SCHOOL NEEDS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22606, 10 May 1945, Page 4

SCHOOL NEEDS

RELIEF OF CONGESTION PROPOSALS BY DIRECTOR In a report to the Hamilton Technical High School Board of Managers at a meeting last night Dr C. E. Beeby, Director of Education, presented proposals for relieving the congestion in secondary schools in ! Hamilton. Dr Beeby recently visited Hamil-1 ton in company with Mr Butcher, of j the office of the Commissioner of I Works, and met representatives of i the two post-primary school boards,' in Hamilton about six weeks agoJ In his report considered last night j Dr Beeby recalled that during his * visit he had pointed out that since! the original plan for Hamilton was decided on in 1937 there had been certain developments that made it appear unlikely that the needs of the town could be adequately met by a boys’ combined school, a girls’ combined school, and one intermediate school as originally planned. The three chief factors involved, he said, were the rapid increase in the school population, the development of Hamilton as an industrial centre, and the growing demand in New Zealand for senior technical and trade education. These changes make it appear that Hamilton would need in the not distant future two secondary schools, two intermediate schools, and one senior technical i school. Modifications Suggested “The war has made it impossible ! to put up the major buildings demanded by the 1937 scheme,” said! Dr Beeby, “and everyone concerned j has been loth to advocate building additions that might eventually be, wasted. The rapid increase of rolls over the past year, however, makes it imperative to provide some accommodation. In order that such additions may be in line with future development it is necessary to determine future policy at this stage. I therefore proposed for the consideration of the boards the following modification of the original scheme:— 1. That the technical school become eventually a senior technical school, and that when the building situation permits the high school be divided into separate boys’ and girls’ schools taking pupils from the present technical school. 2. That in the meantime the following additional accommodation be put up at the technical school: (a) Four temporary classrooms to help meet the immediate overcrowding. (Mr Butcher promised to investigate the possibility of securing labour in Hamilton or Auckland for the erection of these.) (b) Additional temporary conveniences, needed immediately because of the increase in roll. (The board was to let the department know what is necessary here.) (c) Additional laboratory and workshop block, which will still be needed when the school becomes a senior technical school. (I pointed out that it will probably not be possible to proceed with this block immediately, and Mr Butcher said that the building could not possibly proceed at present, but he was hopeful that something might be done by the time the plans were completed in, say, 18 months. It was suggested that in the meantime the principal and the board consider the kind and amount of accommodation \ needed, and that the principal might i then go to Wellington to discuss the matter with a view to having plans prepared as soon as possible. New Practical Block 3. That as soon as possible provision be made at the high school for practical work in cookery and dressmaking. Such provision would be in line with the general programme of turning these buildings into a girls’ school. At the conference in Hamilton the principal of the high school, Mr H. D. Tait, I explained that the newest block at' the high school had been so designed that the internal walls could be altered and that it could be con-1 verted into a girls’ practical block.! It was left to the board to consider whether the position could best be met in this way or by the erection of a new practical block when conditions permit. I asked the board to work out what accommodation would be needed and then to send the headmaster or another representative to Wellington to discuss the scheme, so that plans could be prepared to be ready by the time when building, will be possible. I have no memory! of any promise that a temporary woodwork section should be added, but if the board has any proposal for meeting the needs of either boys or girls in the meantime by the use of temporary buildings the department will be glad to give them i careful and sympathetic considera-, tion. Accommodation for Boys i 4. That the two boards consider what accommodation will be needed for the boys’ school at Claudelands, so that when the immediate urgent needs have been met plans-can be prepared for the buildings there. It is particularly important to know enough of the lay-out to be able to go ahead with planting on the site. 5. That manual training in Hamilton be restored as soon as possible to the control of the Auckland Education Board, and that when conditions permit a manual training building be erected on one of the, sites to be selected for the intermediate schools, as a first instalment of an intermediate school building. This would relieve some of the congestion in the technical school.” The director added that he would be pleased if tentative proposals could be considered by the two boards. He explained that since many aspects, particularly the proposed Claudelands school were the concern of both boards as now constituted, it would be a great help if! all proposals could be considered by l the joint committee cf the two boards! before schemes were put to the de-i partment. The Technical High School Board! of Managers, at last night’s meeting,’ discussed the subject briefly, and decided to seek fuller information before reaching a decision. Members present at the meeting were Messrs Carrick Nisbet (chairman), C. J. Champness. F. L. Onion. D. G. Annett and A. J. McGrail, with the secretary-principal, Mr W. Fraser.