ONE SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 281, 26 November 1919, Page 14

ONE SCHOOL.

Xrr THREE BXniJJZNGS. rimiAEY EDUCATION AT THE SHORE. The undesirable educational conditions that at present exist over at Devonport, ■where the primary school is overflowing, ■was the theme of a discussion that Mr. H. S. W. King set going at the Educa- m tion Board meeting last night. Mr. King said he understood the new 2 Vauxhall school building would not be - completed by the beginning of February ■ next as expected. The opening of the — new school would be delayed, and Devon- ~ port wanted the new staff appointed to ; commence duties in temporary premises - at the beginning of the school year. - Thus this new staff would begin the year with the pupils who were the overflow from the Devonport school, for really this overflow would be the future Vauxhall attendance. Somebody said the staff could not be ] appointed before the school was com- j pleted, as it would be contrary to regu- j Z lations, but the opinion of the Board | was that perhaps arrangements could be I ~ made to relieve the distress. i ~ The chairman of the Devonport School •» Committee had prophesied an acute position at the beginning of the next school ~ year, and the Board would need toZ\ sanction more increases in both accom- ~ modation and staff. The headmaster, writing to the committee, showed that it would be a physical impossibility to house standards IV. and V. next February, and therefore the girls of standard IV. would have to be sent out to another building as at pre- j sent, and the girls of standard V. as well. _ There would also be serious crowding in - other classes. Mr. Garland pointed out how awkward it would be if the school was ,' opened six weeks late, and then the ~ Board would practically have to "box the ~ compass" all over again, rearranging ap- *■ pointments to fill resultant gaps and «■ vacancies. TCt is not the Education Act that wor- . lies us," exclaimed the M.L.C., "it is Z those ceaseless regulations." He conZ eluded with the suggestion that the *- Board should inform the Department that this position had cropped up, and Che Board proposed doing so-and-so. Then to hold the thing up the^Department ; -would have to actually veto the pro- " posal. Mr. Dunlop and Mr. King were - depnted to look into the position, and - the Board decided to try and obtain ~ temporary accommodation, and appoint V the staff for the new school at the begin- ~ ning of the year. Thus the new school ~ would be established at the beginning of ~ February. Failing- this the Department - is to be asked to provide greater staff, - as the work of the Devonport school i<; now being carried out in three hi:' , ■'" v j .