NEW HIGH SCHOOL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 November 1928, Page 6

NEW HIGH SCHOOL.

OPENED AT OPUNAKE.

ADVANCE IN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

Aii advance in the educational life of the town and district of Opunake was marked yesterday when, in the presence of a very large and representative assembly ol people from all over South Taranaki, the Hon. O. J. Hawken. Minister of Agriculture and member for the district, performed the official opening ceremony of the recently erected District High School. Mr G. H. Hutton, chairman of the school committee presided, and associated with him were the Hon. 0. J. Hawken, Mr A. J. Breman, chairman of the Opunake Town Board, Mr S. G. Smith, chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, and Mr A. Lees and Dempsey, members of the board. Among others present were Messrs T. P. Hughson, chairman of the Harbour Board, C. H. Moore, architect, and H. \V. Insull, secretary of the Taranaki Education Board. Apologies were received from Messrs P. j. H. White, W. H. Jones and H. J. Eaves, members of the board.

Before the ceremony commenced a bouquet was presented to Mrs Hawken by Nellie Perry, one of the girls of the school. In extending a hearty welcome to the minister, the chairman of "the school committee, Mr G. H. Hutton, said that for several years past efforts had been made to secure the school building, not only for their educational needs, but also to serve a rallying point for “the senior pupils of the district.” There had been many difficulties to overcome, before the question of site was solved by an exchange of half arP acre near the centre of the town and the nine acres surrounding the school. He wished to publicly thank Mr S. G. Smith, chairman of the Education Board for Ms help in the matter. He had been able to bring the two bodies, the Domain Board and Education Board together, and to effect the exchange. Mr Brennan, chairman of the Domain Board said that the work had taken a long time, but the school committee was to be congratulated on the result which would be a great asset to the whole community. Mr Smith, chairman of the Education Board, expressed his pleasure in being associated with the minister in the ceremony, on what was a red letter day for Opunake and district. The board did not nowadays pretend to strive so much for architectural beauty as for buildings that would provide good ventilation, sunshine and healthy conditions for tne children. Those conditions all would agree, were achieved in the new school.

Ho referred to the first endeavour made in 1906 by Mr A. Gray, now of Hawera High School, to secure a site. There bad been a difficulty in making the Education Department realise that Opunake was suited to be a manual centre where children could obtain training q! the standard as at other centres. But they now had the consummation of much effort and it was largely due to the public spirit of the Opunake Town Board that difficulties had been removed. The vsehool and manual training centre cannot succeed without the loyal support of all. and he emphasised that it was the duty of parents to realise that the type of education to be secured was as good as could be obtained in any large centre. In this respect Taranaki had nothing to be ashamed of in the results secured and be quoted figures showing that the province had the highest percentage of passes for proficiency of any district in the Dominion, 89.7 per cent, of the pupils of Standard VI. The lowest percentage in the Dominion was 75 ; 0 per cent. The average age of pupils in Standard VI was as low as that of any Oiher district, bringing the average tor all classes was the highest, showing that the children in Taranaki entered school when they were older, but inacle more rapid, progress, proving that they were brighter or the teacheds were better He urged the children to be loyat to their teachers and their school. There was a beautiful school in fine surroundings and he hoped they would make erforts to beautify the grounds of • the school. He wished the school all possible success in the future.

MINISTER’S SPEECH

The Hon. O. J. Hawken congratulated all concerned on the opening of the new school. Opunake, lie knew, had been waiting a long time to obtain a high school with good facilities lor its boys and girls. He realised that the board did not now go in for architectural effect, and impressed on all that the main objects of education were to lit the pupils to succeed in life and to make them better men and women. He realised l tliat tbe distiict had been handicapped in the past, probably because the Education Department considered tl\e population too small; but now childreii bad as good a chance to get the best education as those in any other place. Tbe department wished children to be kept at school as long as possible, but lie would urge upon all pupils that hard work was necessary, perhaps more so than they realised. He urged _ all pupils to be thorough in their work, and told them that in liis capacity as head of a great department he had to examine the qualifications of applicants for positions. Ho was amazed to find that this lack of thoroughness was very evident, and often prevented a man getting a good position. It was certain that in the future, even more than in the past, a good education was going to be well worth while. He referred to tbe sacrifices made in former years by tbe Scottish people to secure education for their children, and the Scottish people were known as the best educated in the world. He feared that the fact of. not having to make sacrifices made New Zealanders fail to fully realise the value of education.

