PUKEKOHE'S EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 396, 30 July 1918, Page 2

PUKEKOHE'S EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

(To the Editor.)

Bir,—The thanks of the parents in the Pukekohe District High School area are certainly due to you for y>>ur two recent leaders in connection with the proposed local Technical Hiu;h School. The majority of householders are very apathetic regarding educational matters, and this is clearly indicated by the miserable attendance as a rule at the annual meetings, and by a general lack of interest in this most important and national work. The battle of life is yearly heeomins more and more strenuous, and as education is a prime factor towards obtainine success, we should see to it that our children do not start out in the world handicapped in this respect either with our own or other nations. Tn normal times, nowadays, education is not expensive, and the Government is generous in its attitude toward sproviding facilities. In the course of his remarks here lately the Minister for Education practically offered us the desired Technical Hi eh School if the local bodies and people provided a site. Considering how beneficial to this and surrounding districts the school would be, surely it is worth while to make special efforts towards obtaining the necessary ground. Other districts are providing sites and getting the schools, and we cannot hope to get ours on any other terms. What are a few acres of land compared to the educational welfare of our children? Let the parents visit the Oddfellows' Hall and see for themselves the disgraceful conditions under which their children are receiving secondary instruction, and when they realise that these conditions will exist until such time as the new school is forthcoming, probably they will bestir themselves before it is too late and insist on the provision of proper accommodation and surroundings. Your reference to the Borough Council handing over a portion of the Recreation Reserve is a timely one, and is at present the only apparent solution of the difficulty. If this is done, no doubt the outside districts benefiting by the school would later on make some recompense to the Council, and even if this did not materialise, the asset of a first-class Secondary School to the Pukekohe district alone would be substantial, and it could be confidently expected that a large majority of the ratepayers would approve of the transaction. No time should be lost in dealing with this matter, lest some other district more progressive and alert than ours take advantage of the offer now presented to us, and we find our claims passed over. Let us hope, Mr. Editor, that you will further assist us through the columns of your paper, es it affords the only means of bringing the question forcibly and prominently before those interested,—l am, etc., PARENT. Pukekohe.