“OVERCROWDED.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17180, 25 October 1923, Page 8

“OVERCROWDED.”

THE WAIMAIRI SCHOOL. MORE ACCOMMODATION WANTED. Three and a halt years ago when the Hugh's Hoad Side-School,. Papanui, was converted into a. main school and re-named the Waimairi School, there was a roll number of sixty-three children, and the two class-rooms that the school then contained were sufficient for requirements. About eighteen months later Die number of pupils had increased to such a.ti extent that the committee were compelled to make an urgent appeal to the Education Board ty was overcome by the provision of one of Mr Parr’s “ tiu-slieds ” which contained three class-rooms. The number of pupils continued to increase at a rapid rate however, and the teaching staff are now at their wits end to know how to arrange tlio classes in dren. There is now a roll number at the school of 316 children, and the staff consists of seven certificated teachers and two pupil teachers. This morning the claims of the district for a new school building were placed before the Hon C. J. Parr. Minister of Education, who made a visit to the school with the object of ascertaining the actual position. The members of the committee present were •Messrs T. .Holmes (chairman), H. T. Hookham (secretary) anti J. J. Ball. There were also present Mr -J. C*aughler, I>irector of Education. Mr TV. E. Spencer, Officer-in-Charge of Buildings for the Education Department, l>r Phillips. School Medical Officer: Mr G. Penlington, architect to the Canterbury Education Board: and T>r T. F. Telford, Medical Officer of Health. Mr G. TVitty, M.P., introduced the deputation. Mr Holmes said he understood that the Education Board had asked for a grant to complete the main building. Two years ago the committee had applied for increased accommodation, and the Minister had very kindly provided a portable school building. The portable building had served its purpose well, but owing to tli© enormous growth of the district the classseut there was a roll number of 3 p i r c; but the committee expected that in the near future that number would be more than doubled. Since the district had come into Greater Christchurch land-owners were being forced to subdivide and there was a great buildingboom going on. "Within the school district there were about fifty houses in course of erection at present. Details of the number of children being accommodated in each class-room were given by Mr Holmes. Of the two rooms in the main building which was erected in brick, one that was intended for 57 bad 53 in it. and the other that was intended for <35 had 78. Of the three rooms in the portable building the first had accommodation for 52, but bad 15 children in it. the second was intended for 59. and had 59 in it and the third was intended for 64 and had 79 in it. In each room there were two classes and two teachers and great difficulty was experienced in carryii\g ou the work of the school. Another difficulty was that on account of the partitions in the portable building the children in one class-room had their attention distracted by hearing what was going on in the next room. The Minister and the Depart mental officers then made a thorough inspection of the buildings. At the conclusion of the inspection. Mr Parr said he recognised that the committee had a good claim for a new building. The temporal v building that lie had provided had filled its purpose well and increased permanent nefomniodation was now wanted. “ I am very pleased with mv tin sheds.’’ said Mr Parr, refers ing to the portable building. “ 1 remember when they were first mooted. Mr Barr’s sheds were roundly cor.clqnined by almost everybody. But now 1 find that quite a number of committees like mv tin sheds; and in fact prefer them to the main buildings.” The Minister added that the Education Board had prepared plans for permanent additions to the school, o s - Prising five class-rooms and a teachers’ room, in brick. The estimated cost nag £994 1 . “ I hat is a lot of money : more money than T can afford at present.” remarked Mr Parr. Mr Holmes: Jt will be money well •pent. Mr Parr: But I think I ought to be able 1 o do something of what vbu want, for less than £’lo.ooo. Cabinet can't find such a. largo sum of money. lut Cabinet can finrl a reasonable sum for your school. After conferring with the architects we can perhans eliminate some of.the features that 1 think are unnecessary and thus save a great deal of expense. T will give the matter my sympathetic consideration find see. that the application is made to Cabinet for the money in due course. Mr G. Witty. M.l*. : TVhnt does ‘‘in due course” mean? Mr Parr: T\ o baxo got to get the building down to reasonable proportions. Then f will do to Cabinet, Mr TVi tty, without delay. No doubt Mr Witty will see to it that 1 take the matter before Cabinet. Mr Witty thanked Mr P»r r for bis promise. He said he knew what was wanted was about £2,000,000 to be spent on education. The party was entertained at morning tea by the School Cmmittec.