KARORT WEST SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1932, Page 5

KARORT WEST SCHOOL

OFFICIALLY OPENED

The new primary school at Karori West (near Karori'Park)-was officially opened yesterday afternoon by Mr.'X. A. "Wright, M.P. Others ' present inelided Mr. T. Forsyth (chairman of the .Wellington Education Board), members of the board, members of the School Committee, ana Mr. H. Atmore, M.P. Mr. H. F. Arrowsmith, chairman of the School Committee, Who presided, said that the opening of the school marked an epoch in the district. There wore 90 pupils at present, and he had no doubt that with the growth of the district extra accommodation would be necessary at no very distant date. ;te Forsyth said, that -it was Jhe duty of the board to anticipate the growth of a district. A, great deal of time had been spent in selecting the site, and the one that had been chosen -vvas generally accepted as being ideal. He was of the opinion that Karori West had a big future, and 'that in time there would be a very large ejshooV there. t Mr. Atmore, who was Minister of Education when the site ,was> secured, said that there had been ■ a good' deal of talk lately in regard to expenditure on education, and he wanted.tb impress on parents and others that too inucn could not bo spent on developing facilities for the education of'the girls and boys". If there was any interference ■with secondary education we would revert f o the conditions that existed prior to the time when Seddon threw open the doors ,of the secondary schools to the children of those who had small incomes. He never missed the opportunity of pointing out something that was more expensive than education, and that was ignorance. Mr. Atmore drew a comparison between the cost of the war to New Zealand and the cost of educating children,at primary and.-^seg-' -ondai7:sch6qls,';a'ndv.e^rysßißd:the-!opm-' ion that we wanted more education; not less. Mr. Wright traced the early history of the school in Karori, and spoke of the growth of both school and district. The Education Department and the board considered' that no further additions should be made, but that-a new'school should be built somewhere in the; vicinity of the tramway terminus. 'The board decided'to erect a three-room school, and-'the cost-of the building, plus the > ground- improvements, was over £2000. The plans allowed for three, more rooms, an entrance hall, and teachers' room. : After Mr. Wright declared the school open, the scholars and visitors assembled out of doors, ana the Union Jack was hoisted.

Auckland,