THE ASHTON SCHOOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 272, 29 August 1933, Page 6

THE ASHTON SCHOOL.

Sir,— “Householder's” letter regardinn- tile Ashton School. What?. WUat. Truly there are none so blind, as those who will not see, i.e., the benefits of consolidation in the interests of children attending small country schools. “Indignant protest against the Eitteir.on School Committee suggesting such U thing.” Well, they may have had a sufficient reason for doing so. iersonuiiv, I cannot speak for. them, but is it not a fact that the route traversed by one of the school buses running to Eiffel,ton passes the door or road end ot every pupil attending the Ashton School, with the exception of one or two? And, further, has not the Education Department ' always maintained that where a certain school lias a bus passing a householder’s residence the said school is brought to their door. This being so, it seems to me that householders glibly stated phrase unwarranted interfereuce of a school 1U miles away” falls flat. “Instead of consulting our committee.” Yes, “Householders’ ” action in rushing into print certainly constitutes a breach of honourable relationships as between one school and another. Why could not •‘Householders” have interviewed or written to Eiffelton direct? “Ashton feels quite capable of conducting its own school affairs.” But is it not having difficulty in proving to the Education Department that to keep the school open with a roll number of 12, pay teacher's salary, incidental allowance to committee, upkeep of school and school residence, added cost per pupil through the department having to send inspectors and instructors to Ashton for the said 12 pupils is economically sound, as against letting them proceed to Eiffelton at less than one quarter the cost. OPTIONAL.