FEWER PUPILS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1934, Page 9

FEWER PUPILS.

AUCKLAND GIRLS' GRAMMAR. STAFFS AND BOUNDARIES. Disparity in the roll numbers at tlie Auckland and Epsom Girls' Grammar Schools led to discussion at a meeting of the Grammar Schools Board yesterday, as to tlie advisability of again altering the boundaries between the two districts from which pupils of the two schools are drawn. The number of pupils at the Auckland school, it was stated, had fallen by about 100 in the past two years, while the number attending the Epsom school had increased so as to tax its capacity. Owing to the reduced attendance at the Auckland school doubt arose as to whether the present grade could be retained as fai as staffing was concerned. The chairman. Professor A. "P. W. Thomas, was authorised to do what was possible to keep the numbers at both schools as evenly balanced as possible. He said that, the district from which Howe Street drew a great number of its pupils had been greatly all'ected by unemployment. According to a report from (he headmistress, eaid Professor Thomas, the roll number was at present nominally 519, and 510 was the minimum required to maintain the grade. There was some doubt as to whether ten of the present pupils would continue at the school, and if they left the school would fall below the grade. In that case fewer teachers would be required, and, unfortunately, under the regulations, if the services of a teacher had to be dispensed with it would have to bo one of the senior teachers. The closing of the 1 raining College had made a difference. A number of girls had gone to school with the idea of going on to the Training College, and with that avenue of employment gone such girls had left. Drift Towards Epsom. On the other hand, numbers at the Epsom school had tended to increase. In past years the drift of population had been in that direction, and families there were growing up to be of school age. Boundaries would have to be altered accordingly, for while there was accommodation at Howe Street, the Government could not be asked to grant additional accommodation at /Epsom, even if that were desirable. The boundaries were altered last year, but the alteration has not made enough difference. The distance to be travelled by the pupils would have to be considered. Mr. A. St. Clair Brown replied that trams served' the districts well. It was not a good thing for girls to have to change trams at busy corners, said Dr. E. Boberton, it led to tlieir being accosted. Mr. Brown: Still, if Epsom is becoming overcrowded, some solution will have to bo found. "Mr. Tisdall and I thought that Farnell might do, because it means one tram to town and another to the school,' added Professor Thomas.