THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2912, 26 October 1916, Page 6

THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATION

A PROTEST FROM WAIPUIOIRAU. Sir, —Will you kindly allow mo to reopen the vexed question of the proposed Vaipukurau D.H.S. in your columns? It appears that tlic Education Board has decided to continue transporting-the children to Waipawa instead of establishing a secondary department at Waipukurau. What can the School Committee be doing in the matter? lias it no influence, and has the Education Board the power to refuse to start a school, when the law demands' that there shall be one at every centre where Mere is a sufficient number, of children ? 1 am infornied on reliable authority that the average salaries lor two teachers would be about £420, and the rental of a tempoarry building, which can now bo obtained is £40, so as the cost of transport cannot be much under £500, added to cost of oxtra teachers at Waipawa £160—the annual saving would be something like £200; which public money is deliberately squandered owing to the present system. ' _ It .the above figur.es are correct, what i§ thero to prevent a D.H.S. being started at Waipukurau in the New iear, when it is estimated that there will be about 50 children ready to attend? Those actually living in Waipukurau may not be so badly off, but those who, like my daughter, have to ride live or six miles besides the coach'journey, are deprived of the necessary time for their preparation even if they -were not too tired to do it properly, and it is impossible for them to make good use of the country's outlay, no matter what their natural abilities may be, as their attendance is so irregular. Should not the first and only consideration bo the welfare of the children? With apologies' for taking up so much of your valuablo space.—l am, et °'' A PERPLEXED PARENT.