INADEQUATE HEATING OF SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 7

INADEQUATE HEATING OF SCHOOLS

...' WOMEN. TEACHERS PROTEST, j (By Telegraph-Press Association.) Christchurch, Juno 6. At a meeting of the Canterbury Women's Teachers' Association to-night a very strong protest-was made against the lack of adeauate heating in the schools of the "city., The. following* resolutions were carried:—"This medting of women. teachers condemns strongly the condition of things with regard to school j heating this winter, and considers it'the | result, of .mismanagement, since other - ' Government .Departments, and oven the railway waiting-rooms, are • mora com-fortably-provided for than children attending our Government schools." "This meeting' commends the action of those teachors who closed school recently on account of the low tcmperatuvo and the impossibility of their improving thing's, and is of opinion that whero schoolrooms do not register a temperature of ,55 degrees at 9 a.m., with a probability 'of its rising to 60 degrees by 10 a.m., theischool, should bo closed in the'intcrest'of. the health of children. A !definite rule of this kind strictly carried .out would probably bring tojight means ..of . procuring adequate supplies." . In speaking to tho motion several teachers referred in indignant terms to tho existing., state of affairs, And the following incidents were. cited:—(!) Ono school was closed for a day during the past week, as a protest against tho teaching of children shivering in an atmosphere which registered only 42 degrees of warmth. (2) Ouo teacher could not bear to .witness her pupils working under.such conditions, so she went out and bought a bucket of coal. (3) One coal-hoiipo lias padlocked, and the woman (cacher in charge had. lo pick the lock so that Hie necessary coal could be obtained. (J) Another school reported the burning of clubs, old forms, and blackboards."