MANY EXCLUDED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 172, 4 May 1936, Page 6

MANY EXCLUDED

FROM SECONDARY EDUCATION.

DIFFICULTIES REGARDING TRANSPORT.

REPORT TO HIGH SCHOOL BOARD

Statistics regarding the distances which have to be covered- by some pupils of the Ashburton Higli School in reaching their classrooms were conveyed to the Board of Governors by the headmaster (Mr E. A. Cockroft) this morning.

In his report he stated:— “In reply to a letter from the • -rector of Education in regard to the parti culars of pupils who come to the school by unsubsidised conveyances, the foJ lowing information, among other information, was forwarded:

“Number of pupils (travelling by motor) who live 5 miles from this school. This involves payment 22 “Number living 3 miles or more who come in by means which do not involve payments 14. “Number living 5 miles or more who come in by means which do not involve payment 15 “Number who are boarding privately ... ... ••• 33 “Number of pupils in country districts who are debarred from attending a post-primary school owing to the cost of travelling being prohibitive ... ••• 20

“All the various bus services are used by pupils of this school. The cost to the pupils varies with the bus and the distance involved in travelling.

“I forwarded, also, to the Director an offer by Mr Nell who is willing to run one or two buses in the Mount Somers and surrounding districts.

“J am inclined to think that these inquiries have been instituted by the Department through the efforts of our chairman. It certainly appears as if some effort is to be made to grapple with the fact that many country children are at present being kept at home through the inability of the parents to finance any arrangement for conveyance to a secondary school.”