AMENITIES IN OLD SCHOOLS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27764, 15 September 1955, Page 10

AMENITIES IN OLD SCHOOLS

COMMITTEES TO DRAFT REPORT To fortify a request that older schools be provided with amenities of the same standard as new ones, the Canterbury School Committees’ Association will ask its members for examples of sub-standard provisions, and then submit the report to the Dominion federation of associations for presentation to the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie). The North Canterbury branch raised the issue, Mr R. Gillespie saying that many country schools lacked flush toilets, private staff rooms, sealed areas ’ an d other facilities. When new schools in any locality automatically received provisions according to the code, it was hard on the committees, teachers, and pupils of old-established schools, said Mr Gillesoie.

When a blanket remit covering several such requests was submitted to the Minister from the last Dominion conference. Mr Algie had said he was well aware "of the problem, said the secretary (Mr A., Greenwood). This y ear the Minister said, it had been possible to include in the building programme the replacement of most schools recommended by education boards, and he hoped to be able to continue that practice. The demand for new classrooms, however, made it difficult to meet all requests. Good progress was being made in the provision of flush toilets and other amenities, as boards were now catching up on the arrears of the war years. “They give no idea of when things will be put in order.” said Mr F. G. Briggs _ (Lyttelton). The Government forced its standards on others, but was very slow to bring its schools up to requirements.

It was decided to seek examples of sub-standard schools, and also copies of the school building code of minimum provisions.