EDUCATION BOARD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 12984, 27 January 1910, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Wanganui Education Board was held last evening, those present being—Messrs F. Pirani (chairman), Guthrie, Dixon, Purnell, Aldridge, Spurdle, O’Dea, Bennett, and Fraser.

FIN AH CE—The Bank Book showed a dr, balance of 112,975 15s 2d. RESIGNATIONS.—The following resignations were accepted:—P. C. Thompson (Ha-Icombe), E. Goldsbury (Taonui). and F. J. Gaze (Wangatiui). LEAVE.—Leave of absence was granted to M. Bay (Maxwell), U. W. Powlo (Kaheke), A. Sparrow (Qhangai), A. Kennedy (Pohoriui), and C. Rashleigh. ARAMOHO.—The Aramoho committee wrote agreeing to the appointment of Mr J, K. Law as head-teacher.

PUKEKAHIJ.—The Department wrote agreeing to give a grant of £250 for school at Pukekaha, STANDARD 111. BOOKS.—A letter from the Department re grant for supply of books for Standard 111. was referred to the Chief Inspector. MOKOIA.—A grant has been made by the Department “of ,£l4O for the extension of this school. EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.—Correspondence re the forthcoming general conference was read. The Chief Inspector was appointed delegate. Leave was granted to the other inspectors to attend the usual triennial conference. It was stated that Messrs Varney and Grant had also been invited to attend the general .conference, and it was -decided that if an application be received the matter be referred to the chairman. SCHOLARSHIP.—C. M. Bathgate wrote resigning scholarship held by him.—Received.

ARAMOHO.—£I for £1 up to £4 granted for fencing. TEACHERS.—Mr O’Dea moved thattbe Board review its method of appointing, promoting, and dismissing teachers in the direction of. giving school committees a greater power in any changes of teaching staff.—The motion was discussed at some length, but was not carried. TAIHAPE.—The Department wrote declining grant for additions to Taihape D.H.S.

RANGATAUA.—The Department wrote making grant of £305 lor enlargement of Eangataua school.

GONVILLE.—The Gonville Hall Trustees wrote notifying an increase of 5s weekly rental of hall.—Application to be mad© to the Department for an increase, of rent allowance. JACKEYTOWN.—The committee to be informed that owing to deduction ~iu Government grant, desks cannot be supplied.

DESKS.—It was decided to. inform the Manntahi and Jackeytown committees that, owing to the reduction of the grant, the Board has no funds to secure desks. PIPIRIKI.—A vote of thanks was accorded Mr J. Howard for securing for two years a building for school purposes. MANAlA.—Application to bo made for establishment of a. District High School. VALLEY ROAD.—Chairman authorised to deal with the matter of a section. NEWBURY.—Application to be made bo the Department for a grant to rebuild the washhouse recently destroyed by fire. MOKOIA.—Owing to additions being made to the school, one week's extra holiday ivas granted. HOURS.—Mokoia, Anroa, Utiku, -and Linton hours to be as requested by the respective, committees. SCHOLARSHIP.—Tii© Board was unable to comply with Miss E. L. Piggott’s request for boarding allowance. ~--LINTON. —Inspector to ‘report on lighting .of school.

KAURANGA.—£7 granted for drainage. OWHAKURA.—Mr Thompson's tender for erection of shelter shed was granted. . ’ - MOUNT VIEW.—R. and E. Tingcy and Co.’s tender of £4 10s was accepted. WANGANUI - D.H.S.—The Wanganui committee wrote asking for grant for asphalting.—The Board replied that it had already exceeded the grant by £BO, and the committee had already received a grant of £ for £. The Board also suggested that the committee should raise the funds. LONG ACRE.—Painting cannot be undertaken at present. LORD KITCHENER.—The question of mobilising the cadets for Lord Kitchener’s

visit was left to Mr Purnell. ■ SCHOLARSHIPS.—AdditionaI scholarships were granted as follow.;—Senior—E. Rose (Collegiate School), E. Andrew'Girls’ College) ; Junior—B. Read (Queen’s Park). - SCHOOL SITES—Mr Spurdle was authorised to confer with tlxe technical and school committees re the disposal of school sites. When a satisfactory proposal has hern agreed upon, Mr Spurdle md the chairman of the School Committee will confer with the Board’s Finance Committee.

