Crowded Children

NZ Truth, Issue 935, 27 October 1923, Page 7

Crowded Children

Awful Auckland Conditions.

(Prom "Truth's" Auckland Rep.)

It is reokoned that it takes one teacher all his, or her, time to attend efficiently to the class requirements of 30 children at the most (m Canada they have one teacher? to every 15 or SO pupils, "Truth" is Informed), but m the, awful overcrowding of the Auckland schools there are no fewer than £9 classes, m which over 70 pupils are "taught" by one teacher m the one room— and m five of these classes the t children numbef from 90 to 100. This' is a fine state of affairs! And how Is it to be remedied? Apart from THE HEALTH MENACE of such overcrowding, how can it be expected that children can be properly taught • m such largo classes? No wonder the youngsters leave school with such poor general knowledge on attaining the age when attendance is not compulsory. •Truth" considers that If fewer "flash" and imposing edifices had been erected for the instruction of the young there would have been far more, or bigger, schools, m which there would be no overcrowding, Member Snell, of the Education Board, recently threw a bomb amongst his colleagues. Snell is a builder, and he gave SOME STARTLING COMPARISONS cf the cost of schools m different localities, and asked why. He roundly condemned the tremendous cost of some of the schools, and dropped the hint that there had been some fine profit-making on these jobs. However, this was not published, being "taken In committee," m accordance with the Star Chamber methods of many of our Auckland public institutions, which are only "public" when there Is nothing to be hidden from th«j public. However, Snell repeated hl-4 charges m public, showing that the cost of city schools was from £22 to £36 per pupil, whilst the Marist Brothers' Schoolat Hamilton (a very linn building, Indeed) cost only £12 9a "id per pupil. Snoll explained that he had put his views before some of tha members and officials of the Auckland Education Board, but that the board had not seemed keen to discuss the matter. It wouldn't be— but perhaps publicity m this matter will make tho board less extravagant m its taste for the chaste In architecture and moo> heedful of the need for elbow apace m the future building of schools.