The question of accommodation at Rushden Schools, particularly at Alfred-street, was the principal subject debated by the Rushden School Managers at their monthly meeting on Tuesday. Reference was also made to the fact that six Rushden children, residing in North-street, have been going to Higham Ferrers Council School, a practice which was condemned by the Managers.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Prothero, Chief Attendance Officer and the members present were: Messrs. L. Baxter (in the chair), W. E. Capon (vice-chairman), L. Freeman, A. Allebone, C.C., F. Green, E. A. Sugars, C. Claridge, Rev. C. J. Keeler, with the Clerk, Mr. J. Ferris.

Mr. Prothero said the Managers would remember that some time ago they recommended the Education Committee to provide a temporary school until the new elementary school on the Irchester-road estate should be completed. Unfortunately the Committee were not prepared to provide temporary accommodation and therefore he had been instructed by the Secretary, Mr. J. L. Holland, to arrange for the accommodation of the older children in the schools already existing.

Mr. Prothero said he had visited Mr. Rial, headmaster of Alfred-street Mixed School, and understood from him that if he took in 50 children from Moor-road; he would not be able to take any from Alfred-street Infants. On looking into the figures, however, he had found it possible to provide accommodation for 19 of the children in Alfred-street School leaving Mr. Rial to provide for 50 from Moor-road and 13 from Alfred-street Infants.

21 Vacant Places

When the schools re-opened, continued Mr. Prothero, 40 Moor-road children were taken in and 15 from Alfred-street Infants leaving nine children at Moor-road who should not be there, and 17 children to go to other schools in the neighbourhood.

The children in question resided in the neighbourhood of the new estate, Glassbrook-road, Tennyson-road, Irchester-road, Washbrook-road, and there were nine in all.

The capacity of Alfred-street School, concluded Mr. Prothero, was 448, and there were now 427 children in the school, leaving 21 vacant places, Mr. Rial was not willing to take the children in because of the difficulty of arranging for their reception in special classrooms.

Mr. Capon: The position as I understand it is this. Mr. Rial quite recognises the fact that there is more accommodation in the school, but the difficulty is that Miss Groome, who takes the top class of girls has room for 20 more girls, and Mr. Brightwell who takes the top class of boys has also room for a few. Mr. Rial's difficulty is that the children in question belong to the junior school and can only be put in the first standard; it is not a question of the accommodation of the classrooms, but the fact that there is some room in the top classes, but none in the bottom where it is wanted. Without going into any questions of putting up children into the next class, the only solution I can see is to make another class.

Mr. Claridge: Could they not make use of the hall; it is a big place?

Mr. Capon: They would have to.

Mr. Claridge: I think they formerly had classes there.

Zonal Trouble

Mr. Prothero said the hall was not recognised as a classroom but classes had been held there in times gone by. Taking in more children might make more congestion than at present, but with so many vacant places they could not refuse children.

Mr. Allebone suggested that putting the more brilliant children up into another class might help the situation.

In reply to the chairman, Mr. Prothero said the difficulty would only be until March and would right itself in time. "You have not," added Mr. Prothero, "kept strictly to zones, and are now feeling the effects. Two children in Bedford-road pass South End Schools to come to Alfred-street. I think it is possible for Mr. Rial to make some temporary arrangements."

The chairman: It is only until March.

Mr. Allebone asked Mr. Prothero whether he could tell them anything regarding the building of the school on the Irchester-road estate.

Mr. Prothero: No, hardly at the present time; I can tell you nothing.

Mr. Green said that half a dozen children in North-street had to go to Higham Ferrers Council School every day, and it did not seem right that children in a town like Rushden should have to do that.

Mr. Capon: Is there any serious objection to transferring a few children to the Intermediate School.

Mr. Prothero remarked that that school was under a different body of managers.

Mr. Allebone said they discussed the question at Northampton and Mr. Perkins then said that he would take a number of boys. That would mean, however, taking children from the senior classes which were not overcrowded; it would not relieve the position.

Mr. Freeman: If all the children went to the proper school according to the zones the position would be somewhat cleared?

Mr. Prothero: That is so.

"€œForcing"€ Children

Mr. Capon: We cannot force children to go to South End; it is not worth causing trouble.

Mr. Sugars: We cannot force them to go to Higham but we are doing it!

Asked Mr. Capon what were the ages of the children going to Higham Mr. Prothero said their ages were about seven or eight.

Mr. Capon: If we decide that Mr. Rial is to have a class in the hall, for the extra children, shall we have another teacher?

Mr. Prothero said he presumed so.

The chairman suggested that the Managers should press for temporary accommodation and premises. "Push for all we are worth," said Mr. Baxter.

Mr. Capon: That fails because we have accommodation at Alfred-street for 448, and have 21 vacancies. You will be running against a stone wall.

In answer to the chairman as to whether they might succeed if they pressed for temporary premises, Mr. Prothero replied that he could not say.

Mr. Capon said he would move that the necessary steps be taken for Mr. Rial to have an additional class in the hall, also that the six children going to Higham Ferrers be transferred to Rushden Schools if they so desired.

This was seconded and Mr. Green supported, saying they did not want children to go to Higham.

Mr. Sugars said such a thing ought to not to have been carried without the sanction of the Managers.

Mr. Allebone asked how long it would be before the steps they had suggested were put into operation.

Mr. Prothero said that if the Clerk saw Mr. Rial, he thought it could be done at once. The school could take up to 448 children.

Mr. Capon: And has he a teaching staff for 448?

Mr. Prothero: That I cannot say.

The resolution was carried.

Whooping Cough

A letter was received from the County Education Committee regarding the Managers giving notice to an un-certificated teacher at Newton-road school in accordance with the decisions made by the Committee for the re-arrangement of the classes.

After lengthy discussion, the Clerk was instructed to reply that the Managers had made their decision, and to call the attention of the Committee to the existing conditions in the schools.

A letter was received from Miss Croft, resigning her position at Alfred-street Schools, to take up an appointment at Kettering, and the resignation was accepted with regret.

Mr. Freeman said Miss Croft had been an exceedingly good teacher.

It was agreed to take the necessary steps to fill the vacancy.

Mr. Capon drew attention to the amount of whooping cough among the schoolchildren and said he thought some parents were very lax in allowing the children to go to school in such circumstances. Two had had to be sent home from one school in the town. It was very bad, and not fair to other children.