CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18564, 23 November 1923, Page 8

CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS.

It having been decided that the first consolidated school in New Zealand should be established at Pio Pio, the residents have met to consider how the scheme will affect them. Apart from the contention that the Government should finance the project wholly, the merits of which need not be considered here, it is evident that one of the results claimed for consolidation has begun to appear already. With this method, instead of the schools being taken to the children, the children S»e brought to the school. The benefit claimed is that, with larger establishments, staffs of higher attainment? can be secured than are possible in the tiny schoolhouse of the smaller settlements. It has also been contended that with the attention of many families concentrated at the one point, parents and friends of the pupils are inspired to a deeper interest in the school and in education; the consolidated school i? credited with stimulating the spirit of co-operation, and with the possibility of becoming a social and cultural rallying point for a wide district. The people who met at Pio Pio recently showed that they had accepted the consolidation idea fully, and also that they were ready to display the necessary breadth of outlook. It was particularly emphasised that special consideration should be shown the smaller districts for their sacrifice of individuality in the cause of a larger and potentially more efficient establishment. The spontaneous manifestation of such a spirit augurs well for the success of this pioneer venture.