SCHOOL HYGIENE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 15

SCHOOL HYGIENE

INCIDENTAL EXPENSES PRIMARY AND SECONDARY YOUNGER PUPILS SUFFER [from ouii own connnsroxDF.NT] HAMILTON", Tuesday At a meeting of the Waikato branch oi 1110 New Zealand Educational Institutc several speakers drew attention to the wide disparity between allowances for incidental expenses in secondary and in primary schools. Lnder the increased allowances for secondary schools, it was stated, a school with a roll-number of 400 would receive approximately £750 for incidental expenses, which would go to pay for cleaning and general upkeep, while a primary school with a roll of 450 would receive only about £135. The comparison of roll was given in this way because a secondary school received its grant on the basis of its highest attendance, while a primary school received its grant on the basis of its average attendance over the previous vean These figures worked out roughly at 37s 6d for the secondary pupil and 6s Sd for the primary scholar. W bile in no way suggesting that the secondary grant was too large, it was strongly, felt that the primary school grant was inadequate, and the distinction made between the two types of school unjustifiable. It was pointed out that both <ty|>es of school should be kept as hygienically clean as possible, and should have a pleasing environment, and if there was to be any distinction, it should certainly be in the form of greater care for the primary pupil, who was more susceptible to the evil results of unhygienic conditions. It was felt that it was utterly impossible for primary school committees to keep their schools in a cfesirablti condition with the meagre allowance that was at present made. Again, the educational career of a considerable number of tho children, ceased with the primary school, and thus they in no way benefited from the much more satisfactory conditions that existed in secondary schools.