The Rhondda Leader

The Tale of a Sale. The Porth School Negotiations. Deputation wait on the Rhondda Education Committee. Mr. Thompson's Slip. The thorny question of the proposed sale of the Porth Higher Elementary School to the Glamorgan County Council has at last been disposed of as far as the Rhondda Education Committee is con- cerned. It was fully anticipated that the matter would lead to scenes," or, to quote one member, fireworks," as it was known that feelings ran pretty high on the question. Fortunately, however, thanks to the tact exercised by the Chair- man (Dr. Thomas) and the commonsense and" sweet reasonableness displayed by members in general, the whole proceedings were conducted in that amicable and harmonious spirit for which the Rhondda Council is deservedly famous. The dis- cussion in itself occupied but a very short time, the greater portion of the afternoon being taken up by the cross-examination of the Forth deputation at the hands of the Chairman and Councillor R. S. Gri- ffiths. The case against the selling of the school was very ably put by Mr. John Thompson, who quoted figures and •statistics1, and otherwise discoursed on the value of sites with the air of one born to adorn the Woolsack. He made a delicious slip, however, at the outset, when he informed the Committee that the depu- tation represented the I.L.P., and the members laughed hilariously. Of course, it was only a question of the mixing of labels, but at the same time it provided a refreshing interval in a sweltering hot day. John Thompson, I.L.P.-ist! It is physically impossible. You might as well imagine John the Baptist tying the shoe- strings of Mrs. Pankhurst. The fulli report of the meeting follows. I The Clerk read several letters, together with resolutions, protesting against the sale of the Porth Higher Elementary School, whilst an application was also re- ceived from Mr. John Thompson, Porth, asking the Committee to receive a depu- tation appointed at a, public, protest meet- ing held at Porth. Councillor Tom George I beg to move that the Clerk shall also read the report in the Rhondda Leader of that meet- ing. (Cries of Oh, oh "). The Chairman said that before proceed- ing with this matter, he wished to call the attention of the Committee to the fact that a member had made a charge that the work of the Secondary Education Sub- Committee was carried on differently to that of any other Committee, and that no report was presented to the' Education Committee of its transactions. He (Dr. Thomas) maintained that this Committee regularly reported to the Education Com- mittee, and he asked the Clerk to read the reports that had been presented from 'time to time. Councillor R. S. Griffiths asked whether the Chairman based his application on the ground of certain reports which had appeared in the Press. Dr. Thomas said that he was referring to a charge made by a member at a meet- ing of the Education Committee, and as that gentleman had not tendered an explanation, he asked the indulgence of the Committee to listen to the reports of the Committee in question. The Clerk thereupon read lengthy extracts from the Committee's' reports, and having proceeded for some time, Councillor D. R. Jones said this was a serious waste of the Committee's time, and that if such an accusation had been made, the person who made it would undoutbedly apologise if given an opportunity. The Chairman: It is a serious charge against this Committee, made by a mem- ber of the Council, and as he still persists in the charge, I will ask the Clerk to read all the minutes. The Clerk having read all the Commit- tee's reports, Dr. Thomas said that, with the excep- tion of the Committee held that day, all the reports of the Secondary Sub-Com- mittee had been presented in the same way. Councillor Tom George: Now I have something to say. Mr. Griffiths is reported to have said at the meeting held at Forth last Friday night that the Ferndale repre- sentatives would be quite satisfied if they could have a higher elementary school at Ferndale. Itum one of the representatives of that district, and I say that nothing less than a secondary school will suit me. The Chairman: Mr. Griffiths was not serious. It was only a swashbuckling affair. Councillor Tom Harris: Are we going to discuss newspaper reports? The Chairman It is only right that a member should give an explanation of his opinions. The deputation from Porth thereupon entered the room, and Mr. Thompson, who acted as spokesman, laid their case before the Committee in a, pithy and lucid speech. Mr. Thompson said they were a, depu- tation representing two public meetings held at Porth under the auspices of the I.L.P. and others (loud laughter). The speaker, having seen his mistake, said: I beg pardon, one gets mixed up in all these names; I should have said the Trades and Labour Council and others." Proceeding, Mr. Thompson said that these meetings were convened for one pur- pose