CLUSTER-TYPE SCHOOLS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28979, 21 August 1959, Page 15

CLUSTER-TYPE SCHOOLS

Covered Ways Would Be “Eyesores”

Covered ways linking classroom blocks would be “an eyesore all over the place” and would be of no use to Shirley Boys’ High School, said the headmaster (Mr C. V. Gallagher) at a meeting of the board of governors last evening. The board was discussing a letter from the Westlake High School Board, Auckland, which said that the board had written to the Education Department recommending covered ways for cluster-type schools. The Westlake High School Board said it was convinced covered ways were essential in Auckland. The children’s health had become of increasing concern in wet weather and the Westlake board was convinced that nothing less than covered ways would solve the problem. “This school would not want them,” said Mr Gallagher. “Because we are a single-sex school there are fewer courses and a minimum of movement between blocks. There has been a little more movement this year, but that is due to overcrowding.” Mr Gallagher said the narrower width of concrete paths was the problem at his school. There was not room for four boys to walk abreast so that they often had to walk off the path and consequently mud was trampled through the school in wet weather.

Gymnasium

Advice was received from the Education Department that the sketch plans for the school’s proposed gymnasium had been approved and the board could now forward its working drawings. The department also approved the board’s plan for building the gymnasium in two stages, with the condition that the first stage should be a usable unit

The department also approved grants of £385 for science equipment, £320 for cycle stands, and £B7 15s for a doorway to the art room.