SCHOOLS AND THE WAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 254, 25 September 1942, Page 4

SCHOOLS AND THE WAR

The City Council’s decision to support: the Intermediate School authorities in their approach to the Government to have their building- restored for educational purposes will be widely sup-

ported. Because of its use as a military hospital tbe children’s education is being conducted under conditions which none can regard as satisfactory. Some weeks ago tbe Minister of Education discussed with a deputation tbe use of school buildings by the Army and for hospital purposes, when strong opposition was expressed to him on tbe subject. Though in the event of a sudden grave emergency no one would rightly question action which deprived tbe Department of its buildings, it is tbeir continuous use for other than the training of young children that moves tbe public to protest. Young men of 18, on tbe eve of tbeir entrance into higher learning, are required by tbe Army authorities to enter camp and thus suffer severe handicaps. Tbe position is further aggravated by depriving younger students of tbeir best training facilities. Only as a last resort should educational institutions be taken for military purposes, so that tbe training of young people, when they are making progress towards secondary education, should not be interfered with. Tbe indeterminate use of tbe Intermediate School in this city is causing alarm among parents and its controlling authority, and the suggestion that tbe Government should erect an emergency hospital, as in oilier centres, to restore tbe position is worthy of its earnest consideration.