ELM WOOD SCHOOL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10631, 29 November 1912, Page 2

ELM WOOD SCHOOL.

APPEAL TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. MR ALLEN PROMISES TO INVESTIG ATE. This morning a deputation from tho Elmwood School Committeo wuited on the lion Alien, Minister of Education, to ask him to interfere in the question of tho overcrowding of the Elmwood School, and enstiro that tho present state of things is not permitted to continue. Tho deputation was introduced by Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., and consisted of Messrs Adams, Mackenzie, Fleming and Free, members of the School Committee. Mr T. H. Davey, M.P., and Mr G. Witty, M.P., were also present. Mr J. C. Adams sketched tho history of the school and of tho agitation to induce tho North Canterbury Board of Education to increase the accommodation at Elmwood. Ho said that tho committee had received courtesy from the Board, hut nothing else, although there was urgent necessity for an alteration in the present state of affairs. A marquee, ho said, had been promised by tho Board last term, but it had not been granted; and later the Board had suggested that the children could be. taught in the shelter sheds, built by tho residents; provided the ventilation was improved. It was true that children from other schools were attracted to Elmwood by the personnel of the teaching staff, but if tliev were removed the school would still bo overcrowded. Anyone who had anything to do with educational matters would quickly realise how necessary it was that something should be done. Sir R. Mackenzio said tllat in one room, built to accommodate eighty children, there wero 140 pupils, and tho health of tho children was endangered. The Board for some reason seemed to have taken a "down" on Elmwood, although the residents in the district had always subscribed liberally towards improvements to the school and grounds. Tho school's seating accommodation provided for 458 children, though probably 650 could be handled without undue discomfort, but the attendance during the past week had been Gl6, and tho number on the school's roll was C 54. There was a proposal to build a new pchool at Bligh'a Road, but that school would not help tho position much, and as it was not in such a thickly populated district as Elmwood, its needs were not so urgent. Tho school at Bligh's Road would tap the Papanui School (now with plenty of room), Elmwood and Fendalton. Addington recently had obtained additional accommodation, but Elmwood'a case, though worse, had not been met. The school site was one acre and threequarters in extent, and it was possible at present to secure an acre of land contiguous to it. It was impossible to take children from Elmwood and send them to other schools. The St Albans and Normal Schools were crowded, and tho Fendalton School was too far away, The Elmwood district was unsatisfactory in configuration. It was possible to throw a stone over the boundary from the school 6ite.

Mr F. Free stated that tho number of children from other districts attending Klmwood was equal to the number of children in the Elmwood district that, were going to schools outside tho area.

Mr G. Witty said that the state of tilings at Elmwood was creditable to neither the Board nor the Department. Tho Bligh's Road school was necessary, but it was also urgent, that Elmwood should be attended to.

Mr T. H. Davey urged the Ministei to visit the school. The committee, Jio said, had done all it could to induce the Board to movo, but in vain, and bo the appeal was made to the Minister. Something had to be done to relieve the position. Mr L. M. Isitt remarked that the district's population was probably increas. ino- more rapidly than that of any other portion of the city. The Minister, in his reply, said that what the deputation had said raised many important questions. It was a dangerous thing for a Minister to interfere with a Board of Education appointed to do its duty under tho Act-, Mr Davey: It has been done before. Mr Allen: Yes, but the Ministei takes on himself a great responsibility, and the deputation would have to make a very strowr ease before ho would interfere. Children were drawn from other districts, ho said, and it was wise to remember that the expenditure on education was very large. The country could not afford to waste, its money on extendim/ the Elmwood School while the school at Fendalton was not filled. Personally, lie thought that no school should accommodate more than 600. Mr Adams: Wo asked tho Board to provido for 600. Mr Allen continued that he would have to investigate tho matter. Probably tho Board and tho Department had some reasons for their action, and if those reasons wero cogent, he would uphold them. If not, something would bo done. The people, of course, had a romcdy in their own hands. They could change the personnel of the Board. Mr' Mackenzie: Give us a new Act, and we will change tho personnel of the Board.

The Minister promised to visit tho school to-day, and lh • deputation withdraw.