HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 15 July 1925, Page 4

HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL.

CHANGE IN HOURS CONFIRMED. BUILDING OBSOLETE. REPORTS TO EDUCATION BOARD k —• _ " The Taranaki Education Board, at its meeting held yesterday, received the .reports of Messrs. S. G.. Smith, M.P., A. Lees, and H. Dempsey, who visited the Haweua School on June 18. The repo its, dealt with the recent alteration of the school horns, and the condition of the school building. The reports were as, follows: SCHOOL HOURS. After carefully reviewing the whole of the position, we approve of the application to change the school hours from 9.30—3.40 at the present to 9 a m. to 3.10 p.m., with one full hour for lunch. INFANT' SCHOOL RECOMMENDED. The report dealing with the school contained the following extracts: —• The grass floor space is 8540, but deducting for the space occupied by fireplaces 'and cupboards it is S2S6, which, at 12 square feet, gives accommodation for 693 pupils. The present roll number is 662; average attendance 606. The building generally is an obsolete type, especially six . rooms, being almost incapable of remodelling. Two rooms were the original school, built in 1875, and two more rooms were added in 1882. These appear' to have been remodelled later, and the other two of the six ioonns added a few years after, though the office records are incomplete. It appears three rooms were erected in 1902, and in 1918 part of the gymnasium was converted into class-rooms for infants. The proximity of several rooms to the .lavatories, which tare of an out-of-date tjj>e, makes it essential that no unnecessary delay'should be met with in dealing J with the application. There is a con- returned increase in the population at" the Turnturu district, and this must also he considered. e In the meantime, ‘we recommend application be made to the department for a separate infant building in concrete id permit of additions for the gradual replacement of the , whole building. SHELTER, SH ED AND CONVENIENCES. In connection with our visit to Hawera, we •recommend that the board provide a window and sashes for the new 'shelter shed; that the provision of a verandah be left to the committee when funds are available. Lavatories. —In view of the proximity of the lavatories to the class-rooms and the present state of the building, i t is desirable That application be made to the department for new lavatory accommodation. The reports were adopted."' The senior inspector (Mr. J. Valentine) concurred with the reports. He said that teaching was rendered difficult by the obsolete style of. the rooms. .Tt was decided ,to forward ari application to.the department as suggested.