EDUCATION DIFFICULTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4375, 8 February 1922, Page 3

EDUCATION DIFFICULTY.

ngatea schools position. URGENCY FOR RESIDENCE. The overcrowded state of the Ngatea school, the fact of it soon being in a position to demand an extra teacher, and the- lack of and urgent necessity for a residence for the headmaster, were subjects under discussion at the Ngatea School Committee’s meeting on Monday evening, Mr W. McDuff presiding, , ■ Mr McDuff extended a welcome 1,0 Mr Jamieson. He said . Ngatea had been unfortunate with regard to headmasters, having had three different ones in four years. He hoped Mr Jamieson would stay for some time. Mr -Jamieson expressed his satisfaction with |he school, but he said it was too crowded. The school roll was 86 and the accommodation was designed for only 4i5. The conditions were'not conducive to efficient work and organisation. 'Mr McDuff thought the' number would soon, be over 90, as he knew of several .other pupils who would shorn ly be attending. , Mr Jamieson pointed out that with several more pupils the school would ’ be entitled to another teacher. He urged that more provision should be made for the chlld£eh before the winder set in. Being on the border of the nexi grade, it was an extremely difficult school to handle. ' The average last ye,ar was 72.5. Mr Clare said the position had been thoroughly pointed out to the inspector (Who visited the school last iyeay. Mr McDuff said that the Education Boaru had approved of the committee’s- application for an extension to the school. Mr Jamieson said that, residence was an important m,atter to Mm, He may consider selling his home in Coromandel and erecting a dwelling at Ngatea or removing his house. Mr Davidson said it would be unfair for Mr Jamieson to go to any exi pense with regard to a residence, though at the same time he appreciated his offer. Mr Clare said that now Mr Jamieson was there the committee had something definite to work on. Mr Dayidson said that the matters, which he considered serious, should be brought under the notice' of the parliamentarians when they came through on their tour. Mr Jamieson said that if some sat-\ arrangement was not made /he could not stay ,at Ngatea. * Mr Davidson said that the Board should be urged to erect a residence before Mr Jamieson made a definite . offer. It was decided, owing to the present headmaster, a married man with a family, being dissatisfied with the prevailing conditions, that there was no residence available in the district and at present, he was forced to live apart from his family to take up his duties, that the committee should reopen negotiations with the Educai tion Board to secure a teacher’s residence , .