THE SCHOOLS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 18 June 1925, Page 7

THE SCHOOLS.

URGENT NEED FOR INCREASED ACCOMMODATION. In view of over-crowding in several of the Timaru schools, a representative of the “Timaru Herald” made inquiries yesterday, and found that the local position had not been exaggerated, classes being taught hi corridors and other more or less inconvenient places. Accommodation was found to be particularly bad at the Girls’ High School, wliero many of tho rooms were overcrowded. At Waimataitai the position is almost as bad, the infant classes being taught m open sheds. There is no urgent need for accommodation at the Boys’ High School, for the new classrooms, winch have just been completed, will alleviate matters this year, although more accommodation will have to be. provided for next year’s enrolment. THE GIRLS’ SCHOOL. At tho Girls’ High School there is an urgent need for accommodation. Tho lady principal (Miss J. R. Barr, J.VL.A.), said they were carrying on under most adverse condtiions, and were put to much inconvenience by the lack of sufficient accommodation. ‘‘For instance,” said Miss Barr, “the Sixth Form uses the Assembly Hall as a classroom for three days in the week, and on. the other two has to go anywhere. The hall is cold, find is only heated by two small heatoi’S.” The representative of the “Herald” was shown over the school, and found that everything was just as Miss Banhad styded. It is inconceivable that a class should be held, in winter, for any length of time in the hall, which is a barn-like building on the south 6ide of the school. Miss Barr pointed out the manner in which the various classrooms opened on each other. “In fact, there are two rooms, each with three doors, all of which lead from other classrooms.” Form 5B room is on, the north side of the school, and received plenty of sunshine, but is really a passageway from one part of the building to the other. In speaking of] Form 40 classroom, the lady principal remarked tfiat it. used to be the old Assembly Hall, but owing to the rapid growth, of the School, had become too small, and had been made use of as a classroom, p, purpose for which it was totally unsuited. Another inconvenience that was greatly felt was the lack of a prefects’ study and library. Wfiat was even more important was the absence of lighting, without which it was impossible for tho girls to use the school for night study. Special drawing and sewing classes were held, but no room was set aside for tlio purpose, the classes leaving to go wherever they could find room. “In every way the school is out-of-date,” said Miss Barr in conclusion. “It has been badly designed, and would not bear comparison with modern schools; even the desks are of the old type.”TECHNICAL SCHOOL. Mr W. Fossey, Director of the Timaru Technical School, said his School was all right as far as accommodation was concerned, but one thing that needed remedying was the engineering classroom. “It is the worst engineering classroom in New Zealand,” said the Director. “We were promised a new building five years ago, and since then nothing has been done. The present classroom, which includes a workshop, is too dark, too small, and in it the conditions are such that it is a wonder tho boys turn out tho work they do.” Tlio Director concluded his remarks by saying that the Department should bo urged to do something in the matter. SOUTH SCHOOL. The position with regard to accommodation at the Timaru South School is not so pressing at the present t:mo, but is still sufficient to make the continued use of the “cloak room” as a classroom essential; even after several re-adjustments at the end of last yeniJ tho question was very urgent, but tho attendance, after the epidemic period, showed /i considerable reduction of the roll number. Evidently numbers of children, who should, in reality, be at school, have gone into situations, , no doubt in an effort to augment tho family incomes. WAIMATAITAI SCHOOL. DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. At a meeting of tlio 'Wamnvc ! aitai School Committee tlio question of accommodation to meet the now regulations, issued recently by tho Education Department with regard to the size of i tlio classes, was discussed at some | length. It was decided to again write to the Education Board and find out j what the position was with regard to j the carrying out of the suggested remodelling of tho north front of tho , main bulding, and the sub-division of two ot the larger rooms on the south side into three suitable rooms. It was also resolved that, in view of tho fact that the Minister of Education (Sir James Parr) would bo passing through ou Tuesday or Wednesday of this week, that Mr _ F. J. IF. lleslon, M.P., he approached in order to arrange for Messrs Maelsay and .Benstead to appeal to tho Minister to have the remodelling of the School put in hand at once. On being approached, Mr Itolleston at once wired the Minister, and arranged an interview with Sir James on arrival of the Ministerial party at Timaru station. The Minister was met at the station by Mr V. J. Itolleston, M.P., find Mr T. It. ?. Li okay (chairman), and Mr G. iionstcad (linn, secretary). In placing • the matter before Sir James Parr, Mr Bonstead stated that as the Minister lmd indicated some time ago, tho reduction in the size of the classes would necessitate the remodelling of a considerable number of the older and larger schools which v.-'mt! hod of modern design. The Waimataitai School Committee h;ul nnproaoked tho Canterbury Education jinnl in July. 1024, and asked that certain rooms in tho School might bn remodelled, in order that the School might he in a posh ion to avail itself of the relief promised hy the Minister, in the shape of smaller classes, as soon as the scheme became operative. “It is now nen r! v twelve months ago.” said Mr Bon'd cad, 'digit this application was made. ; ml still we are waiting to In.nr whether anything will he done.” “Tlio po-i/ou at Yi'aimataitai to-day,”

continued Mr Benstqad, “is that not only is every room filled up, but we aro utilising the teachers’ room for a portion of Standard I. A portion of the Infant School has also had to bp used for tlio accommodation of a class from the Upper School, ,and one of the classes from the Infant School has to bo taken in one of tho shelter sheds in the playground.” Tlio Minister expressed surprise on hearing that this was the case. He said he thought the temporary classroom, authorised at his last visit to Timaru, would have satisfied all tho requirements. Mr Benstead pointed out that with the new regulations, which restricted tho size of the classes, it was imperative that the remodelling of tlio rooms, suggested by tho Committee, should be undertaken ,at once; and further, that if two of tho largo rooms on tho south side were divided into three smaller ones, tho School would bo in a position to benefit fully from, the Minister’s policy of reducing the size of tne classes. Mr Caugliley (Director of Education) asked if the shelter sheds could not be made to function as open-air _ rooms, but it was pointed out to him that though they wero a kind of an apology for the real thing, it was hardly right to subject small children to be taught in severe weather in such stiuctuics with any pretence at protection from wind and rain. , . Sir James Parr, in the few mmutes at his disposal in tho station, gave the deputation a sympathetic hearing, and stated ho would give the Committee s representatives his immediate considera--1 MINISTER’S PROMPT RESPONSE. In accordance with tho requests made by tho Waimataitai School Committee for extensive alterations to tno school, Mr F. J. Rollcston, M.P., yesterday received a telegram from the Ministoi of Education (Hon Sir .Tames Parr) to the effect that ho had authorised tlio romodcllinp: of th© north front oi the school, and the division of tno large rooms on the south side of the holding. into throe suitable sized rooms. Under the circumstances, the Minister pointed cut. it would not now bo neeessnrv for him. to visit Waimataitai School on Friday.