PROTEST BY PARENTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28937, 3 July 1959, Page 13

PROTEST BY PARENTS

Call For More Accommodation

An urgent telegram from the Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) told nearly 300 persons attending a protest meeting at the Christchurch South Intermediate School last evening Of the decision to provide temporary accommodation at the Cashmere High School In spite of that assurance the meeting carried unanimously a resolution calling for further provision for post-primary education in the district. The resolution read:

“That this representative meeting of householders from Halswell. Hoon Hay, Spreydon, Cashmere, Thorrington, Beckenham, St. Martins, Huntsbury, Sydenham, Addington and Opawa request the Minister of Education to take immediate steps to provide satisfactory high school accommodation within a reasonable distance fo these areas, the only high schools south of the south belt being quite inadequate.” Mr W. L. Coote, president of th* Christchurch South Intermediate School parent-teacher association, and chairman of the meeting, said a protest meeting would not have been necessary had the needs of the town been catered for.

“This meeting is not in any way critical of the heads of the schools,” said Mr Coote. “They have a most unenviable job, but whatever the method of selection for enrolments some parents have a justifiable grievance. “Next year, if the same system is followed as this year, of 80 children who are now in form 11. 50 will be told there is no room at Cashmere, West Christchurch or Riccarton,” said the headmaster of Spreydon School (Mr C. L. Harper). After reading the Minister's telegram Mr Coote said he thought the only real relief would be another high school in the district.

Position Next Year It was probable that the number of pupils each of the three high schools in the district could take next year would be fewer than for this year, said the principal of Christchurch South Intermediate School (Mr S. W Gower) Mr T. H. McCombs, headmaster of Cashmere High School, said he thought that for all of Christchurch the figure for those had not been enrolled at all would be between 70 and 77. At Cashmere 114 applicants had been rejected in all.

Mr McCombs said he thought that for all of Christchurch the figure for those who had not been enrolled at all would be between 70 and 77. At Cashmere 114 applicants had been rejected in all.

The Post-primary Schools Council had no intention of asking children to travel four or five miles to school, said the chairman of the council (Mr W. J Cartwright) in answer to a question.

“That is borne out by our plan of high schools in Christchurch.” he said. “We’ve built a ring of high schools around Christchurch. Until last year we were fairly successful—most pupils were able to get into their first or secondchoice schools.”

Mr McCombs said high schools in the area would be taking 180 extra pupils next year but there would soon be from 200 to 220 pupils for whom new schools would have to be found. There were 320 more houses built in the district each year, so that in three years there would be 1000 new homes to be catered for. Mr McCombs said he had spoken to Mr Skoglund yesterday and told him that if he could supply buildings Cashmere could take two more classes. “But to take the full roll which would result next year we would have to have from five to seven new classrooms.” he said. The roll next, year would be 1100 and it would rise in a year or two to 1600—two new schools would be needed.