MIRAMAR SCHOOL

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11648, 12 October 1923, Page 9

MIRAMAR SCHOOL

NEW CLASS-BOOM NEEDED. SEPABAT3B INFANT SCHOOL. Mr K., McKeen, M.P., and other members of the South Miramar School Committee waited upon the Minister for Edn'catiion yesterday morninh with reference to the additions which are to bd made to the state school in the district. Among those present, were thte Mayor (M r K. A. Wright, M.P.), Mr T. Forsyth (chairman of .the Education Board), and Mr G. L. Stewart (secretary to the hoard). The deputation, stated Mr McKeen; strenuously objected to the location of the new class-rooms which the cfepartiheht was going to add to the school. The school had been built for 330 children, but now the roll number ivas 435', and three new class-rooms were VO ,be built. But, according to the plan proposed by the department, the new classrooms would cut right through the tennis grounds that the school committee had constructed', asphalting them at a cost of .£205; and would also deprive the school of its present two basketbail pitches. They asked for two separate class-rooms for infants, so. placed that they would not Interfere with the tennis courts and basket-ball grounds. Air W. E. fipencer (departmental officer in chaige of school buildings) pointed out that they had already t'Vo infant class-rooms in the present building. For the three class-rooms as shown on the plan the ’estimate was £4720, and to have clasS-rooms separate from the present building would cost «£IOOQ more. , Mr McKeen said that the present infant class-roohiS were ovef-crowded. ana many of the infante had to bo taught lh the corridors. Where could they put them if the new class-rooms were not provided? . . , . . , Mr Spehcer said that space was Wasted by having chairs and tables instead of desks. At present there were 10.2 square feet of space per pupil, and that was ample. , , . , , , Mr MoKeen objected that they had got 06 infants in one room and 75 in the other, and strongly urged tho necessity for a separate infant school. Another member of the deputation said that the board had informed the committee that at a later date a separate infant school would have to be built, even if the proposed class-rooms were now added. The deputation suggested thift the separate school should be built now, and the class-rooms later on. The Minister; That is what the board says. Mr Spencer was asked by me to report on the matter, and he reported that he considered the erection of a separate infant school at the present time would ho a waste of public money. Ho (the Minister) would, however, go out and look at it before anything was done. But if lho erection of a separate block was going to cost the Government .£IOOO more than the proposed new classrooms, he could not do it.