SPAN OF FIFTY YEARS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 18 November 1932, Page 8

SPAN OF FIFTY YEARS

Whakamara School Jubilee

Golden Anniversary Celebrations

Foundation Work of Early Teachers

A span of 50 years has been completed in the history of the Whakamara School. In actual fact its 50t.1i birthday passed some two years ago and it is due to the initiative of the present master (Mr (-. J. Williams, 8.A.) that this important milestone is being remembered as a boundary of the past and a stepping stone to the bigger and better things of the future. t To-morrow will be a gala day at Whakamara where all who have been associated with the school in the past will share with present day pupils in the festivities that have been arranged in commemoration of this, the'sehool’s golden anniversary. Many and varied will be the reminiscences of the older generation'of settlers who saw the district develop from its primeval and almost isolated state to rich productivity. As the centre of a tableland district overlooking the- lower undulating country of South Taranaki Whakamara at one time was the stronghold of the- Maoris and stirring times well remembered by many followed the white occupationThe life-of the school has not been one of continuous progress, but to-day, under careful administration by a teacher who has his work at heart and by men of the district who have grown with it. the school occupies a proud position, the efficiency of its scholars being the best record of its achievement.

PROM SMALL BEGINNINGS The first, school was a household school opened on October 11, 1880, in the residence of Mr .Adolph Bremer, a. lean-to building which occupied almost the same site as Mr A. E. Langley's present homestead. Mrs Bremer, now over SO years of age and living in New Plymouth, was the first teacher. Thirteen pupils were enrolled and lessons were taught in a long room in which benches nailed around the walls at one end served for desks and long’ forms for seats. The other end of the room served as a kitchen- for the Bremer household and Mrs Bremer varied her duties as a teacher with those of a housewife, cooking the meals in between lessons. None of the children who attended was competent for Std. 11, but when the school inspector, Mr R. Foulis, paid his first visit oa November 2d, a little over a month after classes had commenced, two of the pupils had made sufficient progress to merit a pass into 'Std. I. Ilis report on that occasion- was brief: “The school in all respects is in a very satisfactory state.” In those days prolonged spells of wet weather were frequent and consequently the attendances suffered to such an extent that it was not. unusual for the classroom to remain empty for days at a time. When there was a prospect of bad weather developing during school hours the children often were allowed to go home early, as few possessed overcoats and there was always a danger of streams -flooding and or sections of the road becoming practically impassable. Twelve months after his first visit Mr Poulis again inspected the school when- Id candidates were presented for examination and all passed. Their names were as follow: Std. I, J. Wallace, Kate Malone, Mary Chcevers, Walter Edwards and George Gane; •Std. TI, Mary Malone, Eose Gane, Emily Rolfe, John Wallace and William Edwards. The latter still resides in Whakamara.

signatiou on April 10, 3-BS9, teachers of “aided” schools were not. in the board's service, but were employed bv the school committee. -The Whakamara school district was under the jurisdiction of the Wanganui Education Board until taken over by the, Taranaki Education Board at the end of July, 1916. Apparently the school remained closed for a further period until the appointment of Miss Annie Finn, in January, 1890, when the roll was then 14. A porch was built on to the hall during the year and on November 5 was the first record of a holiday being granted for the Egmorit A. and P. Show at Hawera. Similarly, on March 17 of the next year, the children were given a holiday* to attend tnc -Normandy flower show, an event of outstanding importance. Miss Finn resigned and when Mr Nicholls was reappointed early in 1-892 there were bo-' tween ‘23 and 30 pupils at school.

AIEREAIERE SCHOOL OPENED. Floods in the Pokomoko ‘Gorge, however. still affected the attendance of the Meremerc children who, as yet, did not have a school of their own. At the end of July Mr Nicholls left and Miss Finn- resumed teaching, continuing her duties without a break until the beginning of 1895. On July 2, 1894, the Mcremere School opened, with a consequent drop in the roll numbers at; Whakamara. Miss Eleanor 'Chappie was teacher from March 4, 1895, to December 31, 1897, when-Mr Edward H. iWalters was appointed, he remaining-: until June 30, .1902.

