CLIVE SQUARE SCHOOL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 66, 28 February 1911, Page 5

CLIVE SQUARE SCHOOL.

THE PLAYGROUND QUESTION

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE ACQUIREMENT OF LAND FOR SCHOOL IN NAPIER SOUTH.

At the meeting of the Napier District School last, night Mr. Smyrk stated that at last meeting he put forward! a motion, but oh account of the meagre attendance he held the matter over. He now moved “That in view of the continual growth of the attendance of the Napier Main School, and the possibilities in the future of *the present Clive Square playground being no longer available, this committee urges upon the Education Board the desirability of taking early steps to secure a suitable site for the school elsewhere-” He stated that some time ago there was an agitation for a new school site, but on account of the attitude of the Government it fell through. The school was growing very rapidly, and soon there would not be enough room to accommodate the children. Every day land was getting dearer, and it would soon be extremely difficult to get land except at exorbitant prices. He suggested that a section which at present belonged to the Harbour Board should be bought by the Education Board. Clive Square, he was certain, would not always belong to the children, sooner or later the Council would take in and use it for beautifying purposes. Mr. J. K. Archer stated that he would second the proposal if the word “the” were substituted for “a” in the clause “a suitable site for the school elsewhere.” After some discussion the motion was seconded pro forma. Mr. Gibson was in support of the motion. He thought Clive Square was the proper place for a theatre site. To keep the two schools separate as they were now was not a good plan at all. He recommended the construction of a school on strictly scientific principles with bath, gymnasium, etc. It was, ih his opinion, as necessary to teach a child in sports such as swimming, etc!, as it was to educate his mind. As it was the school children had no playground; if they wanted to play they had to go to the Recreation Ground or elsewhere.

Mr. W. C. Thompson opposed the motion. He thought that another school altogether should be built on Napier South, and the fact .of the rapid increase in population of this suburb was an argument in his favour. Children who had to come from long distances would find it extremely arduous to -walk long distances to and from school. He cited the orphan children as an example. There was the fact that many children would have to cross a very dangerous railway crossing. Mr. Archer suggested an amendment to the motion. He was in sympathy of another school being built. He suggested that a site for a school should be obtained in Napier South as soon as possible. The children who came to the Napier Main School would not care to. walk any further. The general tendency, the Rev. Archer said, was to have smaller schools and not larger ones. A headmaster, however good he was, would find it beyond his powers to keep in charge more than 400 children. He submitted the following amended motion, which was seconded by Mr. J. C. Thompson: “That in view of the rapid development of Napier South the Education Board be recommended to purchase a piece of land sufficiently large for future requirement in that portion of the town.”

Mr. T. Thompson, in seconding this motion, stated that the Napier Main School for a long time to come would be amply sufficient for the pupils it was likely to 1 ave. It could easily accommodate another 150 children. At one time there used to be 1000 pupils, that is 250 more than it has now. 19081910 were the years showing the greatest increase since 1903, and this only amounted to 48 pupils. The population of Napier was not increasing so rapidly as some people thought.

Dr. Caro said that at present there was a tendency to subdividing schools and limiting their num, bers to 400. By so doing the headmaster had the work more under his own supervision, and the best work was carried out. From this point of view alone he thought the amendment should be carried. Mr. Smyrk in reply to the various speakers stated that the question was not so much one of schools but one of the limited playing area. The area given was not suitable for 300 children, let alone 700. He described the present playground as “not fit to swing a cat in.” All sorts of bad characters mixed with the boys while playing, and he had often heard obscene language Such things as these would not improve the morals of the rising gen-

eration. As for the lurid and frightful pictures that Mr. Thompson had drawn, they did not really exist. Sooner or later at the par-, ticular railway crossing mentioned a subway would have to be formed. Both the school children and pedestrians would have either to go over or underneath the railway line. There was no argument in the fact of the children having to walk long distances. He stated that there were children who came from the Western Spit, and others from Napier South and elsewhere, who went to the Spit School. The amendment was carried, ~ Mr. Smyrk and Mrs. Oldham dissenting.