OLD PUPILS’ REUNION

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 11 June 1932, Page 6

OLD PUPILS’ REUNION

SCHOOL WORK INSPECTED

AIODERN METHODS OF TUITION

The Manaia State school was en fete yesterday afternoon when many old pupils and visitors were entertained by present pupils at a reunion and display of various forms of handiwork. Shortly after one o’clock a. large crowd assembled on the lawn in bright sunshine for an outdoor exhibition of ;drills, -poi dances and hakas and addresses of welcome were given by the headmaster and chairman of the school committee. The school buildings were bedecked with flags and the scene was an animated one as the crowd moved through the main entrance to the various class rooms. Blue and yellow streamers formed a canopy overhead and the walls were adorned with masses of foliage. The display of work was one of great variety and demonstrated to okl pupils that the methods of teaching had changed considerably since their day at school. Under the headmaster (Mr. J. Browning) stress is laid on “objective” teaching. Each lesson is made interesting to the children with illustraobjects, thus associating the knowledge to be assimilated with concrete example. In one room a great number of posters and views from the Australian , Tourist Department and a view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge created a more definite and lasting impression than a purely vocal description. In this manner the spoken word is supplemented and its effectiveness enhanced. One room was devoted to New Zealand industries and was an education even to the adult visitors. In- addition a display of posters depicting British industries was a direct appeal for the purchase of Emprie goods. The encouragement of health was illustrated by posters and slogans and the teaching was supplemented by practical demonstrations of cooking, balanced meals and personal cleanliness.

Canadian life and the Canadian National Railways were illustrated by a very fine set of posters and photographs which brought a realisation of the extent of our sister Dominion. There were many admirers of a New Zealand section of natural history. The meat, wool and dairying industries were outlined with a wealth of geographical and other data. The Maori race was the subject of a series of studies with carvings, objects of interest and models and sketches.

Representations of autumn and winter were given in separate rooms and the character of each season was symbolised in a remarkably effective manner. Leaves, were assembled to spell out the word “autumn” across the full length of one wall, while prominently featured in the scene of winter was the snow-capped peak of Alount Egmont. Throughout the school there was ample evidence of the headmaster’s ideal of correlating all branches of work and to keep the students moving up the ladder of knowledge—one of the purposes of the junior high school system. In this system there was no

“break” from one standard to the next, the children showing greater advancement than under the .old system of hard and fast methods in which the child was made to fit the course rather than the course made to fit the child.

In the secondary department there were displays of scientific work—practical chemistry, hygiene, cookery, woodwork and drawing. One drawing depicted in black and white the evolution of warships, another of the old A.C. tower at Alanaia, and a third the treaty of AVaitangi. Others depicted the growth of fungus, the massiveness of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Alanaia old pupils’ roll of honour. Considerable ability on the part of one student depicted the evolution of illumination from the candle to the electric light. Among the Alaori carvings and curios were fine collections loaned for the occasion by Air. H. El. Lloyd and Miss AI. Hastie, the exhibits also including a life-size imitation of a snake 30 feet long which had been worked in coloured beads by Turkish prisoners during the Great AVar. \ T isitors were particularly interested in a valuable garden attached to the school, from which vegetables used ini the cooking classes are obtained. There were also several trial plots with mangold crops under observation and test and a forestries section.

For sport the school is equipped with no fewer than five basketball grounds, two football fields and two tennis courts. During the afternoon several matches were played. DRILLS AND HAKAS. A special display of hakas, poi dances and drills was given by organised classes,' while the importance of Dr. Renfrew AVliite’s methods of physical culture were demonstrated by a large class of boys and girls under Air. E. G. Crossman. At the conclusion of the display the chairman of the school committee (Air. T. A. Bridge) welcomed the visitors and expressed his pleasure at the large attendance.

An eloquent address was given by Air. Browning, who said that the occasion was unique in the history of the school. Tradition had been laid by the first headmaster (Rev. AATlkes), who was a man of sterling character and

high ideals. He was followed by others of similar ideals, and to-day the staff was endeavouring to maintain the very high standard they liad \<et. Visitors would have the opportunity of inspecting tbo work of the school, and he felt that in spite of wliat had been said to the contrary at the jubilee dinner the children were better equipped for the battle of life than ever before. The old teachers had blazed the trail in education and he had every respect for their ability, but the teachers of to-day worked no less hard than their predecessors. The present method was to train the heart as well as the head and to bring out the best that was in the individual. Aloral education and good citizenship were bound together and this was recognised and stressed in school government. Patriotic spirit was used to the full and interest deepened in industrial welfare, reciprocity and sound correlation developed in all teaching work. A tribute was paid to the work of the teachers, especially that of Air. AlcKenzie; who had lately removed from Alanaia and whose place was taken by Mr. Grossman. Following on inspection of school work the old pupils were entertained at afternoon tea by the ladies’ committee. A birthday cake was cut by Aliss C. Mitchell, one of. the first pupils, and afterwards reminiscences of the early days were, exchanged by various speakers,

SERVICE TO AIOTOiRISTS. The service officer (Mr. J. McKee) of the South Taranaki Automobile Association, who has been on duty at Alanaia each day of the jubilee celebrations, reports that no feweij than 775 cars were in Alanaia on W ednesday and over 200 on Thursday. He was assisted in the controlling _ and parking of vehicles Dy Mr. J. Wilson and they were also- stationed in the Octagon on Wednesday evening and again last evening directing traffic. Service was given to about nine motorists in difficulties.