tho only change asked for was that the week at Easter bo replaced by one in June. The chief reason was that there was, in the institute’s opinion, too long a strain for tho children between Easter and September. The Chief Inspector (Mr. Ballantyne) agreed with Mr., Bradbury that the only real solution to the trouble would be to adopt term holidays. The second Inspector (Mr. Whetter) suggested taking a week off the 1 six given at Christmas and adding it to the winter vacation in June. This would suit the teachers in the backblocks. Mr. Morton advised getting particulars from other education boards as to the holidays observed by them, and with this object in view the Chairman gave notice to move at the next meeting that the holidays be amended, inquiries to be made in the interim. PUKEHO SCHOOL. Mr. R. G. Whetter, inspector, reported on the request of the Pukeho School Committee for increased accommodation, and recommended that an application for additional accommodation be made to the department. The Pukeho Committee wrote asking the board to reconsider the advisability of erecting a residence there. The board decided, on tho motion of Messrs. Masters and Morton, to make the additions required and to apply for a grant for the additions at the school and for a residence. THE POLYNESIAN SOCIETY. A deputation Consisting of Messrs. S. Percy .Smith and M. Fraser, representing the council of the Polynesian Society, waited on the board asking for a site on the reserve on which the Technical College now stands, for the purpose of erecting a permanent building in which to house the society’s valuable library. At present they were using a room in the Technical College, but the increased volume of tho exchanges of books with similar institutions made it necessary to provide a larger and permanent building. They hoped to be able to raise the money if they could depend on getting the site. , The board inspected the grounds, but nothing definite was done. DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. G. Hogben, Inspector-General of Schools, informed the board that a grant not exceeding £2OO would be available for the year ending March 31, 1914, for the purpose of training uncertificatod teachers. • The department further advised its preparedness to entertain applications from education boards for a supply of a limited number of buds and grafts to schools at which a special feature was made of nursery work, under the supervision and direction of an itinerant instructor in agriculture. Tho Inspector-General wrote that it was proposed to amend immed lately the regulations relating to probationers in such a way as to provide for the appointment of one probationer for each 800 or part of 800 pupils in yearly average attendance in the. district, in lieu of oue probationer for each 1200 or part of 1200 as at present. Tho Inspector-General added that the board would bo at liberty accordingly to- arrange appointments for the coming year on the amended basis.—This met with the approval of several members. Replying to a letter from the board, tho department said it was awaiting a further communication from the Board of Governors of the New Plymouth High School regarding the proposed establishment of a day technical school in connection with tho New Plymouth ■Technical College. The department was not aware that the High School Board had in contemplation the establishment of technical classes. The courses would, it was understood; form part of the regular curriculum of the school and would not include any subject that might not bo properly regarded as belonging to a secondary stage of education. The department hoped to hear that an understanding, as the result of a conference or otherwise, had been arrived at between the hoard and the High School Board, with the view of avoiding unnecessary duplication. GENERAL MATTERS. In answer to a letter from the committee, the matter of leasing the Puniwhakau horse paddock, now unused, was left in the hands of Mr. Watchorn with, power to act. The West End School Committee was granted a £ for £ subsidy towards strengthening and lining the sheltershed, the board’s share not to exceed the sum of £5. Mrs. Winthrop, teacher at the Mntau school, was granted permission to remain at that school in preference to accepting the Tahora appointment. In consequence of this Mr. Kennedy’s notice of motion on this matter was withdrawn. „ Tho question of tho disposal of the temporary building at Oeo, lately used for school purposes, was left in the hands of Mr. Young, with power to. act. i On account of the department withholding any grants for teachers’ residences, the bead teacher at Pihama will be informed that the board cannot accede to his request for an extra room to his residence. The Ackland School Committee was granted the sum of £2 10s for fencing done, and its attention will ho drawn to tho fact “hat mutters of, this nature must be referred to tho board before anything is done. * _ ■■ A committee composed of the chairman and Messrs. Bradbury and Morton was appointed to fill vacancies in tho teaching staffs at various schools. The matters of repairs wanted at the Central residence and the windows of tho Waihi school were referred to the overseer to have attended to. Repairs at Stratford will also receive attention. Accounts amounting to £3031 were passed for payment.