RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17429, 13 April 1922, Page 11

RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL.

NEW BUILDING OPENED, I The fine new Rangiora Hijjh School, a handsome structure in red brick, with white, stone facings, was officially opened yesterday afternoon by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, in the presence of a large gathering of adults and cluldren. Mr W. A. Banks (chairman of tho Board of Governors) said it was a pleasure to have tho High School opened after so ;many years of waiting. He traced the events leading up to tho erection of the new school, and then went on to speak of tho work of the school, laying special emphasis on the good work done by the principal, Mr Strachan, to whom, he said, tho success of the school was_ due in a very large measure. Professor Shelley had'said that tho school was tho most up-to-date ho had met with in New Zealand. The basis of the school's training was English, but there was vocational training as well. Mr Banks then asked the Minister to declare tho school open. Mr Parr said that his mission that day was an important one, that of formally dedicating the new buildinj; to the greatest purpose any building, with the exception of the house of God, could possess. Upon tho training in the school dejwnded the kind of citizen that tho district was to havo in tho future. The school was quite the most important building in any community. Mr Parr briehy sketched tho history of tho school, paying; a tribute to the worth of Mr Cresswell and Mr Stracban, and congratulating the school on its headmaster and his istaff. Ho thought Mr Strachan was on the right lines, ho said, in educating the children according to their particuar aptitude, and not moulding all boys and girls in tho same matrix. The Minister continued that in 1919 the grants had been made by Sir Francis 801 l which had enabled the school to be built, tho grants amounting to £6960. However, difficulties had arisen, and Sir Francis had agreed that any increased cost in supplies, materials, etc., should be borne by the Department, with the result that another £llOO had been added to the bill. In addition to that, he himself had granted an extra 15 .acres in the interests of the agricultural side of science, which cost another £1575, while £250 had been granted for furnishings. That brought the total up to nearly £9OOO, and no money could have been better invested, and ho was glad to have been the medium by which some of the benefits- had been brought about. There was now a, passion for education, particularly for post primary education, brought about largely by the war. All other things equal, the man with education would always romp homo first. In New Zealand, SO per cent, of tho children went on to the secondary schools, and 75 per cent, of them remained for more than two years. Those figures represented what was probably a world's record. Tho thought often occurred, however, whether we were doing the best for education. Was tho !high school doing the best for tho ©hildrJeirP Peraonally, he thought & school hike tho llangiora High School was the ideal type, a kind of forerunner of the American junior high school. He w T as himself seeking for some- readjustment of tho post-primary coiireo whiefft •would ensure that the child, commencing at 12 years of age, would bo educated along such lines aa suited the natural capacity of each. All did nob want to go into the professions. There were too many going into professions, and what -was'wanted was for the boys ■and girl} to go into jobs that would result in real good to the country. That result could be brought about in tho sdlioois. Many boys and girls wera regarded as dull, and went out into the world, under the present> system, without perhaps ha.ving passed the 4th (standard at the ago of 14 years, but if thos& children were trained according to their own particular aptitudes they might do better in the world than many of those who lhad gono on to the -university. What was essential was to see- that every-boy and girl received a chance. Mr Parr went on to speak of self or auto education, by which the child studied for himselt, lyith the master or instructor as a, sort of director of studios, and h<& romaa•ked• that the Daiton system in England had given much better results than the ordinary system. Education was developing all over the world, and it must not remain still in New Zealand. We must not get it into our heads thai; our system in New Zealand wa« perfect. It was a good sy.-:tem, but it was not a perfect oik!i. Personally, he wished to see 'good, better, and best" education .far the children. That was his policy. In conclusion, he said that if the new school bred good men and women, it would have achieved its | object; it would have done the greatest I work that any school could do. ! Mr Parr then opened the main door of the school, and wished tih© instituall success in the future.

Mr I>: Jones, M.P., said it was a magnificent system which allowed country children to get the befit oi: education without having to go to the towns, as was possible at Rangiora, 'and Mr Parr was to lie congratulated in tho support ho (had given to • schools of that type. Mr Jonas added that, m Mr Parr had said, tho chief object of a school was to tarn out good, men and woman. The Hon. IX Buddo contrasted pres-ent-day schools with those (jjxibting in hia young days. He agreed with the other speakers that the Rangiora High Sdh.oo'l, under Mr Strachan, was being conducted on right linos. Variety of system wa3 a necessity, for no two children were alike; no two came out of the samo mould. In conclusion, Mr Buddo paid a tribute to the work of the heodmai!ter s the staff, and the Board of Governors. Mr R. Ball, for many years a member of tho Board, and its chairman for 13 yeara, said that one of Ms ambitions had been realised by the opening of the new school. Ho referred to an innovation in the school in tho way of a school council, consisting of young people, who, assisted sometimes by the teacher!!, looked after tho various school matters, set'tling various little difficulties, and stated that the scheme was working remarkably well. Mr J. E. Strachan, the headmaster, said that 15 years of experience in country schools" had convinced him that the country child was entitled to as good an education as the city child, and further that it was entitled to a different education. Rural education and rural teaching were quite a special thing, and the Education Department was now beginning to realise that fact. Personally, he thought it was better and ©asier for country children to bo taught amidst their own environment than to teach them in the city. In the Rangiora School they had certain ideals. One was to stop tbo deplorable drift of rural people into the city. Another was to endeavour to make country Jife the best and the most attractive life, and_ to have in the country a public-sipiritedness quite equal to that of the city. In conclusion, Mr Strachan expressed his gratitude to liis staff, who. he said, had stuck to him through all his difficulties and trials^ After the visitors had been entertained at tea, a deputation from the Board of Governors, headod by Mr Banks, aaked for assistance- to pay off various liabilities incurred through the hostels. Mr Banks said thai!; the most pressing; matter was a sum of £450 for furniture, while the total indebtedness amounted to £lB-50. The Board had no funds with which to meet such debts, its only income now being the fee 3 from the" hostel. If the Department could pay for the furniture, tho money could be raised no doubt by means of fetes and ha re-paid to the

Department later. TTh«n the Departmeat took over the management of the salaries, etc., from the Boa*9, tho liabilities were hit standing. Mr Banks also referred to the inadequacy of tho incidental allowance, suggesting that high schools, as well as otheschools, should be graduated as far as the allowance' was concerned. A manager for ihe farm attached to the college was also suggested. The Minister promised that he would consider ihe matters and reply to tho Board shortly. Misses Helen Thomson and Annie-G-arrott, Masters \V. Ilryden and A. Saunders, pupils representing the School Council, brought before the Minister various disabilities regarding the science-room in connexion with domestic science, naturfti science (boys nn.i cirls). and agricultural science. Mr Parr promised that ho would obtai.i report? from the inspectors, and consider the various requests.