SOUTH KARORI SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 287, 28 August 1908, Page 6

SOUTH KARORI SCHOOL.

TO BE CLOSED BY THE BOARD. Residents of Karori have been divided on the question of closing the small side school at Sputli Karori. The Education Board had previously decided, on the recommendation of its inspectors, that no good educational purpose was to be served by keeping the school open, and in this it was supported by the Karori School. Committee, which controlled both the main and side schools. A side school, it may be explained, is usually constituted as a concession to a certain portion of a school district which is so far distant from the main school that the junior scholars have too great a distance to walk, and instruction is given up to Standard IV, by whih time the legs of the youngsters are strong enough to accomplish the greater distance without undue fatigue. Addressing the members of the board yesterday, Mr. B. Or. N. Burns, spokesman for a deputation of South Karori residents, said .the matter was a bono of contention in their district. The side school had been erected mainly by tho interested efforts .of local resi 7 dents, on a site donated for the purpose by Mr. T. Lower. In 1902. there wero 42 scholars on tho roll, but this, in consequence of successive drafts of the senior to the main school, had. now been reduced to about 13. Mr. Burns submitted that tho extension .of the tramway towards their end of the district would inevitably cause'an increase of population in South Karori. Ho advocated the conversion of the school to an independent establishment, with a properly qualified teacher in charge. The deputation having retired, Captain M'Donald moved That tho board agrees with tho school conimitteo that the side school should bo closed." Ho disapproved of side schools entirely. There was, liowever, the question of the land and the building, which deserved consideration. The chairman said that that could be arranged later. ■ , The motion was seconded. !' Mr. Fleming (inspector) said that he had goile' into the matter, and was of opinion that if the conveyance of tho children could bo arranged for, no hardship would be inf ilictcd. The motion was carried.