HALKETT SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26129, 3 June 1950, Page 4

HALKETT SCHOOL

EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED

“I hope that no teacher at this school will be guilty of trying to dissuade any child here from a rural life. There is no pursuit in this country, or perhaps in any country, more honourable than farming,” said Mr J. K. McAlpine, M.P., proposing the toast to the school at the eightieth anniversary celebrations of the Halkett School yesterday. The mddern trend seemed to be for fewer and fewer children to attend the Halkett School, .Mr McAlpine said. Consolidation would inevitably absorb Halkett unless it could keep up its roll. Taking the children away from the district school tended to take them away from the land in after life, the speaker continued.

“I would like to see more and more Canterbury children educated in their own district, and remaining in it. In this way the school would achieve a great objective in the community,” he added.

Good wishes and an apology for absence were received from the Prime Minister (Mr Holland), whose parents were both pupils at the Halkett School.

The school itself has changed little in the 80 years of its existence. The original building is still in use, although it has been converted from two rooms into one large room. Firstdecade pupils recall that nearly 90 pupils used to attend the school. The roll number has now dropped to 12.

“The old settlers all had big families,” observed one old pupil, as an explanation of the drop in the roll number.

Halkett was the only school for many miles in the early days of the district. Mr D. Gillariders, one of the first decade pupils, who was present at the celebrations and now lives at Darfield, recalls walking five miles through the tussock to school each day. “There were no motorcars to meet you at the school gate in those days,” he said. “I think the children learn better to-day. We were tired to death before we started.” Mr William Watson, who now lives at Sheffield, is also a first decade pupil who was present yesterday. He is one of a family of eight, who all attended the Halkett School. No other members of his family have settled in the district. Speaking of the energy of some of the early settlers Mr Watson recalled how a friend of his had walked from Halkett into Christchurch one day, bought a pair oi shoes for his daughter, and walked home. The shoes did not fit, so the next day he again walked into Christchurch, exchanged the shoes and walked home.

Mr William Frederick Turner attended the school 75 years ago. His seven children and most of his grandchildren have also been pupils. One grandchild is at present attending the school. Mr Turner, who is now 81 years of age, farmed in the district until 20 years ago, and is now living in Riccarton.

Other first decade pupils who attended the celebrations were Mr George Stewart and Mrs L. Anderson, formerly Miss Louisa Griffith. Mrs Anderson cut the birthday cake, on which were inscribed the names of all past teachers and past chairmen of committees of the school.

Most of the old pupils say there has been little change in- the appearance of the school. It still stands in the two acres of ground which were originally given for it. The headmaster s old house is still on the property. It has now been converted into a hall, and is used as a meeting place for various organisations in the district. The system of education has perhaps changed rather more. One former pupil recalled that school in her day consisted of lessons, scripture, and cane, with emphasis on the cane. Many former pupils can recall the first headmaster, Mr Cheyne. Mrs Cheyne was the infant mistress. The school is now a sole charge school, with Mr A. R. Whitty as schoolmaster.

Former teachers who were present yesterday included Messrs H. Lock and A. R. Whitty. and Mesdames A. H. Sandrey. R. McLintoek B. Evison and E. M. Ward.