“No Need Yet For New High Schools”

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31539, 29 November 1967, Page 18

“No Need Yet For New High Schools”

“The Christchurch Secondary Schools’ Council does not see, at this moment, the need to recommend the building of another secondary school,” said the chairman of the council (Mr E. R. Hounsell) last evening.

“When that time comes, the recommendation will be made after considering the total accommodation available, including the expansion and the intended expansion of the Christchurch Boys’ High School. The type of school recomended will be decided after considering the factors prevailing at that time.

“It would not be possible at this moment to decide on the type of secondary school required at some future date.” This statement by Mr Hounsell was adopted last evening as the council’s reply to the Christchurch Boys’ High School board of governors which, a month ago, rebuked the council for not supplying information on projected roll numbers in Christchurch and for failing to indicate its present intentions in future school building. The Christchurch Boys’ High School board wrote that it was unable to formulate its own views on the future until it was supplied with expected increases in the secondary school population and the council's ideas on more singlesex schools. A third boys’ high school would affect the board materially.

“How are we getting on with our figures?” asked Professor George Jobberns (Avonside Girls’ High School).

“Slowly," said Mr Hounsell. The council at present could not give the information requested. “It will all be answered in the not-too-distant future,” said Mr A. F. Foley (Burn-

side). “Until we get our information we can’t comment.” Mr Hounsell then made his prepared statement. Mr W. J. Cartwright (Mairehau), the former chairman of the council, said it could only reply as things appeared at present About two years ago the council agreed that another school would not be needed before 1970. The council was now undertaking a very thorough investigation. “We know, in a general sort of way, how pressures are arising in various parts of the city," said Mr Cartwright. “The north-west has been mentioned but there are others, including the sea coast

“The Education Department has already supplied quite a body of information but it is by no means complete. When it is, the task of our special committee will be to decide whether another school is needed: if so, where it should go: and then the type it should be,” said Mr Cartwright. Mrs F. 0. Bennett (Aranui) moved that a reply be made on lines of the chairman’s statement

Mrs C. H. Perkins (Christchurch Girls’ High School) said the reply should mention that the information requested would be supplied as soon as it was available. Professor Jobberns said he had noted a new factor in reports of possible unemployment among potential school leavers and that they would receive social security benefits. “Some of these could be on the dole for the rest of their lives,” he said.