HOT BED OF SICKNESS

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14140, 10 June 1920, Page 5

HOT BED OF SICKNESS

VICTORIA STREET SCHOOL. A SCATHING REPORT. The visiting committee of the Master ton West School Committee, which inspected the Victoria Street School, has made the following report:— Should any worthy citizen labour under the delusion that the children are being well caved for in all our'public schools, let him visit the Victoria Street School on a damp day and Mew the legacy which it is the duty of the Masterton West School Committee to administer.

There is the-making of a-most congenial atmosphere for the little ones at the Side School, but the all too apparent neglect stands as a disgrace t the authorities responsible:and a menace to the health ot both children anti teachers. The visitor will take mental note of the cheerfulness and patience of the lady teachers, and wonder how long the authorities would be even patient, let alone cheerful, under the circumstances. The atmosphere iy appalling. . . ' •. ' With fill windows open lie air lias that searching feel of the chest microbe, and the roll call on one recent day tolls only too well the little victims claimed. Out qf one class of 56 pupils only 1 ( were present. Out "of another of 38 pupils oiilv lb were present. There is no doubt but that sickenss was largely responsible. The roof is leaking and basement ventilation is absent. The shelter sheds arc suffering from the same complaint of supineness and parsimony, and the wonder is that no little ankle has been broken in one particular hole which a few. minutes attention would have remedied. Then the wash basins have been blocked for goodness knows how long, the fences are in places tottering, the asphalt full of holes, the lavatories crying out for serub-briish and sand-soap, the backdate requiring but a few bolls and nuts to make ’it.-serviceable-—Oh! the pooif little’iehildreu! On the pica (very much so) plans propose the removal of this well patronised school, this hot-bed of winter sickness is? permitted to endure. '•'‘•l** i; ' 1 '