SCHOOL GROUND FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 96, 27 April 1929, Page 8

SCHOOL GROUND FUNDS

' Complaint was made at two householdors' meetings this week that the Education Board was laying its hands upon funds raised for school recreation, either claiming' the money itself or directing that the funds should . be transferred to the general account. In one caso tho money claimed was tho rent from tennis courts on the school grounds. This appears to bo a new interpretation of' an old maxim: ".Take care 'of the ponce and the Education Board will take caro of the pounds." Wo can see the need for care in, extending the principle of using school grounds as public recreation areas. The general practice of making tennis courts for use by adults may lead to abuses—such as the exclusion of the children in order that some adults may have their play 'at less cost-than if they '.had to buy private land.. But there "was no suggestion of ;unfa'irness to''the children in the instance referredl to. On, .the contrary, residents had kcontributecT in ".order that! the courts migtit be 'formed and funds obtained for school purposes., In these circum-stances-we suggest that it would be better if tho Board did not insist upon its right to the whole or any part of the funds. Such insistence. would discourage'residents from helping in the improvement of school areas. Of late much good 'work < has been done in ground improvement, but parents' will not continue oil these lines if there is a prospect of the funds being diverted.