RANGIORA SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20989, 18 October 1933, Page 16

RANGIORA SCHOOL

SIXTY YEARS' HISTORY DIAMOND JUBILEE THIS MONTH The diamond jubilee celebrations of the Rangiora District school will be held at the end of this month, beginning on the afternoon of Saturday, October 28, with a civic reception of former pupils and a roll-call and speeches of welcome in the school grounds. The celebrations will last over a period of four days. The education of their- children was one of the earliest cares of the settlers in Eangiora. in the year 1857 a school was opened by Mrs D. Doggett, with an attendance of 12 pupils. Later came other private schoois. Miss Gulliver in 1858 opened a school in a building erected by the Church of England autnoriiies for church purposes, and a year later tne D'ree Mecnodists began a school in their chapel building, mainly through the entnusiasm ox Mr G. Booth, lather of Mr G. T. Booth, of Christchurch. Mr J. Cumberwortb, who was the first master of this school, later became headmaster of the Colombo Road school in Christchurch, now known as Sydenham school. About the same period there were two other private schools, taught by Mrs E. Good and Mrs W. H. Percival. Canterbury Association's School.

In January, 1830, a school was opened under the Canterbury Association's educational scheme in the Church of England meeting room, which was enlarged for the purpose. This scheme provided for four grammar schools, and three had already been established, one at Lyttelton, one in Christchurch, and another at Kaiapoi. Mr Charles Merton was the first headmaster at Rangiora, and for two vears he and Mrs Foster taught about 70 boys and girls. In 1863 the boys and girls were separated into individual schools, the girls being taught by Miss Hicks, who was engaged in England for the purpose. When Mr Merton resigned in 1870 to open a school of his own on his farm at "Melford," near Rangiora, Mr C. G. Chapman was; appointed his successor. On August 27, 1872. a memorial was received by the Canterbury Education Board from 47 Rangiora residents asking that steps should be taken to establish a school district at Rangiora, as there were 65 boys and 65 girls on the roll of the Church of England grammar school. The Education Ordinance, 1873, was passed by the Provincial Council and came into force on July 1 of that year. Under this ordinance grants to denominational schools were discontinued and provision was made to establish district schools. First School Committee. The people of Rangiora lost no time in taking advantage of the ordinance, and steps were immediately taken to elect a school committee. At the public meeting held for the purpose, presided over by Mr H. Blackett, 25 nominations were received. The elected members were:—The Rev. Canon B. \V. Dudley. Captain D'Auvergne, Messrs H. Blackett, R. Anderson, J. Johnston, S. Stephens, J. Luxton, T. Keir, and A. Cunninghan. Mr Blackett was elected chairman. The committee at once began to look for a site for the school. Those in charge of the various denominational schools were asked whether they were willing to hand them over to the committee, and on what conditions. On September 2. 1873, the Education Board sanctioned the renting of the church school, furniture and master's house, at £4O a year for the boys' school, and the Methodist Chanel at £lO a year for the girls'. The request of Mr Chaoman, headmaster of the boys school, that he should be continued in office under the new arrangement was granted, and Mrs H. Reeves (formerly Miss Hicks) was annointed to take charge of the girls' school. Four acres of land were purchased from Mr W. Sansom for a school site, at a cost of £3OO, and nlans of a building to accommodate 300 children, at a cost of £ISOO were prepared. On October b the committee reported that there were in the district 245 children between the ages of six and 14. The Opening Day. On October 13 the boys* school was opened, with a roll of between 70 and 80, and the girls' with about 40. The first committee was apparently only provisional, as under the provincial ordinance the statutory annual election was fixed for October 21. The original committee was then re-elected, with the exception that Mr R. Ahearne replaced Mr R. Anderson, who had lett the district. Mr A. H. Cunningham was appointed chairman, and held tnat position for 12 years. Mr H. W. D. Watkins was apoointed assistant master at the school. At this stage definite steps were taken toward the erection of permanent school buildings. Members of the committee were concerned about tne need to keep the boys' and girls departments separate, and although n was decided to keep them under one roof a condition was made that boys and' girls should enter the school grounds by different gates and generally be kept strictly apart . while, it was even suggested that a high brick wall should be put up to. divide the playground. When the curriculum was discussed the chairman suggested that geology and astronomy should be included as he knew of "nothing better to el-vate the mind." This was approved by the committee.

