OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18016, 15 February 1922, Page 10

OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS.

Sir,—Under the above heading a very interesting article appeared in the Herald of February 8, in which it was stated "The mir.nmi.Ti standard of space for each pupil is 12 square feet, yet some 70 schools in the province are below that standard, and 25 are below the old standard of 10 square feet, in a few instances considerably below it." At the Aka Aka School the pupils have less than 8 square feet each, which is miserably inadequate accommodation, and must inevitably tend to reduce the vigour of the children. Further, this school has long been overcrowded, committees have on numerous occasions app'ied for a grant to provide moderately suitable accommodation, inspectors have time and again reported the lack of accommodation for the increasing roll number, but to all appeals the department, up to the present, in spite of the obvious necessity for such expenditure, has adopted a polity of laissez {aire. Possibly there may be other schools in 'he province packed as tightly as Aka Aka. In the interest and for the welfare of young New Zealand, it is most earnestly to be hoped that there are none. Aka Aka. Parent.