NOT WANTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1938, Page 7

NOT WANTED

CONSOLIDATION OF FERNRIDGE SCHOOL PARENTS UNANIMOUSLY REJECT PROPOSAL. LARGELY ATTENDED MEETING LAST NIGHT. ■ A proposal to close down the Fernridge School and provide a service to convey the pupils to the Masterton West School was placed before a largely attended meeting of Fernridge and Kaituna residents last night by members of the Wellington Education Board. The meeting unanimously rejected the scheme and passed a resolution drawing the attention of the board to the need for immediate improvements to the existing school building. The pros and cons of the consolidation of primary schools were fully discussed by the board members, Messrs A. Donald and Col. T. W. McDonald.

Mr AV. James, who presided, recalled that the School Committee had approached the Education Board with a request that the school be remodelled on up-to-date lines. They had thought everything was going all right when the board came to light with a proposal to close the school and convey the pupils to a town school. Mr Donald expressed pleasure at the large attendance of householders, which he said was an indication of the keen interest taken by the parents in the welfare of the school and the pupils. “I want to make it quite clear,” added Mr Donald, “that there is no question of forcing consolidation in any district in New Zealand. If you wish this school to remain open then I believe that it will. I can say quite emphatically that if I were a resident of Fernridge I would favour consolidation. After seeing consolidation in operation I am definitely in .favour of it and believe that it is in the best interests of the children.” Mr Donald went on to contend that a much more efficient education system obtained in the larger schools and said that the conveyance for the primary school children would also be available for pupils from the district attending Wairarapa College. Members of the board considered that the change-over of pupils from small country schools to a large secondary school was altogether too drastic. OBJECTIONS DISCUSSED. . Discussing possible objections to the principle of consolidation, Mr Donald said that it had been found that where a bus service was provided for pupils, attendance at school was much more regular than otherwise. Referring to the possibility of accidents to services conveying school children, he said that during the last fifteen years since school transport services had been in operation only two accidents had been reported to the board and both of them, strangely enough, had been in Greytown. The transport services were as safe as they could possibly be. It had been said that land values would drop if the school were closed down, but in the experience of the board it had been found that in many instances an efficient transport service had been of more value to a community that a small country school. The const lidation of schools was an economic proposition as it was cheaper to run a big unit than several small ones like Fernridge.

“If you oppose the closing down of this school, and I hope you will not,” observed Mr Donald, “proposals will be put before the Education Department for an up-to-date school here. We have realised for some time that the school is out of date and that it should be remodelled on the open air principle.” Mr Donald said the estimated cost of remodelling the school was £1345. That estimate was obtained some time ago and, with rising costs, the price would probably amount to about £2,000. The parents were all taxpayers and would have to meet that cost some time or other. Mr H. Evans: “AVe would also have to pay for the transport service.” Mr Donald: “That would be a mere fleabite.” The, proposal was to convey the Fernridge children to the Masterton AVest School, which could accommodate the fifty pupils involved with small additions to the infant room. INTERESTS OF CHILDREN. Col. McDonald said the first question to be considered was what was the best thing to do in the interests of the children of the district. “We do not want to foist consolidation on to you or take away your school if you want to retain it,” he added. All we want to do is to provide you with an opportunity of giving your children the best possible education if you wish to take it. We would never dream of foisting consolidation on to you if you do not want it but we would be lacking in our duty as your representatives if we did not give you an opportunity of taking advantage of its benefits. If you turn consolidation down we will work wholeheartedly to get you a thoroughly remodelled school, although that may take some time.” Mr Donald said that if the school were closed down the building would not be taken away but, if so desired, would be handed over to a committee of residents for use for meetings and social gatherings. The school swimming baths would also remain for the use of residents of the district. Mrs AV. James said a lot of children were sent to Fernridge because its environment was better than that of the town schools. It was said that the children at Fernridge were not as rough as the town children. Some parents were not satisfied with the conduct of children on school buses, while others were not keen on a bus service on account of the Renall Street railway crossing. There might not have been many accidents to school sei-

vices, but it was the uncertainty that worried parents. Pupils from the Fernridge school had all done excellently at secondary schools. A DANGEROUS CROSSING. Mr Donald said that no other school in Masterton had a better environment than the Masterton West. The railway crossing was a difficult question, but he could give an assurance that the board would use every endeavour to get the Government to construct a ramp over the crossing. It was one of the most dangerous crossings in the district and should have been attended to years ahead of the one eliminated at Opaki. (Hear, hear). He thought the Opaki ramp should have been constructed but considered that the crossings at Renall Street and Lincoln Road should have received attention first. The proposed conveyance would not call for every child and some pupils might still have to walk some distance. Mr VZ. Graham: “We have always received good education at this school. I have been here for fifty years and have never seen a dunce come out of the school.” Mr J. Broad said he had several children attending the school and was well satisfied with their education and the progress they were making. They had been at city schools and he was not sorry they had come to Fernridge. They should not lose sight of the fact that children should be brought up to take a greater interest in the land than they did when attending town schools. That was a national factor today. Fernridge was the type of country school that should be encouraged as much as possible. In reply to a question, Mr Donald said that the transport facilities for the children would be entirely free of charge. After the board members had retired from the meeting, the head teacher, Miss Dawson, said Fernridge was the best equipped 3B school in the North Island. It was the only school in New Zealand that provided absolutely free education. After some further discussion resolutions were passed opposing the proposed consolidation scheme and deciding to draw the attention of the board to the need for remodelling the school building on up-to-date lines. After the meeting, Mr Donald said that sketch plans for remodelling the school would now be submitted to the department with an application for a grant to cover the cost.