A Varied List.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11976, 20 September 1906, Page 5

A Varied List.

That important body, the Board of Education, has many things to attend to, and while the average reader rarely troubles about the woes of the country school committee which .wants a new porch, or of the back blocks teacher who wants a change from the mud, ho will nevertheless very often find the reports of the proceedings full of interest. For inbtance, appended to the ordinary report of the Board meeting in another column will be found the monthly report of the able Chief Inspector, which provides many matters for thought. Many a meeting will fo by without anything special beyond reary routine, but occasionally a sitting will iairly bristle with points of interest, which must come as a welcome roliei to members from the staggering array of small details uaually found on tin' four closely typewritten sheets which compiise the average order paper. Last night's agenda, tor instance, showed no ic-wr-i than 86 items, in' addition to which there were several matters which came in too late for inclusion in the list. What close attention to work this entails on the members may easily be imagined. Several matters of interest to Wanganui-ites were dealt with last evening, as well as others of general interest, particulars of which we give below. ,

SEDGEBROOK-.

The first deputation received by the Board last night was from Sedgebrook, and consisted of Messrs R. Neilson, W. H. Clapham, A. Bullock, J. Jones, C. H. Walker, and J. Anderson. Mr. NEILSON, in explaining the object of the deputation, said that 18 months ago he had taken a census of the suburb on his own account, and found 127 children under 5 years of age who were coming on, 106 in Standards I. and 11., and 72 in other Standards. The number of houses at that time was 175, but at the general census last April this had increased to 209, so that the number of children must also have increased. He had visited the present side school last Friday, when 61 were present. The deputation wished the Bchool established as a separate institution. He added that they were all very well satisfied with the present teacher. The CHAIRMAN said the Board wanted a separate school, but the Department would not permit one, and ouly built a 60 school, though the Board asked for an 80 school. There was a regular town at Sedgebrook, and the place was certainly entitled to a school of its own. He moved that the Board bring the matter under the notice of the Minister for Education on his visit to Wanganui next Saturday week. This was agreed to.

GONVILLE.

Gonville, as befits a suburb which is thinking of attaining to the dignity of a Town District, does not appear content to let its school remain at the status of a "side" school, and, like Sedgebrook, was also represented by a deputation (Messrs A. G. Bignell, F. Webb-Jones, and A. P. London), which asked that a site be purchased for a separate school. Mr A. G. BIGNELL pointed out the rapid increase of the locality, which now numbered some 500 people, living in 125 houses. The number of children on the roll of tho side school was 36, these, of course, being only up to Standard 111. He urged the necessity of the Board obtaining a site at once, lest the increase in the value of property left it iace to face with prohibitive prices, and suggested payment of a deposit on a section. Mr F. WEBB-JONES laid a map of the locality on the table, and pointed out the site the deputation proposed, which was a fine high section, midway between Gonville and Alma Road. The two acres could be got for ,£3OO, and in view of the prospective rise in value, he thought it would be a good investment for the Board, even if the two acres were not all required. There were, he said, between 50 and 60 young children coming on, majiy of whom would be of school age next year.

The CHAIRMAN expressed his sympathy with the request, and moved that the matter be left in the hands of Messrs Carson and Spurdle, the Board to pay the amount of deposit on the section if these two members recommended it, also that the matter be brought under the notice of the Minister on his approaching visit.

SCHOOL BOOKS.

The vexed question of school books was brought under the notice of the Board by Mr A. Luxford, who presented the recent resolution of the Aramoho School Committee (already published by us) in the direction of securing uniformity of Bchool books and time of examinations. He hoped the Board would give the resolution its support, and ask to have" it embodied in the Bill now preparing for Parliament, thus being the first Board in the colony to bring the matter before the Minister in tangible form. In the course of the discussion which followed the Chairman sai dthere had not been so many changes in Wanganui as was thought, and practically the only changes were on removal from one Standard to another. The Board's regulations of 1899 provided only two readers, the Imperial and the Crown, and there had been no change till last year. Mr LUXFORD said there had been a good many changes at Aramoho. Parents objected to that, not so much to the prices. Even if he were wrong, he thought the resolution a good one if it ensured changes only at reasonable intervals. > Mr BENNETT moved, pro forma, that the Board commend the resolution to the consideration of the Department. The Board's regulations, he said, were ignored by some teachers, and he knew that in his district (Manawatu) there were no less than six readers in use last year. The Board should see that its regulations were obeyed. The CHAIRMAN said the only way to deal with the matter was for the Department to supply books to the schools, whose property they would be, but if every district was to have the same books then they would have teachers and inspectors all cast in the same mould. The Board had tried in every way to safeguard the parents. The Government gave a list of eight readers, and the Board, chose only two and gave 12 months' notice of an intended change. Mr BENNETT thought inspectors should only examine on authorised books, while Mr Dixon expressed the opinion that as it was the children got their books by heart, and only recited in stead of reading. Mr FRASER gave an instance of a teacher refusing the books authorised by the Board and getting others. Mr SPURDLE thought such a thing as Mr Fraser quoted needed controlling. He believed in occasional changes, with reasonable notice.

