ALLEGED OVERCROWDING.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17315, 29 November 1921, Page 6

ALLEGED OVERCROWDING.

POSITION AT GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL " SUGGESTION TO BESTBICT ATTENDANCE. The alleged overcrowding of tha Christchurch Girls' High School was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Canterbury College Board of Governors, when the appointment of teacher* was under consideration. Mr L. B. Wood circulated a memorandum among tho members of the Board mevhus to tho meeting, m wt.'iich lie drew attention to "a question of event gravity that had arisen a oon-ieM.Mi with tho organisation of thft High School." Tho memorandum i.ot out a number of facts to be considered bv the Board, in whirh.it was stilted "that tlie Cranmcr square school had l>ecome overcrowded to « dangerous extent in tho last two veans, Reference was made to the report tlf Mi J. C. Adams when chairman of tot Hoard seme 3'j years ago. when it was stated that the school was overcrowded, ihuvim: an average ntfendanco of 34% wlieu there was accommodation for 09.1* 3iX). Mr Wood stated that tho attend. nn-o had now mown to 430-470, ia spite of a side-.*eiiool being established at Avonsido. The only remedy for the deplorable situation, stated the memorandum, was to reduce the number ot adiußsions to the sdhool. Mr Wood silggosted that tho process of reduction should be commenced by rcjorting tho proposal to fill the two vacancies on the staff, a step which would necessarily entail a reduction of 56 in the roll number. On tho motion of tho chairman, Sir H. D. AclwjJ, the memorandum was . taken as rend. Air C- H. Opie said that tho natter was more far-reaching than might appear. The school's capacity was 3«>. and there were tometning like 450 pupils in attendance. There was no room to add to the accommodation. He thought the committee could have holped the Bonrd if it had recommended that the 150 pupils be accommodated in a hall eomewhore. He considered tlhno there was no need for such overcrowding. There was room for some 80 mora pupils at AVcst Christchurch District High School, and for a largo number at the Technical College. Tlie work; done at the latter college was quite up to the High School standard. He referred to the endangering of the fwalth of pupils and teachers, and suggested that the Board should adopt some form of open-air cchool. Mr G. T. Booth confessed that ha was somewhat perturbed at the situation revealed. Some years ago Mr Adams had reported on tho seriouß overcrowding oi tho Girls' High School, which at that time had a roll-number of 342. A side-school had been opened at Avonsido, and thia now had an attendance of about 70, while the High,' School's roll had increased to 450-470. The original intention of the founders was that tlhe High School should bo for the accommodatjon of pupils who intended to go on with a college courseIt must be very difficult to arrange the courses to suit both short-term and long-term pupils. The overflowing of the school with dhort-torm pupils would havo a. prejudicial effect on the longerterm pupils. Tho matter should bo taken into serious consideration, and the Board should protect the interest* of those wishing to take colloge courses. Mr L. M. JsiU, M.P., said that the Eosition was a surpriso to him. It had een definitely stated by a member of the Board recently that thero was no need to do away with the primary section ns there was accommodation for all. It staggered him to hear this latest repcrt. Mr C X. Asohman asked who was to malw the selection of pupils who should attend ind those who should not. There were certain high traditions in connexion with the school and parents liked to have their .hildren associated with it. Ho iiad inspected tho school and had found there was no overcrowding. H« aafcod Mr Booth how the short-term pupils were going to affect the others. There were only 20 or 30 pupils going in tor the University course. If the girls were being affected in their health or work, he would be the first to support the reduction As to the Avonsido school, though the conditions were not ideal, he would rather aend * girl to. that than to the town school. In reply to Mr Isitt he said there were no enrlonoes of overcrowding at the High School. He said that with a full sense of resporsibility. Rev. S. Lawry asked what proportion of the pupils went on to the University College, and said that the Board conk! not deny the demand for higher (ducation. > Mr L. B. Wood said that it was not a question of the appointment of teachers for thi? or that position. If the appointments recommended by the College committee were made, the deplorable conditions would continue. Mr A. 15. Flower said that he had inspected the school and could not reconcile th* figures in the memorandum with woat he had seen there. Ther* v. ore some 414 pupils and the school was a model of good organisation. Mr Wood declared there was o\-ercrowding. and Mr Aschman and the speaker said there was not . The "overflooding" of tho school with?*hort time pupils din nnt have a t'etrimental effect. He would like to know how it was estimated that the school was built for 800, as it held 400 without difficulty. Mr J. R. Cunningham said that ha had inspected tho school and found there was no overcrowding. The whole ihii!<? was a bogey. Mr J. C. Adams stated that he did not wish to take back one word from his .-em v Its ninJe in 1910 regarding the necessitv for more accommodation in secondary schools, but so far as the health of the school was concerned there was no neeri tr. employ the word "dane»r.': Since the war there was a greater demand for a wider education, and he thought they should do all they rouh! for til the pupils who came for•.vanl. When the financial position was strengthened the Government would ■'ive nssistonre and in the meantime th» Board should stay its hnnd. They should endesvinr to add to the Avonskip school and keep both schools in *»• i.'tnnce. Thif motion to approve the recommended appointments was carried.