MACANDREW ROAD SCHOOL.

Evening Star, Issue 22194, 23 November 1935, Page 12

MACANDREW ROAD SCHOOL.

TO TUE EDITOR. Sir, —I would like to say “ Thank you ” to the members of the Otago Education Board for their continued advocacy of a new primary school at Macandrew road. The main building was erected over 52 years ago, and the furniture of the six rooms is still the long desks and forms that have served for over half a century. Over 30 years ago the committee invited the country members of the board to visit the school. After being shown over the buildings, they said that they would not put up with the conditions, even in the country. Since then conimittees have interviewed successive ministers of Education, departmental officers, and the board, lint wo are still without a new school. ' Some years ago a departmental officer came down from Wellington and inspected the school. His verdict was: “ To old to remodel, too good to scrap; give it a coat of paint and it will last another halfdozen years!” That period, has more than elapsed, and the building has again been pained. I need not stress the conditions under which the staff and scholars have to work. The infant department has recently been remodelled, and we thank the board for this, but the building is in the wrong position, as it is in the rear of the main building, with most of the windows facing the Ocean Beach. Even in summer it gets but little sunshine. For years a large class has been housed in#thc gymnasium, and the Sixth Standard is in another building. Altogether, the school consists of four buildings. Recently the department wrote to the board asking it to nominate the most urgent case for rebuilding, and the board nominated Macandrew Road. Then the department hedged, and the matter of an intermediate school was brought forward. The board reiterated its request, and now the department has written to say that it; proposed to look into the matter later in the financial year, when it would be known whether there were any funds available for rebuilding works. The board has renewed its application. After working on the committee for years I confess to a feeling of disappointment.—l am, etc., • A. T. Mclxnofe. November 22.