only, and that was to protest against selling the higher elementary school at Porth to the County Council. They asked the Education Committee of the Rhondda Council to continue and not to sell this valuable educational centre, as they believed it would be a retrograde step in the history of public elementary education in the Rhondda Valleys. Their first reason in asking this was that the school in question was established by the old School Board. It provided accommodation for about 350 children, 300 of which resided within a mile and a half of the school. The school had always been well attended and had gained the highest grants showing that it had proved not onlv necessary, but useful. The estab-lieh- nient of the school had been sanctioned by the Board of Education after a. full Public enquiry had been made by H.M. Inspector of Schools. The site was, more- over, a unique one, and no other school could now be built at Forth, as every site OIl that estate had already < been taken BP* Owing to the present school being "illy occupied, no smaller school would its place. Therefore, there was an advantage in no change taking place. The population of the district served by this school was a large and ever-increasing as proved by the large number of houses erected since the school had been Established. At present, there were 309 houses in course of erection within half- R-nlil(a of the school The Education Com- "littee had found it difficult to provide » ^man«at site for the Tynewydd ScbeoL otherwise they would not have occupied building so long. If was so, declared Mr. Thompson, how much more difficult it would be to provide two schools instead of one. Further, the geographical position of this school was such that no other school could be erected at Porth or in the neighbourhood which would be of such easy access to the chil- dren of that locality. There were several roads converging at this spot, leading from Britannia, Trehafod, Qymmer, Ynyshir, &c., and if they removed the school, they created a disadvantage for one or the other of these districts. They had always hoped, continued the speaker, that the policy of the Rhondda Education Com- mittee would be one of progress, of going forward and extending educational advan- tages to the working classes, rather than decreasing them. They would rather see other districts levelled up to Forth, rather than that Porth should be lowered to the level of other districts. During his resi- dence at Forth, added the speaker, he had never known the residents of the district taking up any matter so thoroughly and so heartily as they had taken up this matter, and he, therefore, hoped that the Council were not going to deprive them of their birthright, as it were. Councillor R. S. Griffiths asked for a copy of the poster convening the public meetings. Mr. Thompson produced the poster, which was hung up on the wall imme- diately behind the Chairman. Councillor Ben Davies: It looks all right, doesn't it? (Laughter), Mr. John Davies (Cae'rysgol), another member of the deputation, also spoke, and then followed a lengthy cross-examination conducted by C'ounsillor R. S. Griffiths ant! the Chairman. Councillor Griffiths askd whether at any of the meetings represented by the depu- tation the full scheme of the Education Committee had been explained and the provision made for the children of the school that was to be sold ? Mr. Thompson replied that Mr. Thomas Griffiths had explained what had already been done in relation to this school. Mr. John Davies said that the scheme now before the Council had never been before them. Councillor R. S. Griffiths: Had this scheme been available, and before the meetings in question, is it likely that you would be here to-day? Mr. Davies: Our objection would be exactly the same, because we see nothing that would meet our case. Councillor Griffiths: You; put all your weight upon the position on which this school stands. The educational position of Porth is such that no school of the kind will serve the purpose of the district except where this school is built? Mr. Davies: We maintain that there is no site available in this district. Councillor Griffiths: Do you maintain that a, school placed anywhere else would be absolutely useless to Porth ? Mr. Davies: I cannot answer that ques- tion until we know where you are going to build it. Dr. Thomas said that he suggested making a similar offer of the Pentre Higher Elementary School to the County Council two years ago as was now done at Porth. The Chairman asked the deputation whether they were aware that out of 347 children now attending the Forth Higher 'Sch Elementary School, 107 came from Mid- Rhonada. Mr. J. Davies: Trealaw and Dinas are not in Mid-Rhondda. (Cries of Oh!" and Are they in Forth ? ") The Chairman further said that only 95 attended the County School from Porth, Trehafod and Cymmer, whilst over 100 came from Mid-Khondda. He said they should look at