BOYCOTT OF SCHOOL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22617, 21 April 1948, Page 5

BOYCOTT OF SCHOOL

PARENTS TAKE ACTION "BUILDING TOO SMALL" (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 20. As a protest against inadequate accommodation the parents of pupils of the Matakawau School, north of Waiuku did not allow their children to attend when school reopened yesterday. A warning of this intention was given to the Auckland Education Board by district householders early in February, and their decision was reaffirmed at a meeting last week. The chairman of the school committee Mr. M. Hatton, said the protest was against the use of a single room 18ft. by 20ft. for 31 children. It was considered this was detrimental to the children’s health and education. "If money, material and labour can be found to provide town schools with assembly halls, engineering workshops and modern facilities, our country children should not be condemned to theso conditions.” said Mr. Hatton. The children, he added, ' would be kept at home until definite evidence was given that action would be taken to end the conditions. All classes from primer 1 to form 2 are taught at the school, which is a corrugated iron single-room building. Four more children in the area will become of school age this year.