Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1942. SCHOOLS AND WAR NEEDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1942. SCHOOLS AND WAR NEEDS

J?ULL support should be given to the Wellington Education Board in. its opposition to the taking over of school buildings for military or hospital purposes except in cases- of absolute necessity and until it is shown that no other accommodation is available. It was observed by one member of the board that there was no sense in preserving education and losing thepvai, and that if necessary education would have to be saciificed for military purposes. This, however, is beside the point. In time of war, genuine military needs of course are paramount, and many things may have to be sacrificed in satisfying these needs. The organisation and accommodation of schools is, however, one of the last things which should be interfered with, and no such interference should be considered or tolerated save in the ease of extreme and unavoidable necessity. There certainly should be a decided refusal to accept such conditions as were indicated by the chairman of. the NV ellington. Education Board, Air W. V. Dyer, when he said, as he is icportbd, that :— There had perhaps been a tendency on the part of the military and hospital authorities to take the line of least resistance—they saw a nice, clean school handy and requisitioned it without exploring other possibilities. There has been a considerable, though inevitable and justified disturbance of school organisation by the withdrawal of teacheis for tvar service and in other ways. It is conceivable, too, that there may have to be some emergency evacuation of schools in certain areas. It is so much the more desirable that any avoidable interference with schools should be prevented and that as much as possible of our educational organisation should be maintained intact and undisturbed.