DECREASED ROLL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 136, 9 May 1933, Page 4

DECREASED ROLL.

COLLEGE STREET SCHOOL. The serious position in regard to the diminished roll of the College Street School was discussed at last evening’s meeting of the School Committee. The headmaster (Mr W. A. Swinbourn) said that the average attendance had at present dropped below the level requisite for the school to retain its grade. However, it was not customary for a school to drop a grade until the end of the financial year, so that there was a chance of a recovery. Mr Swinbourn attributed the position to the decrease in admissions because of raising the entrance age to six years. .He understood that about 25 six-year-old children were likely to come on the roll.

Mr W. F. Cutler inquired if, in the event of all children in the various school districts attending the schools for these districts, the position would improve. There were some pupils in the College Street School area attending other schools.

Mr Swinbourn stated that there was no means of enforcing children to attend a certain school. Nor was it desirable, for when a shift was made by parents to a different area of the city, it was often desired that the children should finish the school year under the same' teacher. There was a certain amount of give and'take and lie considered, without going deeply into the matter, . that College Street School would probably lose as many pupils as it would gain, even if the suggested step could be authoritatively enforced. The discussion was then permitted to lapse.