BOARD DEFERS ACTION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21330, 24 November 1934, Page 5

BOARD DEFERS ACTION

POSITION AT FENDALTON SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OF OUTSIDE PUPILS Action by the Canterbury Education Board regarding the attendance at the Fendalton School of children living outside the school district has been deferred until the February meeting, according to a resolution passed' by ihe board at its meeting yesterday. The resolution included a proviso that no new enrolments of children outside the Fendalton district be made in the meantime unless the board's senior inspector is satisfied that suitable accommodation is available. This decision was reached after a deputation from the Fendalton School Committee had waited on the board. Mr A. Stewart, for the deputation, said that the committee appreciated that the board was working for the good of education over the whole of Canterbury, while the committee had to consider only the welfare of one district. The accretion to the school attendances from outside the school district came in the main from children living in an area bounded by the Avon river and Riccarton road. There were about 180 of these, and the majority of them lived nearer to the Fendalton school than to any other. The chief matter in question was the floor space. It was contended by the committee that there was sufficient floor space. Decreasing: Roll Number Mr H. F. Penlington, another member of the deputation was of the opinion that the difficulty of floor space would right itself automatically. He was informed by the headmaster that 90 pupils would be leaving at the end of the year. The school had voluntarily cut off the supply of pupils from outside districts. It was expected that the numbers on the roll would be reduced next year. The committee requested that the board consider leaving the matter open until next year, when steps could be taken to meet the position should it not have righted itself by then. He said that the committee was alive to its responsibility of maintaining room in the school for Fendalton children, and would not do anything not in their interests. to the chairman (Mr C. S. Thompson), Mr Penlington said the committee considered the school should be raised to grade 7 if its roll number justified it. Mr Thompson: You realise that in that event the position of the headmaster will have to be readvertised? —Yes. It was stated that the average floor space for each child was 12 square feet, including the bath shed, and 11.7 square feet excluding' the shed. The chairman said that the deputation had put forward nothing new, but assured members that the board would give the request careful consideration. "Will Rig-ht Itself." After the deputation had -retired, Mr R. Wild urged that the request be acceded to. He considered that the board should not call on the headmaster to send away so late in the year children attending the school. Mr W. P. Spencer: It is only a fair request. The thing will right itself. Mr Thompson: I think it will. Mr W. T. Langley said the board would be establishing a dangerous pre-' cedent if it granted the request. He was supported by Mr J. J. Hurley. Mr H. J. Bignell: Mr Blank, the headmaster, has defied the board all along. He was instructed to do certain things, and he has not done so.

Mr S. Baird said he had visited the school recently, and had not found it overcrowded. Mr Blank had sent out the instructions of the board to parents of children ou'side the district, but he had enclosed in the same envelope ihe committee's suggestion to hold a meeting to discuss the matter. The board went into committee for the chairman to make an explanation, and on resuming the motion referred to above, moved by Mr Wild and seconded by Mr G. Benstead, was carried. •