AGRICULTURAL BIAS

The Minister referred to the need of education with an agricultural bias, and said that this was necessary in such a district as this. For many years efforts had been made to secure an agricultural college, but now one was being established. He had recently finalised the details of the scheme and scholars were already there. He believed there would be a better opportunity for Taranaki children to secure places there than in any other district. There were endowments for educational purposes in this district, and these should be used to assist students to that college, and lie believed education could bo secured to effect that end. Agricultural education was more necessary than ever, for it was realised that there was just as much need for a farmer to be Avell educated as for any other man. He hoped the high school would he a stepping stone to the Massey College as well as to others. The Government had never lacked enthusiasm in the furthering of education, and he quoted figures showing that in 1912 £1 Is 5d per capita was spent on education, while last year the amount was !£2 12s Id, more than double. He considered' it was money well spent, and no one with any sense

would begrudge the expense. There! had been half a million spent in school 5 buildings during the year In Tara-| naki nearly®all the schools had been» renovated, remodelled or rebuilt. 5 This day, though long in coming, marked the consummation of the efforts made to secure a better school, and he congratulated the district and | the people. He had the greatest pleasure in declaring the school open, and hoped it would go ahead and be of great value to the community. In thanking the Minister for his presence and assistance, the chairman paid a great tribute to Mr. T. J. Mildenhall and Mr. A. F. Hineh, former chairmen for long periods, and all former members of the committees who had done all the spade work. The Minister added that they had a fine site rouni;! the school, and urged those interested to take a part in improving the grounds, because space for sport and recreation was nearly as necessary as good teachers and good schools.' He assured the people that the .Government was prepared to assist. VISITORS ENTERTAINED.

After tile ceremony the visitors inspected the buildings, and were afterwards entertained at afternoon tea, prepared and served by teachers and pupils of the cookery class.

THE BUILDINGS DESCRIBED

Standing on a fine area of nine acres and commanding an unrivalled view of the mountain and surrounding district, the school buildings are excellently situated. There are three class rooms, one 23ft by 23ft for secondary work; one 23ft by 30it, combined science and class room, witli a well-equipped preparation 100111 12ft by 6ft alongside; and there is also the cookery room, 30ft by 2Sft. All the rooms are. attractively finished, the ceilings being of corrugated steel, painted white, while the walls are panelled in fiveply. This is painted in dark tints to dado height, and thereafter in light' colouring and relieved by stained battens. The building is heated throughout by hot water circulation. Ihe science room is well equipped with the necessary benches, etc., while the cookery room is also, fitted up with clipboards, shelves, sinks, etc., ana, most important of all, a huge double oven high pressure range. The cookery room is entered by a. separate door, this being necessary, as the room will be used for manual instruction. I he. classrooms are equipped with the hanging blackboards. The woodwork room from the old school lias also been moved oil to the side, and the moveable room which accommodates the fifth and sixth standards is also to be erected on the site, so that the whole of the upper school will he under the direct supervision of the master, Mr. Yv, H. Burgess, who has attached to the secondary department Mr. A. G. Caigou and Miss Scarrow. The lower classes, which are also under the control of’ Mr. Burgess, will be conducted as usual at the primary school building some distance away. 1 The paths at the back part of the ground round the school have been concreted, and ample provision has been made for drainage facilities. An interesting drawing on one of the boards was the school coat of. arms in green and navy blue, the original work of two scholars, showing tree ferns and Maori canoe, and under it the school motto: “Ut prosim patriae (“That I may be of service to my country”). . „ The present committee consists of Messrs G. H. Hutton (chairman), R. Walker A. Raynor (hon. sec.), H. Da,vey,'F. Loesch, R. Dalrymple, and Dr. Watt. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Minister and party were entertained at the Opunake Hotel at dinner.