INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 249, 18 September 1940, Page 2

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.

PROBLEMS FOR PARENTS,

DIFFICULTY IN ATTENDANCE,

There were certain disadvantages from attendance at the Intermediate School, as well as the' advantages to bo gained, said Mr L. Gardner at a meeting of the Terrace End School Committee, last evening. Parents should have the opportunity of discussing the disadvantages, he said. They- were, to a great extent, in the dark about the Intermediate School, and it was the duty , of the committee to have the matter clarified. Some of the pupils at present attending the Terrace End School would have to travel between two and seven miles to attend the Intermediate School, making a total of from four to 14 miles a day. As far as he knew, no provision was made for transport. • The legal position was explained by the chairman (Mr W. B. Tennent), who said that section 60 of the Education Act, provides that the parent of any child may make application to the board or headmaster for exemption on certain grounds, including the distance tho child will be required to walk from his home to the school or to a point whore he can catch some conveyance to the school. Exemption will be granted where the child over 10 years of age has to travel a distance exceeding three miles. Mr - Tennent added that the question of transport had not yet been discussed, but that Mr W. G. Black was going to refer the matter to the Education Board at its meeting this week. Mr Gardner said he thought that the committee should protest 1 about sending children to the Intermediate School.

Mr H. L. Cunninghame did not agree with this; his view was that the committee should work in with the new school. It was agreed to call a meeting to give parents in doubt about difficulties which might arise an opportunity of taking part in a genera] discussion.