PARENTS OPEN SCHOOL

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 203, 28 August 1935, Page 7

PARENTS OPEN SCHOOL

Private Enterprise Triumphs Over Bureaucracy. AUTHORITIES DEFIED. LONDON, August 27. A triumph of private enterprise over bureaucracy is seen in the opening, by 00 parents, at Waterfoot, Lincolnshire, amid scenes of the greatest enthusiasm, of England's most remarkable elementary school. Outwitting the education authorities the parents avoided prosecution by taking over the management of the school.

The authorities recently ordered the Waterfoot children to attend the school at Rawtenstall, one and a half miles distant. The parents of the 07 children concerned objected on account of the arduous journey and the perilous nature of the road.

The children, under instructions, reported on 12 successive days at the old school. Although nobody was present to give them lessons, one of the parents scrupulously recorded the attendances. After that the children went away to play.

The* authorities threatened a prosecution for non-attendance at school, whereupon the parents, at their own expense, opened a competently staffed and fully-equipped school at Waterfoot, controlled by their own committee, completely disarming the authorities.

BRITISH EDUCATION. BENEFITS OF REORGANISING. RUGBY, August 27, According to a report issued by the Board of Education the total number of children attending public elementary schools last year was 5,570,752, and there were 448,421 in the secondary schools. Steady progress has been made with the reorganisation of the elementary school system, which has been proceeding for some years on the lines of the Hadow report. Considerable progress also was made during the year by local authorities- in the replacement of old and the provision of new premises.