OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1922, Page 4

OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS.

THE POSITION IN TARANAKI. URGENT NEED FOR RELIEF. The position regarding overcrowded schools in Taranaki was outlined to the Education Board yesterday by Mr. P. J. H. White. He said that since last meeting he had gone carefully into the matter of various schools throughout Taranaki at which additional accommodation was required, and he had tabulited them for the information of members. This showed, as far as the returns to the end of September went, that the following schools had an average floor space -of less than 14) feet per pupil based on the Average attendance: — Acklairid, Awakiho, Fitaroy, Okaiawa, Tawhiti, Tahora, Vogeltown, West End, Waitara', and Whangamomona. In respect to Tahora and Whangamomona, he did not know whether tly? returns were up-to-date, ae in each ease the floor space of one room only was given, and he understood there were two rooms at each school. At Tawhiti, Okaiawa and Fitznoy grants had been made and the work in the first twol cases were in hand. That left Ack land, Awakino, Vogeltown, West End and Waitara to be attended to.

Of schools which provided over 10 feet of floor space, but less than 12|. feet per pupil, there was Arawhata, Central, Hawera Main, Mahoe, Matapu, Normanby, Okato, Riverlea and Warea. He had, he said, gone very carefully into the matter, as he considered it advisable that the board as a. whole should know the position. They would understand that quite a lot of’ work required to be done. The chairman (Mr. A. Lees) said that this would give an indication that there was not likely to be any abatement in the board’s applications for grants in the near future. There had been a lot of talk about the increased expenditure on education, but he considered fihflt this would have io be kept up for some time if the department was to keep abreast of the needs. Applications Would be made for the schools mentioned in the neat future. In addition there were districts such as Whareroa where school was now being held in the hall.

He briefly illustrated, the position at Hawera, showing that though it was only a couple of years since schools had been established at Tawhiti and Whareroa, with a total attendance of 25(1. The attendance at the Hawera main school was now higher than before these schools were established. The same position applied throughout Tfttanaki generally, due probably to the development of the district. They all knew what had taken place in tha matter of increased production, and it naturally followed that this meant an increased number of people on the land It was quite apparent, that there would be no abatement of applications for increased accommodation in the Taranaki district at any rate. It was resolved’ to ask the Education Department for a definite reply in regard to the Moturoa school, drawing attention to the paragraph in the truant officer’s report which referred to the overcrowding at al] the New Plymouth schools, and the fact that pupils were waiting admission.