OUR FLOATING POPULATION

Evening Star, Issue 19792, 16 February 1928, Page 5

OUR FLOATING POPULATION

ITS EFFECT UN SCHOOL ATTENDANCE A statement made in the report of Mr J. E. Ryan, the attendance officer of the Otago Education Board, caused a brief discussion at the board’s meeting this morning. It was to the effect that approximately 530 pupils had left their respective schools in the city and suburbs for other districts. This movement had taken place since the end of the December quarter, and the number did not include any who gained their Standard VI. proficiency. Mr Wallace: Dunedin must have a floating population when 530 children have changed over and shifted schools. 1 take it that Mr Ryan has found out that these children really are going to a scnool. A Member: That is just the point. Mr Ryan, the attendance officer, stated that he had tried to follow the matter up. Mr Wallace: All yon know is that 530 pupils have asked for transfers, and that they have not come back to their former schools. Have you any idea of the reason V Mr Ryan ; Parents are, moving Irom one district to another. Mr Wallace: Do you think the nearness of schools has anything to do with itP . ,

Mr Ryan: “1 don’t think so.” In response,ro a question the speaker said he thought lie could supply particulars by next month Mr Mitchell asked if Mr Ryan knew of any pupils who had permanently left school. Mr Ryan; It would be a very small portion. The report staled, also, tiiat the attendance’in all the city and suburban schools since reopening on February 1 had been exceptionally good, and the numbers on the various school rolls were generally very satisfactory. In a few cases the numbers were rather less than usual at tins time of the year—viz., Albany Street, High Street, Moray Place, and Macandrew road. Some schools sustained considerable losses by pupils moving from one district to another. In this respect Macandrew Road lost 105. Forty-seven of these, however, were Standard VI. proficiency pupils. It might be mentioned that the number of pupils who passed their Standard VI. proficiency in the city and * suburban area last year was approximately 880. At present accommodation at Mornington and Musselburgh was taxed to the utmost. Cavcrshain had now the largest roll number in Otago, with Forbnry next, the roll numbers to-day being: Caversham 720, Forbury 716. The report was adopted.