GROWTH OF COBDEN SCHOOL PRESENTS NEW PROBLEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 October 1948, Page 4

GROWTH OF COBDEN SCHOOL PRESENTS NEW PROBLEMS

Although the Cobden school has not qualified for promotion to a higher grade with an extra teacher — the average attendance during September on which the school is graded for next year being 264.5 or 5.5 below the 271 required—accommodation will be at a premium next year. This observation was made by the headmaster, Mr L. B. Galbraith, in his report to the Cobden School Committee last evening. At present, he stated, there were 44 pupils in one infant room and 41 in another, while a third would hold no more than 22. “Next year the position will be worse,” he added, expressing the hope that then the school would be graded 5C and be entitled to increased staff.

The bi-ennial report of Canterbury Education Board senior inspectors was received by the committee with satisfaction. The report commented very favourably on the educational standard achieved at the school and praised the work of the headmaster and staff and the co-operation that existed between the pupils and their teachers. Close attention, it was also noted, had been given to the cultural side of the school’s activities. An assurance that the renewal of the asphalt in the school playground was a project which had been accorded priority was given by the Canterbury Education Board. A complaint that the asphalt was breaking up and was in urgent need of* attention was filed by the headmaster. Other matters requiring attention, reported Mr Galbraith, included the repairing of the picket fence in Sturge street, the repairing of the fence around the school baths, the renewal of spouting and the repainting of the school roof.