CROWDED SCHOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22671, 8 March 1937, Page 13

CROWDED SCHOOL

POSITION AT ROTORUA

REQUEST FOR MORE ROOMS MINISTER NOT ENCOURAGING [by TELKGRAPII —OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Sunday " There are a number of high schools throughout the country suffering handicaps through lack of sufficient accommodation, but generally the position regarding high schools is not as acute as that of primary schools, and it seems to nm that for some time at least some high school authorities will have to carry on under the existing conditions," said the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Eraser, to a deputation from the Rotorua High School board of govcrnors on Saturday evening, when among other matters a suggestion was made that additional classrooms should be added to the school.

Mr. R. B. Nesbitt, chairman of the board, said that the present accommodation had remained unchanged since 1931, and at the present time it . was very cramped. This was largely as a result of the increasing population of the district, and also owing to the fact that this year about 95 per-cent of last year's pupils were still on the roll. The Minister: Then they arc not leaving school? That is very interesting and satisfactory, and contradicts all predictions to the contrary.

Headmaster's 'Report A report of the headmaster. Mr. W. G. Harwood, presented to the Minister, showed that the present accommodation of the school is 10 classrooms and one science laboratory. Three more rooms were urgently needed. It was estimated that in 1938 the intermediate roll would increase from 192 to 210, and then the shortage of accommodation would be still further accentuated. The raising of the school leaving age to 15 would, it was thought, increase the roll of the senior school at least 30, and this would make necessary a fifth additional classroom, while it was desirable also to have a spare room available for divisions of classes taking optional subjects. It was suggested that this additional classroom accommodation, together with a library, could bo secured by adding a second storey on the central portion of the existing building. These additions, it was estimated, would be sufficient for a roll of at least 500, and would meet the needs of the district for many years to come. Technical Block Concerning the recent application for a grant to erect a technical block of four rooms, only two of which were approved, the headmaster stated that the»new cookery and woodwork rooms authorised would not meet the needs of the vocational training course already in existence, and the need for the provision of dressmaking and arts and crafts rooms should be again emphasised. The need for the provision of an assembly room and a hostel was also given prominence in the report. In his reply the Minister pointed out that all over the country he had had requests for additional high school accommodation, but it was a fact that secondary schools were not in such a difficult position as primary schools, and it seemed to him that many of the secondary schools would have to carry on under their present conditions for some time. However, although he would not be able to inspect the school during* his present visit, ho would arrange that one of the department's officers would come to Rotorua and report on the requests which had been made by tho board.

Future of School The school was doing excellent work, particularly in regard to vocational training classes, the Minister continuei,!, hut lie thought that the time had arrived when the board would have to consider seriously the desirability of developing the school as a combined one for both ordinary scholastic and technical education. It was time, too, lie thought, that the whole question of technical education in Kotorua should bo considered and he would very much like to see the facilities provided whereby children could be drafted from Ihe primary schools to a technical school to receive tuition in the vocations te which they were best suited. The Minister ■ said he doubted very much whether a hostel could be made to pay. Representations to the Minister for the erection of a new primary school building to replace the present structure, which is one of the oldest buildings in the town and too small, for the needs of a rapidly growing district, were made by the Kot'orua School Committee. Mr. Vraser said lie would inspect the school the next morning and if necessary the district health inspector would be asked to present a special report on the sanitary arrangements.