OVER-CROWDING IN SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13097, 23 April 1908, Page 8

OVER-CROWDING IN SCHOOLS.

TO THE JEDITOB Of "THE MiESS/" Si r , —A good deal of discussion seems to be taking place on this important question, ana not before time. About three years ago the .bducatian Boaid made a request to the liducation Department lor a graait for tho purpose of enlarging the iaornby School, but nothing uas been really done, although' the Board has informed us on several occasions that they were still urging on the Department the necessity for supply ing, the grant for the work. 1 think the remarks of Mr Buddo at the Education Board meeting minimised the over-crowding of theHornby School, and were calculated to delay, rather than to assist, the work of enlarging the school. Mr Buddo stated that Hornby School was over-crowded to the extent of 5 per cant. The following are the facts in this case:— If twelve square feet is the standard per child, as Mr Hogbon say.s, then our infant room is over-crowded to the extent of *25 per eont.; by the ten foot standard it is 14 per "cent., or on tho whole school 11 por cent. Classt*; have to Ivs taught in our school porchft;. which on wet daya cannot- be- conducive to tho boahh of the children, with wot cloaks and hats hanging all round. Son» parents will net f.?i:d their children to schcol on wot days in consequence of this, and tho average attendance, of ccautzc. declines xi the result. The v.ajit of space- seriously handicaps our schco!s. Many more children in oar district could be brought in had wo more room. We do not hlamo the Education Board so much—they say tfopy have made repeated r<»q vests for tJ:neewsary grant—b;it speing tho hugse'irplns the Government now has. w< should think it was possible for to provide rt l°r.tf sufV ; '>Tting space for all the children in our public schools. thus ernbHnr them t< fit for fH« lifp before thp--n-dfT sf.rp. P th : n<r like healthy conditions.—Y<*ir«. ptc. W. H. 3T.ANHTRE, Chairman. Hornbr School Committee.