this matter from a general and not from a local standpoint. If an- other secondary school were built at Porth, it would be simply a waste of money. What they wanted as an Education Com- mittee was to make this school, which had been built for secondary purposes, to earn secondary grants. As far as the question of site was concerned, they had the power to make sites available, ixe asked them whether it was not right to consider this from a general standpoint, rather than let local matters come in? There was no reason why Mid-Rhondda. children should go to Porth-more than that Forth children should go to Mid-Rhondda. Mr. J. Davies: We are prepared to give Mid-Rhondda the same facilities as Porth. Dr. Thomas All that the Education Committee has done so far is to transfer this school, which was built for secondary purposes, to secondary work, and give it a higher grant earning power. Mr. Davies: The school was built, not for secondary purposes, but for higher elementary purposes. Councillor R. S. Griffiths asked Mav Thompson, as an old schoolmaster whether a school building, put up and equipped at one-third greater expense in order to render it applicable for secondary work, would have been necessary for ele- mentary work, or whether he thought it necessary to keep that portion idle and waste it upon elementary education? Mr. Thompson was at a loss to answer this question, and Councillor Griffiths this ques repeated it in another way. "Do you think that a physical laboratory is a part of the equipment of a higher elementary school? Mr. Thompson replied this was a pro- gressive age, and what might have been held to be unnecessary in a school years ago, was a part and parcel of the ordinary equipment to-day. Councillor Griffiths: Do you think that a higher elementary school can teach science ? Mr. Thompson: I will leave that to the lawyers (laughter). In reply to another question, Mr. Thompson said that the Council had already gone to a large expense in building this school, and in order to accomplish tne same work as was now done in that school they would have to go to the same expense again. (Ckies of No, no "). Mr. Thompson sought to maintain his position by saying that prices of sites, &c., had gone up since the erection of the Forth Higher Elementary School. The Chairman: Supposing it cost us £ 11,000 to build that school six years ago, you say it will cost much more now. In that case, is it not a reason in favour of what we are now doing? If a secondary school is to 00 built at Porth, it will cost much more than £ 11,000. The time has now arrived when the facilities which this school possesses should be utilised. It was proposed to build a school for the same purpose for much more than £ 11,000. What we suggest is that all this money, instead of lying idle, should earn the higher grants. Our scheme is the cheaper way of attaining the object of making Plroper -.provision.. Mr. J. Davies: We don't want to trade with our -school as merchandise. The Chairman Pardon me, Mr. Davies, The Chairman: Pardon me, Mr. Davies, it is the duty of everyone on this Council to look how the money of the ratepayers is being expended. We want to pay our way here. I wanted you to bring one single argument against our proposal; we haven't had one yet. Mr. J. T. Jones said they were very strongly impressed at Porth with the difficulty the Council would have in obtain- ing a, suitable site, and therefore the cost of the new school would be as great as the present one. He wanted to know whether the Council would get the land before disposing of this school. The Chairman replied that they had been able to buy school sites at Porth cheaper than at any other place in the Valley. Dr. Thomas further remarked that with regard to the alleged overcrowding at the Higher Elementary School, 75 of the chil- dren were put there as an overplus from the Cymmer Elementary School. Councillor R. S. Griffiths asked whether the deputation were aware that the higher elementary school was to be replaced by another higher elementary school? Mr. John Hughes (checliweigher), in his reply, referred to a compromise," where- upon Dr. Thomas said that he objected to the word compromise." There was no com- promise at all, and at the meeting when this was discussed, the member for Cymmer did not think it worth while to be present. The Clerk said that one of the con- ditions made to the County Council was that the sale was not to talse place until the children of Porth had been properly provided for. Councillor R. S. Griffiths asked what information was before the meetings when they passed those strong resolutions, and whether it was explained to them that what the Council had to do before the end of this month was to satisfy the Board of Education that a scheme for higher elementary and secondary education and the proper housing of the pupil teachers of the district had been prepared. Mr. Davies: How could we, when we did not know