BOARD SHOULD HAVE SAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21323, 18 April 1939, Page 6

BOARD SHOULD HAVE SAY

Consolidation of Schools An Illogical Position By Telegraph— Press Association NEILSON, April 17. Describing as illogical the present policy of parents of school children deciding the question of the consolidation of schools, the Nelson Education Board decided to point out the present position to the Minister of Education and explain what the Board considers is a ridiculous situation which has arisen over the proposal to consolidate the Black’s Point School on Reefton. The Board has for some time been anxious to provide better school facilities for Black’s Point, which, in the words of the chairman, the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, has the worst conditions of any school in the Board's district. Black's Point School is only one and a half miles from Reefton, and the Board has been unanimous in its opinion that it should be consolidated on Reefton by transporting the children to the larger centre. However, it has been the policy of the Minister of Education not to enforce consolidation in any case where a majority of the parents are not favourable. When the Board recently visited the West Coast, the chairman and senior inspector. Mr G. Overton, supported by Mr C. F. Skinner, M.P. for Motueka, met Black’s Point parents and emphasised the advantages which would accrue from consolidation in preference to erecting a new building to replace the present old unsuitable school at such a short distance from the larger centre at the Reefton District High School. Parents were advised to give full consideration to the matter and present a petition for submission to the Minister.

At to-day’s mee.ing of the Education Board advice was received that individual parents had expressed their wish in the matter resulting in the following results:— In favour of a new school .. 39 In favour of consolidation .. I

The chairman said that Black’s Point had the worst conditions of any school in the Nelso.. Education District. After to-day the Board will take no responsibility for the children being taught in the old school. If the Minister will not consolidate in view of the parent's decision, then the Board wants a new school, he said. Mr F. A. Hamilton: Should the Board not express its disapproval of the policy of parents making the decision on a question of consolidation?

The chairman: The Black’s Point case shows the fallacy of the policy. Mr J. H. Harkness: We should say we want consolidation and ask that the Board be able to decide the matter if in its opinion and that of the senior Inspector it is considerea in the best interests of education.

Mr F. A. Carling: We could draw the attention of the Min s*er to the absurdity of the position. It was decided that the Board draw the attention of the Minister to the illogical position as a tesult of the question of consolidation being decided by parents and point out that the

Black’s Point proposal is a glaring

example of a ridl ulcu- position.