LAVATORY BLOCKS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 3

LAVATORY BLOCKS

Request For Separation The Education Department has refused separation of girls’ and boys’ lavatories at the Burnside High School. When the request was made a month ago, on grounds that problems of congestion and supervision would be eased, pupils were using abutting lavatory blocks in one . classroom building and the second double-unit lavatory block was about to be started in another classroom building. The board claimed that it would be simple to provide installations for girls only in the new block and use the existing lavatory block for boys. Adjoining lavatory blocks for girls and boys W’ere provided in both the Nelson and Porirua-type plans for schools and, -with 40 of these built so far, Burnside’s was *he first objection, said a letter received from the de-oa’-tment yesterday. Both sets of standard plans had been discussed with the Post-primary Teachers’ Association. which had apnroved the lavatory lay-out Attention had been given to supervision bv locating teachers’ rooms near the lavatories. The advantage of this arrangement was tha* movement between class“oom blocks was reduced, the department said. The department promised that, when a new prototype plan was proposed, the Bumside representations would be considered again: but for the present the plan of adjacent lavatories must remain. The headmaster (Mr C. Cross) said he was still convinced that the present scheme of bovs and girls approaching adjoining lavatory blocks and locker rooms was not good. "The department’s strongpoint was that the

P.P.T.A. had approved,” said Mr B. Zeff. It could be that the P-P.T.A.j was shown prototype plans. 1 approved, but now agreed with Mr Cross, having seen the arrangement in practice, said Mrs C. C. Holland. Mr Cross said this might well be the case. The board made an inspection of the existing lay-oat and then agreed to make a fresh strong approach to the department for reconsideration of the whjle issue.