Consolidation of Schools

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 275, 21 November 1935, Page 6

Consolidation of Schools

RECOMMENDATIONS TO EDUCATION BOARD (Special to ‘Times.’’) WANGANUI, Last Night. A number of reports were received at to-day’s meeting of tho Wanganui Education Board on the consolidation of schools. Borne were favourable to consolidation and several definitely against it. It was proposed that the consolidation of Porewa-Mt. View lie hold over an til the end of 1930, but this was outvoted. Mr Coleman, who had put a spirited light for. tho proposal, was on the point of resigning. He reported that all hough a lew residents of tho district were iu favour of consolidation, many were against it. “Many are sentimentally opposed to tlie school's being closed, as they have been in existence for over sixty years. The Government has sent away the Director-General, Mr Lanibourne, and ho may ocuie back with now ideas. Let us wait until the end of next year,” said Mr Coleman. “I have never heard of debatable points so clearly put as at tho Taonui meeting/’ said Mr J. S. Tingey. Ihe people there clearly understood tho position, and owing to their strong opposition I voto against the proposals. “I think that if it is to the advantage of the children (o consolidate the schools, and it would bo a bad thing for the policy of the board if it weakened,’’ said Rev'. King. “The mat ter is something quite new to many outlying districts, and I think we should give them time to think it over," said Mr Coleman. Mr Benefield: We arc always being told that country children do not have Ihe advantage that town children have. Now we are offering it they refuse it. “There is no question of rushing the matter,” said Mr McMurtric, the chief inspector. “Teachers have to be placed, conveyances arranged, etc." “Our sole object iu consolidating schools is to give tho children a better education," said Mr Hemingway, the chairman.

Colonel Wliytc also pointed this out and said that any disadvantages were heavily outweighed by the advantages. Messrs Tingey, Oram, Hornblow and Colonel Whyte reported as follows: “Wo beg to report that the sub-com-mittee appointed to consider the question of consolidation of schools in the Palmerstou North area met at the Central school on Thursday, November 11, at 10.15 a.m., when, there were present; Messrs M. H. Oram and J. S. Tingey and Colonel J. H. Whyte. An apology for absence was received from Mr J. K. Hornblow. “After full consideration of details of the individual cases, tho sub-com-mittee, by a majority vote, recommends us follow:

(!) That the Kelvin Grove-Terrace End, Newburv-Eusseli Btroct, and Tia-kitahuna-Lougburu proposals be approved by the board, providod that reasonable tenders can lie obtained; but that no steps be taken to carry them into effect until members of the sub-committee have an opportunity to meet the residents in each case to explain the advantages and to hear any. objections which may be raised, further, I lint your sub-committee bo empowered to consider the objections and decide whether or not, tho proposals should then be carried out.

(2) In tho eases of Taonui-Lyttou Street and Waitohi-Rougotca, the residents have been met and tho advantages of the scheme laid -before them. Although there was strong , opposition, we feel that the objections advanced do not outweigh tho advantages which would accrue to the children. We thereforo recommend that the consolidation proposals be approved, provided that reasonable tenders can be obtained, but that they be not definitely carried into effect until a final decision has been made regarding the cases mentioned iu paragraph (1), and then only if such final decision is iu favour of consolidation in all cases w lie re objections are advanced.

“It will bo noted that tho proposal to convey Newbury children to Palmerston North Central school has been abandoned in favour of Newbury to Russell Street. Any further largo increase in the roll number at Central school would involve tho provision of additional classrooms, and it is not considered wise to further extend the buildings. The school roll is at present 515.”