SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 359, 8 March 1902, Page 2

SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION

DISCUSSION WITH BOARD'S REPRESENTATIVES. At the Gisborne School last evening Messrs H. Hill (Inspector), and S. McLernon (member of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board), met the delegates from Taruheru, Mangapapa, and IVkataupoko for the purpose of discussing the question of a site for the proposed side school. The following gentlemen were present: Messrs Morgan, Sampson, Hookey, Brown, Maunsell, McClisky, Grundy, and Springall. Mr Morgan having introduced Messrs Hill and McLernon to the meeting, discussion followed on the claims of the three districts for a school.

Mr Grundy spoke at length in support of a school being established at, Mangapapa. He made out a very strong case, and showed that there were many children of school age in that district who were prevented Rom attending school owing to the distance they had to travel.

Messrs- Sampson, Springall, and AlcClisky urged the claims of llTiataupoko and Taruheru districts for consideration.

iv statement showing the number of children in the three districts attending the Gisborne school was also submitted, the total being one hundred and ninety.five, of which number 1,30 were east and forty west of Ballance street.

The Board’s representatives recognised the merits of the applications, l.ut pointed out that it was absolutely impossible to establish schools in tffe three districts owing to the want of funds.

Mr Hill pointed out that the Board had only had voted to them this year the sum of £2,300 for the purposes of the establishment of new schools and maintenance, and it was impossible to obtain more than £SOO for a side school. He wisiied the delegates 1 to fix on a site that would he suitable to the three districts.

One delegate remarked that it would take a good portion of the sum mentioned to provide the site alone.

Mr Hill said lie thought that in selecting a site not less than two

acres should be obtained. 1-Ie believed in every school having a suitable ground so as to promote the physical

education of the scholars. Air McLernon referred to the necessity of obtaining an .elevated situation for the school, so as to prevent needless expense in the matter of drainage.

Air Sampson replied that lie did not think there was much danger on that score at Whataupoko, as there were few low-lying sections there. Mr Hill spoke of the difficulties that the Board had to overcome in providing proper school accommodation with the small funds at their disposal. He mentioned some of the eases in this

district where assistance was requir-

ca, and where something should be dene on'behalf of the children. The Board had to consider other districts than Gisborne. “ Just take Tolago Bay, for instance,” remarked the Inspector, “it is laboring under most adverse conditions. And there is the

same state of affairs at Awanui.” Continuing, Mr Hill said that he could mention fifteen cases in the Hawke’s Bay district whose interests the Board had to consider, and who were urgently in want of funds. He recognised that if the means were available that there should be a school in the

districts mentioned. He did i.ot believe in large schools. The most efficient schools were those under six hundred.

In answer to Mr Sampson, Mr Hill said that the educational vote for the maintenance and establishment of new schools was allotted annually by the Central Education Department, and in no way depended on the increase of children at the schools of the district.. The Inspector also mentioned the special advantages native schools- were' under compared to the European ones. At Alorere there were thirty to forty European children in the poorest of schools, whilst there was a beautiful school for the natives. A beautiful native school had been erected at. Waikaremoana, and shortly after having been opened was closed. It was a pity the school erected at IVaikaremoana was net at Waipiro. Mr AlcLernon said that the Board felt that they were in duty bound to meet the claims of the most pressing cases. Air Hill asked the delegates to come to some mutual understanding with regard to one school, hut the delegates .could not, do so, each urging claims ot his particular district, Air Grundy said that the children at IMiataupoko were close to the Gislorne school, and had good roads to travel. It was quite different with

the children at Mangapapa. . Mr Morgan came to the conclusion that the only way to get a school at Whataupoko was to crowd the Gistorne school. Forty ox filly c.uld.en knocking at the door 0 i the Gisborne

school and not being admitted would h 3 the strongest argument for a sale school. The educational authorities would be compelled to find accommodation.

In answer to Mr Hill, !\lr Sampson said that there were forty or fifty children of school age at Whataupoko who were not attending school, and whose parents were waiting for the side school to be opened. In that case we must find them out, for those are the children that we are looking for. (Laughter.) A member : You will require a truant officer to go round and hunt them uu Mr Morgan said that it was for the representatives of the districts to say where the five hundred pounds should be spent. Mr Hill remarked that a school to accommodate two hundred children would cost .fiIOOU.

Mr McClisky : The sum of £SOO is f no use to Whataupoko. You

might as well hand it over to Taruieru, and let us have a school there. (Laughter.) Mr McLernon thought the delegates should come to some conclusion with regard to a site. He also wished for information regarding the children at Whataupoko of school age who were not attending any school.

Mr Hill recommended the residents of Whataupoko that they should go in for a full school. He could see that in the near future with the growth of the district that this would be required.

Mr McLernon said that if the delegates would agree to the school being erected at Mangapapa that it would he in working order before twelve months’ had passed.

Sir Hill : Yes, even within six months. Or if the residents of Whataupoko will provide a suitable building we will open a school in that district to stop the congestion of the school. I am prepared to make that recommendation to the Board. At the same time I do not recommend to go in for a makeshift. It is much better to wait and have a proper building. Mr Springall p referred to see a school at Taruheru, and one at Mangapapa.

Mr Hill said that it had been mentioned. to him that if a school were established at Taruheru it would require to he built some distance from the works in consequence of the danger resulting to children through wild cattle being driven there. After further discussion it was agreed that the delegates should consider the situation, and endeavor to decide on a site suitable to ti e three districts. The Whataupoko delegates also promised to do their best to obtain the names of children in that district, under school age who were not attending school.