DURIETOWN.—Mr G. Coles, as spokesman of a deputation from' Durietown and mars Hill, said there was a desire among residents of Durietown to have a school erected. There was a school at Mars Hill, which prevented another school being started on Durie Hill, but it was proposed •to close the Mars Hill school. The attendance at the school was now falling off. A canvas had been made of Durie Hill, and the attendance of 33 children had been guaranteed. In addition, 15 to 20 children were underage. A number of people were arvay on holiday, and a canvas had not been made of the people on the face of the hill. He proposed that an acre of land be acquired at a cost of about £4OO. At the presertt time it was impossible for children to,go either to Mars Hill or to Wanganui. Mr Le Martin, also spoke in support of the proposal, but simply as a resident, and wished the Board to understand h© was there privately and not as chairman of the Mars Hill School Committee. He suggested that a school be

started about ‘half a . mile from Durie Hill. The distance from Mars Hill to Durietown was about 24 miles. The attendance at Mars Hill was 24 and ’was decreasing. The site for the proposed school would be about miles from the Queen’s Park School.—The chairman pointed out to the deputation that an acre of land was too small for a school. He gave the deputation small hope of getting a grant from the Government, and without a grant the Board could do nothing. The year had been begun with an overdraft of nearly £3,000, "and the bank had given notice -that it had to he

cleared. There was no prospect of the Board expending a sixpence on school sites or buildings during the coming year. It was decided that the residents meet Mr Spurdle and discuss the proposal,’ Mr Spurdle to report at the next meeting of the Board. CHIEF INSPECTOR’S REPORT. PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

Proficiency Examination.—For this examination 979 candidates presented themselves, 618, or 63 per cent., gained a proficiency certificate; 219, or 22 per cent., gained competency; while 142, or 15 per cent, failed.

Public Examinations)—At the Junior National Scholarship examination the best if our pupils did not compare favourably with the best of those from other part ß

of the Middle District. This is doubtless partly attributable to the large amount of work of a practical nature which is done at our schools, and which docs not count to the extent that it should in examinations. Apart from this consideration, however, one cannot help feeliug, in view of the results, that some of the head teachers do not make the most of their opportunities in forwarding, from their first appearance at school, the interests of their brighter pupils. Housekeeping Certificates.—96 first-class and 36 second-class certificates i , cookery and needlework -were gained by pupi ; from the following schools:—Hr. ve:a, Wanganui D.H., Queen’s Park, Taihape, Marton, Feilding, Campbell Street, and College Street. The examiners—two or three ladies in each subject at each school —report in very favourable terms on the work done, especially in cookery, and their suggestions will be of great service to the teachers. At several of the schools lessons were given gratuitously in hygiene by local medical men. I would suggest that the lady examiners and the doctors, who have so generously devoted themselves to the bettering of conditions that lie at the root of social and individual welfare, be cordially thanked for their services. Agriculture in District High Schools.— Ten pupils at Hawera, 12 at Taihape, and 20 at Feilding have expressed a desire to take the new course in rural economy.

Experimental Agriculture at Primary Schools.—Mr Law, head teacher of the Manaia School, submits an exhaustive report on the results of the school -experiments on grasses and manures. Members of the Board representing agricultural interests will see that the results of the experiments are very instructive, and they will he glad to know that their value was -duly recognised by tbc local press. In connection ( with instruction in agriculture there should be recognised the work being done by the Feilding A. and P. Association in promoting school garden competitions. The results of the recent examinations of the gardens of the 12 competing schools were, in the opinion of the judges, in the highest degree satisfactory, though in respect of the notebooks much lias yet. to be done.

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. Syllabus.—The Directors are now busily engaged in the pieparation of a syllabus tor their respective districts for the present year. As the Now Zealand Society of Accountants is now incorporated I would suggest that the Board should ask the Society to institute an examination suitable for junior and senior Technical School students. Members will have noticed the fine results achieved by the Art and Engineering Departments at the June South Kensington examinations. In the Engineering Department Wanganui, with 27 passes to its credit, comes next to Auckland with 45 passes, the highest record in the Dominion.

The report was adopted. Hearty votes of thanks wore accorded the examiners in the various subjects, and to the Feilding A. and P. Society. Authority was given to the Chief Inspector to open classes in Domestic Economy and Agriculture should sufficient pupils offer.