Permanent Buildings. The new school, which was ready for use on August 1, 1874, was erected S a cost of £1235 by Messrs Boyd and Keir. the headmaster's residence heme- built at a cost of £4lO by Mr J J Robinson. Mr Keir resigned his ©lace on the committee and Mr Jonathan Bell was elected. The ordinance provided that the householders should provide one-sixth of the cost of buildafter the opening of the school Mr Chapman resigned the head, mastership and was by Mr E. Watkins,. who resigned irMW77 to become pnncioal of the j.eac.nei» Training Colloge in Christchurch. At t£ "me tto-Mr Alfred Merton was SpoS'assistant. Wto Mr Wj Vin= left his place was taken by. Mr j 1 G. L Scott, who taught at Bangiora for five before to become headmaster of the Christcnurcn Fast school. In 1878 the large attendance of infants made it necessary to build an extra class-room, and Miss Sarah Kitchingham was appointed the first infant mistress By this tuns the position of headmistress of the gir s department had been successively filled bv Mrs Reeves, Miss L. A. ruadel! Mrs Mary Colclough, and Mrs Anges Scott (n e e Robinson) (18771881). Boys' and Girls' Departments, Until 1878 the school had separate departments for the boys and the girls, although the Education Board's inspector Mr J. P Restell, was in favour of mixed classes on the score of economy 2nd efficient teaching. When the school committee, with the approval of the board, took preliminary steps to reorganise on these lines a storm of protest was aroused in the district by a section of the community, led by Arcndeacon Dudley. Eighty petitioners demanded a oublic meeting, to discuss the proposal, and when this was held a large maiority declared themselves th» reorganisation. However. ±he Education Board stepped in and converted the school into a mixed one without much onpo<=Hion. Miss Rob- " snson, who was then headmistress, shortly p-PWwards married Mr Scott, th° headmaster. , , - At the first annual orize-glving of the school the priz* list included the following names:—■wdwm Wilson, Eugene W. J. Bourke, Mary Bartrum (Mrs R. Robinson), Fanny Stephens (Mrs H. Jones), Alice Bartrum

(Continued in last column.).

(Mrs Flaus), and Daisy Shrimpioa (Mrs J. R. Connor). Of the 10 successive headmasters of the school three have already been named. The others were:—H. EGoodeve, 1882-1884; F. J. Cumberworth, 1885-1897; T. W. Ambrose, 189S--1921; G. M. Boyce, 1922-1923; B. A. McKeown, 1924-1928 (also assistantmaster 1911-1913); F. W. Garland, 1929-1931; and the present master, Mr J. T. Stephens, who was appointed W April, 1932. For the year during W McKeown's absence in England Mr a. English had charge of the school. After the first four headmistresses Miss Ann Kitchingham, 1882-1885, anj Miss Mary Taylor, 1886-1906, occupjM that position until it was abolished ra 1906, since when the second in charge at the school has been a male assisThe successive chairmen foU°J*!f Mr Cunningham have been:—H. uoy > 1885-1892; C. I. Jennings 1892-94. »; Ball, 1896-97; J. Marshall, 1897-19«> C. W. Bell, 1903-06; the Rev. F. P. ff» dall, 1906-07; H. Boyd, 1907-12; W. JW Cruer, 1912-13; F. B. Lane, J.SI3-W. £ A. Archdall, 1918-24; C. W. Tyler. 1924-32; and C. J. Smith, the preset chairman, who took office in «»"< Though additions were i«» throughout the years, the bigg» k change to the school was maae 1928, when it was remodelled on ' open-air system. Most of the old tw of the buildings, that had done duty for 55 years, was demolished aious with the master's and sidences, and in its place six iff 'J date separate classrooms of trie w air bungalow type were put «& dlngs remaining portion of the old btnWWg, was remodelled to make two open rooms and a separate office was > & vided for the headmaster. In &* dental clinic was established. Jubilee Programme. The full programme of the jubuee celebrations is as follows:- qia Saturday, October 28, 2 pjn.-_ ¥ pupils* and former teachers r eul " tbe . roll call, ana photographs ax October .28, 630 P-*- : Jubilee banquet in Drill Han. _ tOJf Sunday, October 29, 2 p.m ; »% L drive for old pupils leaves the sen Sunday, October 29, 8.15 runbined church service m tne Hall DeMonday. October 30, 10.30 corated procession leaves tne =*jjt 12.30 p.m.: Free luncheon to &*£. pupils in the Parish Hall, t Sports and drill dispky W w punils in Dudley Park. &*» v Jubilee ball in Drill Hall. Con . Tuesday. October 31 cent in Town Hall by preset former pupils.