SEPARATE SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 24, 30 January 1933, Page 7

SEPARATE SCHOOLS

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

BIRTH OF GIRLS' COLLEGE

An interesting and Important episode in the history of secondary education in Wellington was the decision to give separate tuition to boys "and girls in separate schools; this of course . implied the establishment of- a Girls' High School as a separate institution. From early records if appears that the combined boys' and girls' classes we're, held in .the Wellington Boys' College from 1879 to 1881, when Mr. Kenneth Wilson was principal of. the ' college. In the report of the Reorganisation Committee presented to the board meeting on 10th January, 1879, by the Reverend James Paterson, convener of the committee, the following recommendation was made: "The committee has had before them the urgent necessity of making pro- ' vision for the higher education of girls, .and would; recommend that steps be taken as soon as possible to establish ' a Girls' High School in Wellington, and meanwhile, and until this is done, it may be a question pii- the Governors .to consider whether they should not provide that advanced girls maybe admitted at certain hours to receive instruction from the masters in some of the branches-taught in . the college." This recommendation was considered " at' a meeting held on sth February, 1579, and the following resolution was passed:— 'fThat pending the conveyance to . "the Governors of the lands to be 'set .apart as an endowment for the.Girls' , High School, girls should be permitted to. attend tho extra classes upon pay- ■ ment of the usual fees." ■The Hon. William Gisborne, the Reverend J. Paterson, and Mr. W. Hutchison were set up as a-committee on 21st February, 1879, to consider the question of the Girls' High School, and as-a result, girls were admitted in cer- • tain hours to receive tuition. At a meeting of the board on 10th - May, 1882, it was decided that a report be prepared by the chairman andspcretary to present to the Government stating that as there was no high school *in "Wellington an Act was passed im- . on the boards'the duty of .establishing such a school, but pointing but that the means were not given by which this might be done. - They pointed out that they had tried to meet , '. this need for girls' education by having classes for girls at the boys' college, but.it was found that the staff could not manage such classes in addition.to ' the other work of the college, and so they were discontinued. At a meeting of the board on 15th June,'lßß2, it.''was reported by the Rev. J. Paterson that the building in Abel - Smith7street,..lately occupied by Mr. Bowden's school, could bo obtained at a rental, of £85 with furniture, and as a result the board leased the building at that rental for a three years' term,' with the right of renewal. The position of lady principal was advertised; and Miss Hamilton was appointed at a : board meeting held on 9th October, .1882.'.. The Wellington _ Girls' High School is now in its fiftieth year, and the event is being celebrated this •week.