CROWDED SCHOOLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 23 April 1936, Page 12

CROWDED SCHOOLS

PALMERSTON NORTH COMPLAINT.

PUPILS ALLEGEDLY REFUSED

The decision to investigate the question of having an intermediate school established at Palmerston North, to inform the Minister of Education of the overcrowded state of the present accommodation at this centre, and to stress the urgency for increased facilities, was made by the Wanganui Education Board, yesterday, when a complaint was made that children had been refused admission to school in Palmerston North. The following letter was received from the Mayor of Palmerston North (Mr A. E. Mansford): “I have just had a visit from Mrs of Featherston Street, in which she states that she has been to various schools in the city who refuse to allow her children to attend, as they are all lull up. She has one boy in the first standard and a girl in the second primer. This seems an extraordinary position to us, and I should he pleased to know what is being done to meet a situation such as tins, as the woman cannot he expected to leave her children running about the street, and no doubt there are many such cases.” , . “Russell Street is the only school which is full, and we definitely do need more room there. I hat letter annoys me, and we should get to the liottoni of this. We are not told what schools or what teachers refused these children,” commented Colonel J. Id* Wlivte. , The letter was provocative of nnicii discussion on the question of accommodation at the Palmerston North schools. , T T «- Messrs J. S. Tingey and J. K* Hornhlow said that as the schools were apparently so crowded it woulu he an excellent opportunity to start an intermediate school, and so relieve Uie congestion at the Russell otree and Central schools. “Excellent as is the suggestion, it K beside the point at present. said the chairman (Mr E. F. Hemingway). “What we must find out is what schools and teachers refused admission to these children.” “I am sorry this matter of an intermediate school has been brought up,” said Mr M. H. Oram The shortage of room at Russell Street is acute, and I don’t want the question sidetracked. AVe want to bring Kelvin Grove to Russell Street also. The board decided to act as stated.