Tuakau School Accommodation

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 492, 23 December 1919, Page 2

Tuakau School Accommodation

Sir,—One of the lessons of the Great War is the ever increasing necessity to the State of the education of its people on broad lines. That it has been generally accepted as an important factor in the reconstruction problem is proved by the increased interest taken in educational matters by practically all classes of the community. For instance, with perhaps one exception, local bodies throughout the Dominion have thrown in their weight io the fight for better accommodation, better stalling, larger playing areas etc., aid much valuable work has been done.

The exception noted above is the Tuakau Town Board, which has gone one better than the " go-slow " policy by adopting a " sit tight" or " do nothing," policy so far as this important matter is concerned, and in the meantime the rising generation has to suffer in silence. Over four years ago the roll number was 117 and these children with three, and sometimes four eachers were crowded into a single r oom 40 feet and 20 feet. From time to time children were sent out of the district to other schools, but the relief was tempor ry only, and for five years overcrowding of a serious nature has existed. Perhaps parents hardly fully realise the position even now. Do parents generally know that children have been sent home scores of times, because they " felt sick" ? Are they aware that children have been taken into the headmaster's residence, or carried home in a fainting condition? Do they realise that many times the teachers have been on the point of collapse when holiday time afforded relief ?

Can they picture 33 children beiug taught in a porch 20 feet long, aud having an average width of less than eleven feet surrounded by over 100 wetcoats and hats, and with fog laden air or rain beating in every time the door is opened, which happens frequently ? Can they picture the same number in a marquee on a summer's afternoon, with the temperature 103 degrees, and the teacher outside on the grass in a hysterical condition ? And, now that the overflow is being accommodated across the road, in a rickety old building which rocks and sways with every gust, while the wind whistles through the numerous cracks in floor and walls, nan they picture them trying to do their work wrapped in over coats, while one here and there is crying with the cold ? Are parents going to allow this state of affairs to exist duiing another winter ?

For years the blame for this disgraceful state of affairs rested on the shoulders of the so-called Progressive League, which blocked the School Committee at every turn. Today the blame lies directly at the door of the Town Board, because of its inactivity. On the occasion of the recent visit of the Prime Minister to our district the chairman of .the school committee put the case as it stands to-day clearly and concisely before him, and had reason to expect to be backed up by the Town Board members present, bu l . when given an opportunity to speak they remained "silent as the grave." Indirectly, the parents are to blame for not rising in a body and "conscripting," the Town Board and making it do some "Active Service" in the noble cause of education. W. G. GRAHAM. Tuakau, 23 December, 1919.