New School at Waterloo

Hutt News, Volume 11, Issue 41, 23 March 1938, Page 5

New School at Waterloo

OfrBKED ST MINISTER OF v EDUCATION A new achodl which is designed to beithe most modern school in the Dominion and of the latest design in the world, was opened at Waterloo on Saturday afternoon by the ■ Minister o.f Evocation, Hon. Perter Fraserr. * The mayor, Mr. J. W. Andrews, ex- ! tended a welcome to tho Minister on i bohalf of ,the bofough council and residents. Mr. R. D. Smith (Commissioner), occupied the chair and welcomed the visitors' and expressed the thanks of'.the' cwmiiittee to all who had-assist-ed-with the. arrangements. Among "others- present were the Mombe* for the District, Hon. W. Nash, MK T. Lambournc, Director of Education, Mr. W. V. Dyer, chairman of the B&rrd of Education, Mr. J. Stonehouse tnetmfber of the 'Board, Mr. W. Deivoll secretary of the Board. At this stage bouquets were presented to Mrs. Fraser, Mts. Nash, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Dyer, and Mrs. Smith. Mr. Nash, member for the district, said there were some occasions when one got pleasure in watching the steps that were being taken to Ibring progress to a point at which One would like to. see it, and this was particularly, true in the educational field. He recalled the fact that tho ground in which the school stood once grew potatoes for the "unemployed of the district. "Now we have got to the position of growing something better than potatoes," he -said. "There is no greater work that could be given men to do than to try and give the young life of the country the chance td grow to the besft possible use. That is the job ithat has been undertaken by Mr. Fraser. There is no more imperative work in this country than to bring into being an environment that will give the young people a chance to grow up. Whatever facilities «afl b0 brooght into being to giveuthe children a chance, that will be done," said Mr. Nash, who congratulated the Education Board on its new building, and also Mr. Smith on his appointment as commissioner. Tip to -the present, the new school building was the best conception possible for what was needed to improve -the educational standards of the Dominion, said Mr. Fraser. It was quite possible . -that soon -the Government might have an even better design, however A year ago a conference of authorities on educational requirements had been called for the purpose of planning the very best in school buildings. "This building is in the front rank .of educational buildings designed to improve the health of our children, said Mr. Fraser. "Open-air buildings are beneficial not only to the health of our children, but for educational purposes also. The child is taught 'how to live by being taught the value of fresh air and sunshine. Schools That Breed Disease "In this way we hope to carry on the work of the late Sir Truby King, who is probably the greatest New Zealander to devote his work .to benefits for humanity," said Mr. Fraser. In many cases, after having the benefit of care under the Plunket system, children were put into schools where much of the good work was undone, he said. "I have seen schools which could fairly be described as breeding grounds for disease," said Mr. Fraser. Many rooms in Native schools were in a frightful condition, . but considerable -improvement had already, been made. , He was a fortunate Minister of Education because he was a Minister in a Cabihet'- {hat allowed him to '.carry out his own conceptions of what was ie quired. He had been able to carry out the promises that had been made (with .regard to education reforms. The five-year-olds 'had been readmitted to the schools, and there were now 15,000 children attending schools iwho would have been barred under the old scheme. The kindergarten system of education had also been extended. Mr. Fraser said 'he considered the Kindergarten Association the best sysiteifa for educating the young children. It might be necessary .later for the Government -to establish kindeigarten centres in country districts. Training of Teachers. The Government had also been able to extend the teacher training facilities of the {Dominion. When the Government assumed power the training colleges.at Wellington and Dunedin were immediately reopened as .the colleges in the four centres of the Dominion had been closed during -the depression, and no te&ehers were being trained. Many of the classes in the schools to-day were far- too large, Mr. Fraser said, '. arid if their size was to be reduced it ••"was necessary to extend -the training facilities for teachers. . Promises ha d also been made by the Government that old and unhygenic buildings throughout the country would be -renovated. During 1936 the department was allotted £500,000 for this and for the year ended March this was increased to £550,000. Another important work the Government had undertaken was the extension of the school dental service. There were 35 nurses in training when the Government assumed power, said Mr. Fraser, and that number was just sufficient to keep up the strength of the service. The maximum number of students was immediately enrolled, and the training centres increased so that this year -the number had risen to 50 and would be steadily increased until in five -years there would be a sufficient number of dental nurses available to "provide a. service for every school in New Zealand. That would later ibe ' extended -to secondary and technical college*. A modern dental college was at present being build by the .Govern-

ment at Wellington. Mr. Fraser was ■ presented with a gold key by the builder, Mr. J. Beasley,- with he opened the main school doors.