School Matters.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 708, 8 March 1933, Page 6

School Matters.

Dear Sir, —In view of the coming school committee elections, I think it only fair that the householders in the West Christchurch district should know that they will not have a vote at the annual meeting unless they are parents or guardians of a child attending the school. I can safely' say that in the last month I have come in contact with two to three hundred parents who were strongly opposed to the reorganisation of the school. The householders and parents in this district never had an opportunity of showing their disapproval of the reorganisation They tried every means of getting the school committee to call a meeting, and also tried to get the use of the school for a meeting of householders, but could get no satisfaction from the committee. I think our present chairman, Mr Jones (in the dying hours of his' present committee) should call that meeting he promised (at the Addington householders’ meeting) early in the y'ear. I attended the Shirley meeting of householders and those interested, and heard Mr Strong say' that “he was not in favour of the West Christchurch School being turned into an intermediate school.” It is quite possible he had the Milne Street proposal in view.

In conclusion, I would like you to find out from the chairman of the Canterbury Education Board if they intend making any provisions for the little children in this district for the coming winter. I am sure that not a member on the board would ask his child to walk from this district to the Normal in wet weather. Let them close their eyes, and picture the child of the relief worker, bare-footed, walking to the Normal or Addington. Then again, picture the new form I. and 11. children arriving at West Christchurch from a.ll other districts; most of them with new’ bicycles, leather cases, gym. frocks, hats and badges. They study' the children, don’t they?—l am, etc., J. M. KIRK.