OVERCROWDED

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 7 February 1927, Page 8

OVERCROWDED

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —T shall be glad if you will answer

the following throughout the columns of your paper: What is the position of parents in the Lower Hutt school district who are unable to have their cWldren admitted to any of the schools? By law parents are liable if they fail to send their children to school. Have they any claim against the education authorities for refusing to admit their children at the schools referred to owing to alleged overcrowding? At the opening of the Eastern Hutt school on Tuesday last a'large -notice was placed in the grounds stating that no scholars could be admitted to certain standards, and that the infant department was already overcrowded.

Admission was also refused at the Hiitt Central School for the same reason, and also because the applicants lived outside the latter school district. The headmasters at both schools were very sympathetic, but stated that they were unable

to do anything. Mr. Editor, what are parents in the vicinity of the Eastern Hutt School to do? They cannot be'expected to send infants to Petone when they, have a school at their door that is apparently too small. I should like, as a householder and parent, to know what the committee elected by us is doing in

the matter. Perhaps some other of the parents whose children were refused admittance will take this matter up, as I consider something should be done' immediately.—l am, etc., -

SHUT-OUT.

Upon a copy o£ the above letter being referred-to the Education Board, the secretary said that accommodation in the Hutt area was at present available in the Epuni and Hutt Park schools. A new school, of six classrooms . was being constructed, as .speedily as. possible at the junction of Waiwetu road and White's line; this, when completed, should provide for the educational needs of the extraordinarily rapidly increasing population in that area. As it is found.that overflow accommodation is needed at once, the. Education Board is taking immediate steps to meet it.