SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATION

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 3078, 8 April 1927, Page 6

SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATION

MEETING OP HOUSEHOLDERS

NEXT MONDAY.

A DDE ESSES BY BOARD M EMBERS

AND CHIEF INSPECTOR

Some months ago wheu a deputation from the Leeston School Committee waited on the Minister of Education with regard to the school buildings, Mr Wright introduced the mutter of consolidation, pointing out what had been done in other districts, and emphasising the advantages of the system. He suggested that a move should be made in this district. At a meeting of members of School' Committees it was decided to ask the Canterbury Education Board to send several speakers to address a meeting of householders from the various school districts.

This meeting is to be held in the Leeston School on Monday next, April 11, w Then Messrs Spencer and Banks, of the Education Board, and Mr MeLeod, the Chief Inspector, will be present to speak on consolidation and answer any questions with regard to it.

All householders arc earnestly requested to be present, because this is a matter that affects greatly the future of every child, since a good education is becoming, more and more, one of the essentials of success in life. Consolidation is in force in several places in Canterbury, Oxford being the best known example, and in every case it is an undoubted success.

In the case of Oxford children are couvcyed from as far as 8h miles away, and there are eases where children eyelp 3 miles and ride 7 miles in the bus, so as to gain the advantages of a big school in preference to attending.a smaller school much nearer home.

ADVANTAGES SELF EVIDENT. The advantages of consolidation are almost self evident: —

(1) The teachers, having fewer classes, generally one and never more than two, can give more individual attention and so better progress is the result. The greatest improvement is seen in the case of infants, who require a great deal of individual attention, since the first years of school life are the most important. (2) Greater numbers mean more competition in the classes and act as an : incentive to better work. | (3) Children conveyed to school | have not to walk long distances, and so | are less tired on arrival, and of course in the afternoon reach home earlier and less weary. This is a great benefit in the cat.c of very young children. In adi dition, on wet days, they arrive at school dry and warm, so that their health is benefited.

(4) Another great feature is the more regular attendance. At Oxford, last year, in spite of several falls of snow, and the cold weather experienced, the attendance for the year was 93. 8 per cent, of the possible in the case of

the primary school and 88.5 per cent, in the ease of the infants. This is very much above what it was before the schools wore consolidated, simply because tbe children have not to Avalk long distances, and so attend,regularly on wet days.

(5) Consolidation, with larger schools, means higher graded teachers and less frequent changes in the staff.

SOCIAL ADVANTAGES,

Socially, there arc also important advantages. The big boys in the smaller schools find it hard to amuse themselves in a manly fashion, and sometimes the bigger and cleverer children are apt to become imbued with an exaggerated idea of their own importance. With consolidation there are some children of the same age with whom to play,- and more competition. Then, again, children who grow up together will work together in a better spirit later on. In certain districts there is often considerable antagonism, but with consolidation this gradually disappears, and the people of the whole district work together more harmoniously.

REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE

With regard to the control of the consolidated school: At Oxford the committee was elected on the following basis: —Each district was entitled to as many members on the committee as it had teachers in the school before consolidation was decided on. In this way a committee was formed representative of the whole district.

Under consolidation no district really loses its school, but instead gains a larger school, with better buildings, better progress and healthier children, and we feel sure that all who are interested in the welfare of children will endeavour to attend the meeting on

Monday next,