THE SCHOOL PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 98, 19 January 1933, Page 25 (Supplement)

THE SCHOOL PROBLEM

Former Efficiency Recovered

EXTENSIVE BUILDING PROGRAMME

Record of Great Achievement

Not the least of the tasks 'which' confronted the authorities in Napier after the earthquake of February 3, 1931, was the reestablishment of the schools, both primary and secondary. Oil February 1, 1931, the primary schools reopened after the summer vacation'With d roll of 2100 children, and an the day of the earthquake 950 secondary and technical school pupils began another year of School work. In beautiful sunny weather the pupils had entered light-heartedly upon their, tasks. In a, few tragic, seconds they saw'their buildings wrecked, many of their comrades injured, and they coidd only wonder in awe at the disaster and ruin which they saw 1 all around them; not only at the ruin of .'their schools, but at the chaos and ruin which- existed in their own homes. It was truly a disastrous coniineiicentent of a -new school year.

EPHE first concern of the authorities was the evacuation of the women and children from Napier, and rhe history of how rapidly and efficiently this was conducted has previously been written. As soon as possible, the children were sent to the schools in the districts where they were temporarily resi--dent. At Palmerston North a large -school was established at the relief camp, and it did much to take the children’s minds off their troubles and to prevent a break in their education. The temporary absence of the children gave the authorities time to take stock of the position, and to make tentative plans for the future. It was soon apparent that the damage to the schools was greater than at first thought. The following summary indicates the extent of the damage:— . Napier Central Primary School (12 rooms, in brick) ' and cNelson Park Primary School (13 rooms, in brick) both damaged to such an extent that complete demolition was necessary . Port _ Ahuriri Primary School (6 rooms, in wood) 'damaged to such an extent as to' be unoccupiable until extensive repairs were effected.

ary school children had been re-enroll-ed. The provision' of temporary school accommodation was successfully accomplished—successfully, at least so far as actual floor space was concerned, although the conditions under which the school work had to be carried out were generally most depressing, and in this connection the utilisation of the Hastings .Street School as the post office was a very sore point. The authorities had a. far greater problem confronting them, however, namely, the permanent restoration of the schools. The question of the reorganisation of the primary school system with the object of establishing an

Napier Technical School (10 rooms, in brick), completely demolished by the ’quake. The new Technical School building, in brick, which was within two weeks of completion, and which was to replace the old Technical School building, was seriously damaged, and had to be demolished. The Girls’ High School, an old wooden building, was badly damaged, and had to be pulled down. The new Gills’ High School building, in brick, was nearly completed, but had to be demolished. The Boys’ High School building, in brick, was severely damaged, and was unoeeupiable , without extensive repairs and strengthening. The Boys’ High School Hostel dormitory building, in brick, was badly damaged; the kitchen and. dining block, in wood, however, suffered little damage. The only two schools which had suffered little damage and which could be reoccupied immediately were the Te Awa primary school (6 rooms, in wood) and Hastings Street primary school (10 rooms, in wood). Unfortunately the Government, without thought to the needs of the children, granted .the use of the Hastings Street School to the Post and Telegraph Department. Hence, of all the school accommodation, either primary or secondary, existing in Napier prior to the ’quake, only six rooms were available. Children Return to School. An early decision was made to reopen the Te Awa school, at which it was expected that all children then in Napier should attend. On February 16, therefore, it threw open its doors for its rightful purpose—it had in the meantime been used by. the "Daily Telegraph” proprietary as its “printingdiouse” .for the issue-of the “Earthquake Bulletins.” Only PS children attended at the reopening, but it was not long before the numbers grew, until at one stage there were 500 children at this school built to accommodate about 300. The children were repatriated in ever-increasing numbers, and temporary buildings, church halls, etc., were used as schools. By the end of the first term (beginning of May) 923 primary school children and 180 seeond-