OVERCROWDED

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 50, 28 February 1921, Page 3

OVERCROWDED

WELLINGTON GIRLS' COLLEGE

URGENT NEED OF ACCOMMODATION "' With the increased enrolments at the Wellington Girls' College this year, the ■position in regard to accommodation has become more acute. That the matter is one for urgent action is emphasised by Miss M'Lean, Principal of the College, in a, memorandum to the College Board of Governors, as follows :—

"More class-room accommodation is urgently needed at the Girle', College. There was an enormous increase this year, which .was quite unexpected, and entirely unprovided for. The total roll is 793. The number in the senior school last year was 550. ' This yea* it opened ■with 725. We oxpected a possible increase of 50, which has been the average increase for the past few years. Instead of 50, it was 175. An unusually large number returned—42o, and over 300 new girls were enrolled. We have been compelled to use most unsuitable accommodation, euch as the cooking room and the biology laboratory a-ndt a small library, all being withont any proper seating or locker arrangements. The inspectors, Mr. Drummond and Mr. Parr, visited the school, and recognised that something must be done at once. They recommend the division of the drill hall so as to form two class-rooms. This is only a temporary arrangement, but it was outside their province to consider what farther should be done. This ■was a matter for the board to report on. The position is that the partition of the drill hall will relieve the congestion for a short time only, for several reasons : (1) The drill hall is needed for drill—a compulsory and important nart of the school curriculum. (2) Outside drill on the tennis court will be impossible- in rbad weather. (3). The main hall (though suggested) cannot be used because the classes are now too large, and because the adjoining classes would be disturbed ; besides, the hall is, needed for drawing and other classes. These are held at the same time a« the drill classes. (4) The drill hall is* also unsuitable for classes in winter time, as there is no heating for the cold weather. "It is not fair to pupils and teachers ■unless suitable rooms are provided. The only solution seems to be the building of extra class-rooms near the gymnasium, ■where there is a level space —about 50 by 33."