Parents Will Discuss High Schools In South

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28930, 25 June 1959, Page 15

Parents Will Discuss High Schools In South

A full-scale public debate on the problem of applicants not being able to gain entry to the high schools nearest their homes and not being able to get the courses they want in those and also on the need for additional post-primary accommodation in the south of Christchurch will be held on July 2. This special meeting is being convened by the Christchurch South Intermediate School ParentTeacher Association, at the request of a meeting of 150 of its members this week, and primary schools over the whole southern arc of Christchurch have indicated their intention of being fully represented. There are definite assurances that besides the schools which contribute pupils to the South Intermediate School (Addington, Somerfield, West Spreydon, and Sydenham), there will be parents and teachers present from Spreydon, Halswell, Beckenham, Opawa, Waltham, St. Marks’, and possibly others. The conveners say that the meeting is not intended as criticism of the principals of the Christchurch West, Linwood, Cashmere, and Riccarton High Schools for the manner in which pupils for next year have been selected recently (although some cases are said to be puzzling). Main Problems The conveners say they are vexed by (1) the way post-prim-ary population in the south has been allowed to overtake accommodation available; (2) the exclusion of pupils living close to the neighbourhood high schools; (3) the direction of some pupils, who have been accepted and who

wanted professional courses, in.to general or commercial courses; (4) the advice that excluded pupils in southern suburbs must now travel about five miles to attend the Burnside High School or go to the Christchurch Technical College. It is reported that up to 40 parents in one day have asked their children's present headmasters “to do something about it,” that large numbers have complained to Messrs R. M. Macfarlane, M.P., and N. E. Kirk, M.P., or written letters to await the return from overseas of Miss M. B. Howard, M.P.; and that about half a dozen parents (unable to get pupils under 15 accepted near home) will keep them away from school next year and invite prosecution as a means of protest. New School Projects

Although all these issues will be ventilated, it is reported that the main intention of the meeting will be to get one or two more high schools erected urgently in the south and to urge some system whereby all pupils who desire will be able to gain entry to high schools near their homes.

The announcement yesterday that the Post-primary Schools’ Council will investigate the need for another high school in the south and also the possibility that it should be a girls’ high school on “The Oaks” property in Ensors road has done a little to relieve feelings expressed at the P.T.A. meeting on Monday; but there is a strong body of parents in the south-west who think the need will be greatest in the SpreydonHoon Hay area. Some say that there will be record form II rolls next year suggesting a need for two new high schools. One parent said last evening that she “hated” the fepling that she was “fortunate to get my daughters into the local high school and, therefore, privileged above other mothers.”

“This will not be a meeting of ranting by parents,” said one of the sponsors. “Some of the headmasters are very sore about all this and they intend to state the situation with chapter and verse."