High School Needs

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 142, 1 June 1936, Page 6

High School Needs

ASSEMBLY HALL 4 Appeal lor £BOO Supported by Mayor LACK A DISADVANTAGE i An urgent appeal to the people of Hastings to support the effort now being made by the Hastings High School Board of Governors to raise a sum of £BOO for the purpose ot paying off the debt on the school assembly hall, and for the purchase of furnUhlngs and equipment for it, is made by the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison. “I can think uf no cause that should more readily invoke a response from public-minded eitisens,’’ said Mr MsJ • , dison this morning, “and 1 am sure ' that anyone with the welfare of W-e ? town at heart will give some help to- „ * wards ridding the board of this debt, and enabling It to buy the furnishing' and equipment so neceeesary U) tie proper education of the pupils. “This appeal is of the greatest importance and urgency, and it is apt too much to say that unless it succeeds, education at the school must fail shot, to some extent of what it should be and of whut it is in other schools mire '"1 fortunately situated. The staff of ti c ' school have for many years rendered magnificent service under the handicai of a lack of an assembly hall. Now the hall ha* been brought into exist ence, but it cannot serve its proper purpose unless it is adequately furnishc and equipped. It is to be hoped that the people of Hastings will net let edocution in their town suffer for want fit a sum that can easily be raised ii everyone will contribute u little. ’’

NO GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE,

In explaining the purpose of the appeal, Mr E. 3. Hallett, chairman of the Board of Governors, said that for many years the board had been trying to obtain Government assistance to carry out the work for which the appeal is being made. “It has been explained to us, ’ ’ he said, ‘ ‘ that it is pot the poliey of the Education Department to grant money for such purposes as the erection and furnishing of assembly halls. “In the opinion of the board, and ol education authorities the world ov»r, an assembly hall is absolutely neees sury for the proper carrying on of the work of a high school. It is necessary because it is the only fitting place in which the whole school can be gathered together for morning prayers, for addresses by the headmaster or visting lecturers, for ceremonial occasions, and for such purposes as mossed music teaching or drill. i “As u consequence of the lack of a f properly furnished and equipped assembly hull," Mr Hallett continued, “the work of the school is being carried en at a considerable disadvantage. Through the efforts of th J Board of Governors, the Hastings High Schoo. League, and the Old Pupils’ Association we now have a hall, and already the school is feeling the benefit. However, the hall is not yet finished, and the children and the staff will not realise the full advantages of the building until it is properly equipped and furnished.

“The position is that th* board has no funds, and so far it has been impossible to obtain any assistance from the Education Department. In view or the extensive demands that are made on the department, tho board is not at all hopeful of obtaining any Mfistance in the future. We have interview ed several Ministers of Education, and they have agreed that an assembly hall is very neceegary to the proper carrying out of the work of a high school; but they have had to express regret that it is not the policy of the department to make grants for the purpose. “The school is a great asset to the town,” Mr Hallett concluded, “and the appeal concerns everyone. It is essential that the school should be-in every way up-to-date, and it cannot be up-to-date unless it has a properly furnished and equipped assembly hall. Until then it will be at a disadvantage in comparison with other schools of its kind.’’