During' MrjWaiteT’s team the school made definite progress. He was a scholarly man and with Mrs Walters was highly esteemed throughout the district. The object or the teaching jirofession in those days was to pass examinations. Mr Walters, however, when referring to ‘ ‘this*almost feverish desire to pass,” wrote as follows: “I trust that this is? not the only goal of the school, or the only ambition of their lives, but that they may cherish learning and its fruits for their own sake.” Just prior to the time <Mr Walters took up his appointment the present main classroom was built on to the Jubilee Hall and the land and buildings vested in the Wanganui Education Board. A half-acre section was purchased from Mr J. W. .Scotr for £lO, £5 of which was subscribed by the settlers, and a schoolhouse erected. Among the data recorded in Mr Walters’ log book was the fact that he had visited, the Hawera and Manutahi .School for the purpose of “self improvement.” He purchased a football for his pupils and lie mentions that there were fewer excuses for lateness in the mornings, the excuse of having to hunt for straying cattle being heard "ot quite so frequently. In July £(j was subscribed as the nucleus of a fund for a school library, to which Mrs J. Lysaght, of Mokoia, contributed I nine volumes of Thackeray. Besides his scholastic bent Mr Walters also was musically inclined for his influ-. ence in. that direction was demonstrated just- prior to the 1900 Christmas holidays, when tlio school presented its first operetta, “The Battle Old Woman AVho Lived in a .Shoe,” the net proceeds amounting to £lO. In. 1901 was recorded the fact that a seventh standard child was being taught Euclid and algebra. Medals to commemorate the visit to Xcw Zealand of the Duke and Duchess of fork were distributed in 'September, 1.001.

FIRST TEACHER RESIGNS. After laying the foundation of the Whakamara School and advancing the cause of education in a most 'worthy manner Mrs Bremer resigned in June, 3882. A tribute to her work was paid by Mr J. AV. 'Scott, then chairman of the Whakamara School Committee, who wrote to Mrs Bremer “expressing thanks for the efficient manner in which you have, conducted the school during the last 20 months. You have held the position of teacher with great credit to yourself as well as to the children under your care, and I may add that it is entirely to your energy, ability and good management that the scholars were able to make such a creditable appearance and show marked advancement in their several classes at the annual examination. ’’ On July 10 of that year Miss Alary Duirs was appointed teacher and conducted the classes in her own home situated where Mr J, Barkla’s residence on the Noonan Road now stands. The s-chool continued in existence until parently through the irregularity of attendances. Throughout Mi ss Duirs ’ I log book appear references to wet days. “Only two children came to school to-day/’ she mentions on November 5, “ami they were late, the day beings stormy. I dismissed them at 12.30 noon.’’ Bad roads and the fact that about this time the Pokornoko 'Gorge Road bridge was swept away and prevented the attendance of the children from Meremere helped towards the closing of the school. Among the pupils enrolled during the (first years of the school’s existence were Rose ■Gane, Marv Elizabeth Bane. George W. Gane, Jane Wallace. John Wallace, Richard ‘Wallace, Jessie Wallace, Alice Edwards, William Edwards, Walter Edwards, Mary Cheevers, Rosana 'Chcovcrs, Helena jCheevers, Ada Edwards, John Gane, Bridget Malone, Catherine Malone, Daniel Malone, Elizabeth Malone, •William Druery, Emily Rolfe, John Malone, Albert Rolfe/ William Wallace, Louisa Roberts, Dinah 'Roberts, Martha Roberts, David Roberts,- Jane Clark. VICTORIA JUBILEE HALL.

’SCHOOL '.RADIUS EXTENDED. Nothing could have been more discouraging' than poor attendances, but at this period there was a marked improvement. Tn J 899-1900 not. one ..pupil obtained a full attendance certificate. but in the following year there were JO, while in 1002 there was still further improvement when the school radius was extended to three miles, thus bringing fully 00 per cent, of the pupils under the Truancy Act.

The relief of Mafeking (Boer War) was celebrated with a procession and special festivities in the school grounds, an effigy of Paul Kruger being 'burnt in a huge bonfire. Air Andrew Everiss took charge of the school from July, 1002, to April 30, 1004. when Air Afontaguc Goldsbury, now headmaster at Mangorei, became teacher and continued in liis apnointment until November. Aliss E. iChris* tie_ relieved. Tt was in this year that Annie Ar. Anthony won a scholarship and later became a teacher at the school. There were frequent changes of teachers at this stage, Aliss Kathleen LM. Alcorn assuming sole charge, until the end of 1000 and Air Walter Hutchinson until the end of .1007. T r , this year the playing area was levelled so as to throw the drainage away from the buildings. In examination work Ida and Kathleen Anthony qualified for scholarships and went, to the Wanganui College. Ariss Tsobel A. Smith was teacher until April, 1008. and Mbs Annie Ad. Anthony until Aday 1900

Three and a-half years passed before it re-opened, but in. the meantime the Victoria Jubilee Hall was built and lias been used continuously ever since, with certain additions, for educational purposes. Mr W. Olphert was appointed teacher and among his pupils were Grace Histone, June Bremer, Thomas Alan, W, Histone, Ada Bremer, (Percy Buck roll (who still resides in Whakamara), Charles Foreman," Albert Foreman and Herbert Scott. Mr Olphert resigned in December, 3 888, and Ur Charles Nicholls taught for two months from the following February.. Dp to the time of Mr Niclioll’s xe*

when her mother, Mrs A. M. Anthony, took charge until April, 1918. During these years the school work progressed steadily with a gradual increase in the roll. * With the advent of the Great. War events moved quickly and it is mentioned that in 1915 a Union Jack made by Mrs Harrington was auctioned in aid of the -Belgian relief fund and realised £32- 19s, ultimately being sold to Mr F. Alilham, who afterwards presented it to the school, where it remains a treasured possession.

