Church Report On School Classroom

Northern Advocate, 11 March 1948, Page 6

Church Report On School Classroom

‘'The church is concerned at the problem facing the school,” said the Minister of the Whangarei Baptist Tabernacle (the Rev. E. F. Sherburd) He was commenting on an article which appeared in last night's Advocate regarding overcrowding of a room used by a Whangarei Primary School class in the Baptist Sunday School Halil. “At various meetings where the matter has been raised, deep concern at the urgent situation has been voiced and felt.” Mr Sherburd said. “It seemed right that we should at least serve the community and the children by making a room available to the school. AT SERIOUS DISADVANTAGE “At serious disadvantage even to the extent of losing the use of a room for a year, the church offered it to the Education Board. “The board, through the headmaster, was given use of the room free of cost. “It was given the opportunity of altering the windows or putting in extra (such plan, in fairness, would be shown to the church prior to alteration), and. also altering the lighting to suit the needs of the classroom. “In offering all ,these facilities, we realised the existing disadvantage for teacher and scholars. PREFERABLE “It seemed better to us that the children should be in a room rather than in a draughty corridor, with at least half-a-dozen doors opening in upon them. “This seems a good opportunity to point out that if the community was to take a good deal more interest in tiro welfare of the schools and consider the fact that this town is growing very quickly, there would be some thoughtful solutions to problems, obviating much unnecessary publicity and criticism,” Mr Sherburd concluded.