the scheme. Councillor Griffiths: And if you were aware that henceforth we are to be respon- sible for the elementary and secondary education and the training of pupil teachers, would you have considered it on a different basis? Me. Davies: Certainly not. We adhere to our school, and we will fight for our school. Councillor Thos. Griffiths: And quite right, too. Councillor Dd. Smith asked Mr. Thomp- son whether the deputation would be satisfied with a promise from the Council tnat a, higher elementary school would be built at Forth? Mr. Thompson That is like buying a pig in a poke. This concluded the business of the depu- tation, but before withdrawing, Mr. Thompson stated that there was a desire on the part of some members of the depu- tation to hear the discussion, and asked whether they would be allowed to do so. The Chairman said that he never received such an application before, and he was afraid that it could not be granted. Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. J. T. Jones, thereupon thanked the Committee and withdrew. Eventually, however, three or four members of tne deputation were allowed to remain during the discussion, and were by no means the least interested. The following scheme, drawn up by the Secondary Education Sub-Committee, was thereupon submitted to the meeting: — (1) That the Porth Higher Elementary School be transferred to the County Council upon terms with a view to its becoming the girls' school of the Porth County School under the intermediate scheme; (2) that, a higher elementary school be erected in the vicinity of Porth; (3) that a secondary school be erected in the upper portion of the Rhondda. Fach; (4) that a higher elementary school be erected at Tonypandy for the Mid- Rhondda district (5) that the Pentre Higher Elementary School be converted into a secondary school, with a centre for for the training of pupil teachers attached thereto under the regulations of the Board of Education (6) that the premises of the old Higher Grade School at Pentre, when renovated, be temporarily utilised for higher elementary school purposes. Councillor Thos. Griffiths moved that the word vicinity in sub section 2 be substituted by the word at." That, in his opinion, would remove any grievance, and, on behalf of his constituency, he was prepared to accept it. Councillor W. T. Davies seconded. The Chairman said he could not accept that. Their object was to acquire a site which would meet with the requirements of the district. The school would be built in the most convenient spot for the dis- trict that would be provided for. Councillor Thos. Griffiths said that lie looked at the question as a whole, for the reason that they had provided for other parts of the district, and he asked them to be good enough to accept his amend- ment. Councillor J. D. Williams said that as one interested in Tonypandy, he would be satisfied if it was stated that the school would be built in the vicinity of Tony- pandy. Councillor Wight asked what was meant by Porth ? Councillor Griffiths: Hannah Street does not constitute Porth. Dr. Thomas: Nor does the Porth Hotel (laughter). Councillor Griffiths said that the dis- trict would extend from Ynyshir to Tre- hafod. Councillor Wight: As far as that goes, neither the Higher Elementary School nor the County School are at Forth. The Chairman said they ought to look at the question from a broader standpoint. He believed they should be fair all round and not look at it in such a narrow spirit. Councillor Griffiths said they did not look at it in a narrow spirit. They, looked at it from the standpoint of the greatest good for the greatest number. The Chairman: The situations of, the four schools must be guided as a whole, and not taken in sections. Councillor Wight said that the depu- tation had stated there were no available sites at Forth, and, therefore, they were bound to have the school in the "vicinity" of Porth. Furthermore, by narrowing the position down, there was a danger (If being placed in the hands of one landlord. Councillor. Griffiths said that with regard to the question of site, there were eight landlords at Poi-th, and surely they would be able to have a site from one of these. If they substituted "at" instead of vicinity," he would undertake to find a site. Councillor D. R. Jones moved that the sub-section should read: —" That a higher elementary school be erected at Forth or in the vicinity thereof," and that sub- section 4 should read:—"That a higher elementary school be erected at Tonypaaidy or in the vicinity thereof." Councillor J. D. Williams said that he was quite prepared to accept the "vicinity" of Tonypandy, and he would, be sorry to ask anyone to accept anything which he was not prepared to accept himself. Councillor Tom Harris thought it would be a hardship to the children of the Rhondda Fach if the school was ^aken up higher in the Rhondda. Fawr than the present school. He moved a motion that