FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 16

FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS

Greater use urged

Greater use should be made of school buildings and facilities outside school time, said Mr P. A. Amos, the member of Parliament for Manurewa, and the Labour Party’s education spokesman, at the Education Boards’ Association’s conference in Christchurch. “Can we continue to have these facilities unused for at least 130 out of 168 hours each school week — and totally unused for 10 or more weeks each year?” said Mr Amos.

“I know teachers jealously — and properly — oppose the use of their classrooms for other purposes, but schools are much more than classrooms. Today, when we are concerned about the lack of sufficient recreational facilities, and when are perturbed about the growth of anti-social behaviour, and when we question the cost of public amenities, we contine to leave school grounds and other facilities idle when, with provision for adequate supervision, they can and should be used with considerable benefit to their communities,” he said. “I realise that in some areas limited use is made by the community, but as yet there is no conscious plan to use these resources on a nation-wide basis. We can no linger permit this to persist,” said Mr Amos.