The CHIEF INSPECTOR remarked that for the last three weeks he had not examined on the school books, but had used his own, which the children had never seen, and with very" satisfactory results. That was the true test of reading.

Mr BENNETT then withdrew his motion, saying he had only wished the question discussed, and the matter then dropped.

BOARD MEETINGS.

The matter of more frequent meetings of the Board was brought up by Mr A. Fraser, who moved, "That from the Ist

of October the Board meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month." Speaking to the motion, he thought the time had come when such a change was necessary. Looking at tlie order paper, they saw a large number of matters which.it was scarcely possible to deal with at one meeting a month so as to give them the attention they merited. The matter of Technical Education had grown so much that the Board should give it more attention than could be given to it at a monthly meeting. The same also applied to Nature Study and Agriculture. The Auckland and Southland Boards held fortnightly meetings, and he did not think the score of expense should be taken into consideration against the efficiency of the Board. His proposal would greatly lighten committee work, and would also relieve the Chief Inspector and the Technical Director. He disclaimed any personal motive in moving the resolution. Mr Bennett, who seconded the motion, and Mr Guthrie, both agreed with Mr

The CHAIRMAN (Mr Pirc-mi; fi.iid lio inii<H tell them at onto that he would resign from the Board if the motion weu> carried. He denied that business h.ul lu-en rushed, and said that the work h.iil al.uiv-, been thoroughly done while he was v member. There was no need for members to waste time discussing routine matters that could be settled in two minutes, and this was all the business that was hurried, all impo^ant matters receiving due consideration. There was no need for new members to tell them how to do their work, and it was only a waste of time to discuss the matter.

Messrs Smith, Dixon, Spnrdle. and Careon opposed the motion, and Mr Purnell supported it.

On being put the motion was lost. TECHNICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

Mr PIRANI then moved, "That a committee be set up to deal with questions relating to Technical Education throughout the district, subject to the direction of the Board, to meet on the same day as the Selection Committee."

This was seconded by Mr Dixon and carried, and it was further resolved that the Technical Education Committee consist of the Chairman and Messrs Carson, Dixon, Guthrie, and Bennett.

JOTTINGS.

"I think side schools a mistake," was one of the Chairman's remarks to the Sedgebrook deputation. "Altogether horrible," was the term applied by a black-blocks teacher to the lodging she had to endure in the bush. She applied for a change, which the Board will endeavour to effect.

One country committee wrote applying for a new fence, as the present one was in a condition of "senile decay."

"There is no system of drainage, no lavatory, the tank is leaking, and the fireplace wants re-setting. Lighting is decidedly bad, and there is no shelter shed." ■ — Extract from the architect's report on the Denlair school. The Board resolved that a new room should be built and improvements effected, an dto apply to the Department for a grant. The Government which is doing so much for education should certainly see that decent buildings are provided for the children and, it may be added, decent ' residences for the teachers, especially those in the country.

The dismal interiors of many of our schools are enough to induce chronic melancholia in both teachers and taught. The Board means to try_ and remedy this shortcoming, and has instructed its architect to prepare an estimate for painting the interiors of all schools in the district, together with estimates for new buildings required, new galleries, and necessary repairs. This wUi enable the Board to see if these much-needed reforms are •within ita means.

Accounts amounting to =£2092 9s 6d were passed for payment last night, which, with salaries added, means an expenditure of close on .£'6ooo for the month.

"In all new settlements," remarked the Chairman, "the Government should be asked to set aside reserves for school sites."

There is one back-block teaher without a place to lay his head, and his committee last night forwarded a request that he be allowed to occupy a part of the school buildiug. The Board decided to lay the matter before the Minister on Saturday week, and no doubt Mr Fowlds will regard it as a strong argument in favour of making the country teacher's lot decently comfortable.

The Board concluded a solid evening's work, a fair sample of the usual monthly meeting, at 10.30 p.m.. having taken four hours to go through the Order Paper.