CROWDED OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 134, 8 June 1929, Page 12

CROWDED OUT.

POINT CHEVALIER PUPILS.

A CLASS OF SIXTY-ONE.

BIGGER SCHOOL WANTED,

When Sir James Parr opened the Point Chevalier School several years ago he said to the people, "You produce the children and the Department will produce the school." This morning a deputation that waited on the Hon. H. Atmore, the successor to Sir James Parr, was thoughtful enough not to bring up that promise, when it was asking for more room. Mr. S. G. Crookbain (chairman), Mr. W. A. Phillips (secretary), of the local committee and Mr. H. Wooller the headmaster of the school, were introduced to the Minister by the member for the district, Mr. J. S. Fletcher.

Mr. Crookbain explained that six years ago the school started with 60 pupils; to-day there were 600. The difficulty was that the numbers were growing so steadily. Last year there was a spare room, and to-day there was no spare room, while they had to put children in a corridor. Point Chevalier was a young working man's district, and had an exceptional number of young children. Owing to the lack of accommodation a local church had to be rented, and it was felt that rental would go towards helping to pay the interest on new rooms needed for the infant classes. Mr. Crookbain pointed out that the trams were soon to be running to the district, and they would bring more people, so that the school accommodation would be more taxed than ever.

Mr. Phillips pointed out the urgency of the matter.

Mr. Wooller, emphasising the overcrowded state of the rooms, said they had to put 34 children into a porch 8 feet by 24 feet. Room was so short that lie had to stop admitting pupils. They had classes as high as 61 in number, and others of 57 and 51. Those were far too big, and if any relief was to be given, the infant department should have three rooms added.

Mr. Atmore said the deputation certainly had a case. He did not believe in any school having a class of 61 pupils. Witli such a number it was quite impossible to give proper teaching, and for the teacher to know each boy or girl, without which knowledge proper teaching was impossible. He promised to consult with the board, and to communicate with the committee later, remarking in conclusion that the matter obviously did not admit of any great delay.