POSITION OUTLINED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 145, 10 April 1940, Page 5

POSITION OUTLINED

SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION COMMITTEE'S LETTER TO BOARD Further representations have been made by the Whakatane District High School Committee to the Auckland Education Board concerning the serious position that obtains in regard to accommodation at the Whakatane School. In a letter to the Board, dated April 5, the com- . mittee states: — We have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st ultimo stating that the Department has agreed .to the building of only three class-rooms instead of the four recommended :by your architect. It was wjth extreme reluctance that Ave asked for so few, and we know that the architect himself scri ously considered recommending five, owing to of the Secondary roll. ' However, our requests for the latter department have been met. They "will be utilised to the full, and relief for the Primary will be impossible there. Standard 1, P. 3 and P.l and 2 are at the Infant School and the :ißandroom used by P. 4,, is in close to it. These buildings are over a quarter of a mile from the Main School.' We asked for two class rooms to accommodate 5.2 and P. 4, ninetysix pupils, and we are told that •one.only .is to be allowed. Adequate accommodation without the two Toorris seems impossible. The Infant Department is groAving rapidly this ;year and will need every inch of its rspace before the year is out. ( Next term Miss Cain rvvill have to take more pupils to relieve Miss Daldy. of Department's Contention. From 5.2 to Form II the only spare accommodation is in Std IIli) where the teacher takes portion of the class, 65 pupils in all, and also acts as Art Specialist, taking this subject with various classes -every afternoon. If the Supernumerary teacher with S2, 54 pupils, is taken away,, a portion of the class would have to be taken by this teacher. The Department's contention appears to be that this teacher, because she is classed as an additional assistant, should not have a room to herself. This means that 65 pupils in S3 should be taught in one room ■with two teachers, the area of the room being 528 square feet, accommodation for 44 pupils at 12 square, feet per pupil. We are sure the Board would not consider such a -proposal for a moment and that the Bandroom would still be leased — the very thing the additions are designed to avoid.

Definite Needs. An additional assistant has been provided almost continuously for the past eight years. This is a large District High School and without such help, the Headmaster would have to do an excessive amount of class teaching. The last time this position was advertised it was stated that it was for at least a year. Even if * the additional assistant were taken from the staff, the Headmas-< ter would have to teach the class she teaches and he would require a room. We have two probationers counted in our nine assistants and neither of them is supposed to have more than 30 pupils, thus leaving heavier work for the permanent teachers. Without an additional assistant., the classes would have to be composite and then would, be too large for our relatively small rooms. Definitely we need ten rooms for primary teaming at present, and are using this number—we have eight,, so two are needed, additional- assistant or no additional assistant. Committee Urges Actipn. When school re-opened this year, and when we found out the deplorable conditions under which the pupils and teachers had to work, we made urgent representations. Ths Board acted promptly in sending Mr Miller to report and we were satisfied with what he recommended, hoping that something would he done before the winter set in. After eight weeks of school, all that has happened is that "The Board has been authorised to prepare working plans," and' this in the face of the most serious case of overcrowding that we have ever heard of. As far (Continued foot next column).

as we know, every other case in the district where extensions or new buildings are needed is either completed or in hand. Whatever happens, we do not wish any delay, but urge the immediate erection of some buildings to allow the Secondary Department to function sue cessfully and to get 5.2 out of an unlined, uncoiled tin shed, which will be "unfit for use in the winter. Parents are objecting to the temporary accommodation being used at present and the Committee urges the Board and the Department to expedite the erection -of whatever additions are decided upon.