CENTRAL SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1920, Page 5

CENTRAL SCHOOL.

NEED FOR NEW BUILDINGS. DEPARTMENT CONDEMNED BY HOUSEHOLDERS. At the meeting of householders of the Central School district last night, Mr. S. U. Smith, chairman of the committee, introduced the question' of the need for the rebuilding of the two schools in the district. ' ,ilr. Smith said the first move in this direction had been taken in 1911, when nil the local doctors had signed a statement that the schools were insanitary. No action, however, was taken bv the Board until last year, when they admitted that new buildings were required, and prepared plans and made an application to the Department for grants for that purpose. These, Mr. Smith said, had been turned down by an officer of the department, who said ho would be '"the laughing stock of the community" it', he recommended the grants. Mr. Smith 'said these words had been put into the mouth of the departmental officer concerned by a resident of New Plymouth, and though he was not free to divulge the name of the person, he made the-matter public .to show the information on which officers based their reports to the heads of departments, and also to show the attitude of some New Plymouth residents to the' interests of the children. Mr. Smith also drew attention to a report on the school by the medical officer of the department, which showed the insanitary state of the school and menace the buildings were to the health of the children, 'ihe senior inspector also reported on the school and showed that there was overcrowding to a considerable extent. Mr. Smith also preferred to the fact that the headmaster -had, with the concurrence of the committee, refused admission to scholars'in certain classes which he considered would Still further menace the health of the Children already attending- He then moved the following resolution," which,' after some discussion, was Carried unanimously:—"Tint this meeting of householders most strongly condemns tho action of the Education Department Sn refusing a grant to rebuild the Central and Courtenay Street schools, and notes with alarm the apparent disregard for the health and well being of the children of this district 'by such refusal, notwithstanding the reports of its own departmental officials drawing attention to the urgent need for action, and that the incoming committee be empowered to take every' necessary step to place the whole position before tho Hon. Minister of Education with a Mew oV effecting some improvements in t l .« present unsatisfactory and insanitary position of the school' buildings, due to .age, structural defects, lack of sufficient lighting, and overcrowding."

A suggestion was also made that the school should be thrown open some time to parents so that they might tie able to gain first-hand knowledge of the conditions under which the children were being educated. The matter was referred to the incoming committee.