FREQUENT CHANGE OP TEACHERS. Miss Craig, Miss Chapman and Miss Frere were relieving for a while following Mrs Anthony's resignation and until the appointment of Miss Morcraft. Then .Miss M. Rogers took charge until March, 1924, after which Miss iAI. K. iSpence was relieving until the appointment of Miss Orr for a year. Prom 192-5 to 1926 Mr Clement Howe and for one month at the beginning of 1927 Mr L. des Forges were teachers. In March of Mr des Forges' resignation members of the Taranaki Education Board, including Mr S. G. Smith (chairman), the late Mr Andrew Lees, Mr C. Moore and Mr TI. Insull (secretary) visited the school and met members of the committee, Messrs Davis, Dobson and Scott. 'The grounds were in a deplorable slate and the board arranged to have the hedges removed, and the fences and buildings attended to in a proper manner. When Mr H. -S. Kibblewhite, now headmaster at Mokoia, took over the school in April, 1927, a transformation began. The grounds were improved, tennis courts laid down and hedges removed. District residents formed working bees and with the loyal cooperation of anyone concerned the school was -started oil the way to a new era of prosperity. The Boys and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs movement commenced and the pupils entered five calves. New; 'desks -were installed throughout the school and tables and chairs provided for the infants. A concert was held and over £9 was raised for a radio, but afterwards this money was used to buy a school gramophone. The school quickly rose above its grade -with a roll of 47 pupils and a portable schoolroom was added and a temporary assistant in Miss A. -B. Hutchinson appointed. Mr Kibblew.hite left for Mokoia at the end of 192 S after a period of excellent ser- , vice. His place was taken by Mr A. B. Buchanan as headmaster and Miss Eva Birkett as assistant mistress.

.SPORTS AND COMPETITION'S. Competing in the Bennett and Sutton .Shield sports at Hawera in 1929, Whakamara 'School gained third place. The pupils took a great interest in football and basketball and matches were arranged with (Mcremere, Ohangai and Mokoia Schools. In the Boys and Girls’ Clubs competition the entries of calves totalled 13.

In the following year '(1930) there originated the present football and 'basketball tournament and combined annual social and concert for the four schools—Mokoia, Ohangai, Whakamara and Mcremere —a cup for football being donated by Mr 'G. W. Williams aiul a trophy for basketball by the combined committees. Mr iWillianis was elected the first chairman of the group and Air I. V. Buchanan the first secretary. Basketball rings were presented to the Whakamara School by Mr J. Barkla. Great interest was taken in the winter show at Hawera, especially in the children’s faneywork section, and there were numerous prize winners. Three acres of land were purchased from Air TI. .Scott, at £75 per acre for a horse .paddock -and sports ground, part of the old horse paddock being converted into a tree nursery, a feature of the school work that al-j ready has proved profitable as well as instructive. There were 26 entries in the 1930 Boys and Girls’ Club competitions—a record for Taranaki. There wore, in fact, more entries than there were children eligible. Up to this year no roots had been grown, but on this occasion three entries were made. In the final of the calf-rearing competition at E-ltham the Whakamara School was second for Ore whole of South Taranaki. Joan J,angle.y’s calf 'beingawarded 100 per cent.' .for condition, but losing points on her chart records. The attendance for the year was goou being 91.9 per cent, of the total roll/

Last year the school established another record for Taranaki with 37 entries in the calf and roots competitions —l7 calves and l(i plots. In the calf competition at Elthnni Alarshal Langley was placed second. At the winter show the pupils had 20 entries and won 14 prizes. The attendance was well maintained, nine children not missing one half day and 11 children gaining good attendance certificates.

' On January 20 of this year Alt’ C. J. Williams, 8.A., succeeded Air Buchanan and it is in his term that the school has shown the. best results of the groundwork laid by his predecessors. Mr Williams has carried on tlieir traditions and has succeeded in popularising the school to such an extent that it has an honoured name among the many country schools of -South Taranaki. lii the' calf rearing competition the school has 38 entries, which is another record for Taranaki schools. Of the roots sown last year when Air Buchanan was still in charge Hen IGulliver this .year won the Taranaki championship with a crop weighing .124 tons 0 cwt to the acre anrl Douglas Gulliver won the Taranaki championship for carrots with a crop weighing 78 tons 12 cwt to the acre. The Whakamara School won the G. W. William’s Cup in the group football competition and entered a team for the Patea junior olcven-a-sidi' Rugby tourney, winning the junior Rugby shield. ' 1