WANTED—A SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 132, 5 June 1926, Page 11

WANTED—A SCHOOL.

REQUEST FROM WEYMOUTH. THE MINISTER SYMPATHETIC. Representations were made to the Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright) this morning for the erection of a one-roomed school at Weymouth, three miles from Manurewa. In replying to the deputation, the Minister said a very strong case had been made out for the establishment of a school, but he was not prepared to make any promise before going into the matter in all its aspects. The deputation was introduced by Mr. E. D. McLennan, M.P. for Franklin. Those present were Mr. J. Patterson (Auckland Education Board), Mr. A. L. Adams (chairman of the Weymouth School Committee), and Messrs. ~D. Williams and P. Roy. It was pointed out to the Minister that the roll number at the temporary school at Weymouth was 31. The Department, following its policy of consolidated schools, wanted the residents to send their children to Manurewa. However, the general opinion in Weymouth wa3 that there should be a permanent local school, with its own teacher. At present Weymouth children were ( accommodated in the public hall, which was not a suitable building for school purposes, since dances and other gatherings were held there in the evening, and the desks and school appliances were frequently shifted about. The deputation urged that their request for a permanent school was the more reasonable in view of the fact that the district was bound to make progress now that the railway workshops were being removed from Newmarket to Otahuhu. With the advantage of a concrete road, the district would be sure to expand, and, as the Manurewa School was already overcrowded, a school at Weyreouth should be provided. Mr. Wright said he hardly thought the point wae the stability of the district. The real question was: Would the child life decline or increase? Mr. Patterson said he thought the number of children would tend to increase considerably within the next few years, as the district was being subdivided. Weymouth, on the edge of the Manukau, would become a popular watering-place as the.years passed. The land was available for the Department, and the estimate which had been prepared was reasonable. Mr. McLennan supported the requests made by the deputation, and suggested that the Minister might visit the district at some convenient time. "You have certainly made out a very strong case indeed, and one that will be difficult to refute," said the Minister. He was very sympathetic, but could not be expected to make a promise offhand. Referring to the Department's policy with regard to consolidated schools, Mr. Wright said it was felt that children got a better education when they were sent to large schools, with an ample staff. However, in cases where parents objected to their children having to travel some distance to a consolidated school, the Department had to take the parents' views into consideration.- The Minister had to look at all the i » W. and see that public money was not wasted on schools that were not essential Mr. Wright eaid he hp ' every sympathy with country seti lv and their children. There had been dii fieulties in getting teachers to go out into the country districts, and this con etituted a big problem, which liad to be faced. It was his aim as Minister ol Education to see that country childrer got the beet education possible. Settlers in outlying areas could rest assured thai he had their interests at heart. Mr "Wright promised to acquaint Mr. Mc Lennan of the Department's decision a« soon as possible.