EDUCATION IN WAITARA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 79, 29 April 1909, Page 4

EDUCATION IN WAITARA

INFANTS' SCHOOL ASKED FOR. At the Education Board yesterday, Messrs C. A. Gaustad, J. Rattenbury, and Rev. K J.'. Head, presented, on lienail of neanv seventy houacholucrs having over sixty children of an age suilaidc for utlendiug an infant school, a petition requesting the Board to erect such a scuool on tne east side of tne Waitara river, The petition pointed out that the board had been asked to enlarge the existing Waitara school, ana tne-se householders thought the better piun ivoum oe iu erect, uus intant "school, which would very shortly have to accommodate from SO to 100 infants, it was urged that, although this school would need to be staffed from the Waitara school, and supervised by rts head teacher, no injury would be done to the staff. At present many of the children were walking two miles and more to get to the school. The Rev. Read pointed out that the Waitara borough was uivitlea almost into two townships by the Waitaru river and a tract of native land. There were more children from the Tikorangi road than from the main north road towards Urenui. The presence of tne freezing works had the effect of bringing large droves of cattle across the bridge, and this constituted a danger to the little tots crossing the bridge to school.

Mr. Faull remembered that there had been a school on the east side of the river many years ago, but, with vne consent of the people there it had been joined on to the present Waitara school. He (Mr. Faull) had prophesied then that to-day's application would be made.

In answer to a question, Rev Read said the matter had been placed before the householders' meeting, and the new-ly-elected committee had decided by seven votes to two in favour of this application. It was pointed out that the school reserve which site the deputation proposed to use had been leased for 42 years.

Mr. Kennedy thought there was very little hardship in these children having to walk two and a half miles to school. If it were in the backblocks, where the roads were knee-deep in mud, there would be some point in the application. On the broad grouno. oi administration he deprecated a multiplicity of schools.

The chairman said that the Board had refused a request from the Yogellown people, who bad made out a much better case. The Board would need to .he careful. Mr Morton said the cases were not parallel. At Waitara there existed urgent necessity for enlarging the school. There had been no need of enlargement of tiie Central when Vogeltown applied. Mr. Faull said that very shortly the lease of the Waihl aettool sue would terminate. If this new scliwol wer« erected it should be on a site that would be convenient for the Waihi children it that school had to be dosed.

The Chief Inspector said that Mr. Wylie, headmaster at "Waitara, could not undertake the supervision of a sideschool. He was in charge of a difficult school supervising a fairly large stall', and taking a class himself. Generally speaking, he was not in favour of establishing these side-schools, for in a very short time there would come an agitation for a full standard school. Should the application be granted the Board would have to deal with other applications for similar schools in places where the position was much the same. It was much better for the Board to con centrate its energies on getting large schools, which would encourage tlie best teachers to come to the district. These Waitara children had good metalled roads and footpaths; if they had. Itoi traverse four or live miles of mud roads in the backblocks the application could be differently received. The main pint to be considered was that the Waitara school could not fail to be injuriously affected by the establishment of a sideschool.

In reply to Mr. Adlain, the inspector said an infant school would also detrimentally affect tho Waitara school. Questioned by Mr. Morison, Mr. Ballantyne said there was nothing in favour of granting the application except that the children would not have to expose themselves to the danger ,o(f stock travelling over the bridge. Mr. Wylie could not leave his own school to supervise even an infant school without to some extent neglecting his own standards. Mr. Morton moved that the Board regrets that it cannot accede to the request of the petition asking for the. establishment of a side-school at Waitara east, as it considers that such a step would be very detrimental to the working and interests of the present school.

•Mr. Kennedy seconded. The motion was carried on a division, the voting being: Ayes—Messrs Trimble, Rogers, Morton, Kennedy, and Wade; Noes: Messrs Adlam, ' Morison and Faull.