HIGH SCHOOL AT ELTHAM

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 8 December 1934, Page 10

HIGH SCHOOL AT ELTHAM

STRATFORD VIEWS OUTLINED STATEMENT BY PRINCIPAL *\ R A statement prepared by the prin- ' cipal (Mr 11. R. Amess) and confirmed ’ by the board Jast night, sets out the 1 attitude of the Stratford Technical 1 High School Board to the proposed esi tablisliment of a district high sclioc - at Elthain. 1 Inter alia, the statement points out the following list of academic and sporting honours gained during the past five years by the children residt mg at or near Eltliain: Higher leaving l certificates 11. matriculation 16, teacli- . or s’ “C’’ certificates 6, shorthand cer- . tificates 33, senior free places 71, team ; i caps or badges 3£>, challenge cups 10; total 194. ‘‘During the whole history of the Stratford Technical High School there have been no very serious complaints as to the behaviour of the children on ■ the road to school or on the trains,’’ ; says the statement. “The worst cases I have had to deal with are a broken, window, and the mischievous appliea-1 tion of -brakes at the Eltham station. I The girls are provided with a special I carriage, which is added to the train j jat Stratford. The board has always appreciated the fact that the school serves the Eltham district, and every- i thing has been done for the comfort ■ and convenience of the Eltham chil-1 dren. There has been one member of the board elected from among j residents of Eltham since the board I was established. I “The efiect on the Stratford school I of the establishment of a district high j ! school at Hltliam would be a gradual I j lowering of tho numbers until the I j Stratford school was reduced to a I | roll of about 260. The department is familiar with the fact that it is much better to staff a modern school such as ours when the roll is 300 or above than w hen it is 200. Hie large school enables us to grade the pupils so that more efficient work can be done. The removal of the Eltham pupils would therefore eventually lead to a less efficient school at Stratford.

“It appears to the board that the strongest argument in favour of the establishment of a district high school at I'-ltham is the predicament of such parents as live at Mangatoki and Knponga. These people are unable to i take full advantage of the school at ! Stratford owing to the fact that they : are unable to use the railway. ]f it j were possible to establish a subsidised i bus service from Mangatoki via Kaponga and Cardiff very little expense would be involved, and this might suit the residents of these districts better than the establishment of a district high school at Eltham. A few years ago boards were allowed the privilege of subsidising the fares of pupils. The revival of this practice might suit t. present case.’’