SCHEME OPPOSED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 89, 25 January 1938, Page 6

SCHEME OPPOSED

CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS.

RESOLUTION AT MT. SOMERS. HOUSEHOLDER S’ MEETING. Mr Stanley Smith, a member of the Canterbury Education Board, attended a meeting of householders at Mt._ Somers last evening to explain proposals for the amalgamation of the Mount Somers, Bushside, Ashburton Forjks, and Springburn school at Springburn. Mr T. Kerr (chairman of the school committee presided over an attendance of 33.

Mr Smith said it had been the policy of the Department for some years to build bigger schools. The districts where amalgamation had more recently taken place were Hawarden, Oxford and Pleasant Point. The object was to provide better facilities for the education of the pupils and the greater development of mind and character, as well as a means for the development of a higher social life, all of which were most essential to fit the child to face the great problems that would confront New Zealand, as well as other parts of the world, in the future. It was important that the training and the development of character be started young, and the facilities of small schools could not lend themselves to the practical application of those principles. Mr Smith replied to a number of questions. In the discussion that followed the opinion was expressed that despite what Mr Smith had said residents did not favour amalgamation, more especially in view of the proposed site at Springburn. A motion proposed by Mr 'L. King, seconded by Mr G. Green, “that this meeting ot householders does not want consolidation,” was carried by 21 points to 8. A motion by Mr J. Mears and E. J. Waugh, proposing consolidation at Mount Somers, met with little favour. On the motion of Mr J. McClimont a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Smith fo;; attending.