PARNELL SCHOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22524, 15 September 1936, Page 13

PARNELL SCHOOL

NEW INFANT- BLOCK OFFICIAL OPENING MINISTER'S GOOD WISHES In the presence of a large gathering the new infant department at the Painell School was opened yesterday afternoon by the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser. The building, which is situated south of the main, school, contains two classrooms 1 each with wide folding doors opening on to a verandah on the northern side. Space has been left for two more rooms of equal size. Mr. A. G. Harris, chairman of the school committee, in welcoming the visitors, who included Messrs. F. W. Schramm and W. P. Endean, M.P.'s, and representatives of the Auckland Education Board, expressed thanks to the board's architect, Mr. A. B. Miller, for the excellent modern design of the building. Mr. Schramm, who invited the Minister to perform the ceremony, said that since the opening of the main building three years ago the sbhool population had grown to such an extent that a -separate infant department had become necessary. He knew that Mr. Fraser held the highest educational ideals and intended to do all he possibly could for the children of New' Zealand. Already in a short time he had accomplished a great deal. Money for Education

The Minister congratulated the committee upon having obtained, a fine modern school, apparently well suited to the Auckland climate, as the new "fresh-air" schools of Canterbury were to # the climate of that province. A great deal had yet to.be done, he said, in replacing school buildings which were hopelessly obsolete. At the Forbury School, Dunedin, he had been shown a room into which sunshine had never penetrated during the 75 years of its existence. The Government fully realised its responsibility in the matter. The main problem lay more in preparing plans and actually getting the work done than in providing sufficient money for the present requirements of the work. This year's education vote was the largest on record, and the greater part of it was for primary education. Much more that was not immediately available would have to be spent in future on various improvements.

" Fresh Air " Features Mr. T. U. Wells, chairman of the Education Board, thanked the Minister for providing the cost of the new building. He said the board found Mr. Fraser a man of wide educational vision, sincerely anxious to help the scholars of the Dominion. The board was proud of its architect, and felt confident that the buildings he had designed would compare well in every way with those erected in Canterbury. Mr. J. W. McGechie, headmaster of the -school, said the main building, which was of the "fresh-air" type, was perfectly satisfactory in every way. The visitors would be able to inspect both buildings and see whether they could find any difference between a "fresh-air" and an "open-air" school. He greatlv appreciated all that the committee," parents and neighbours had done for the school, which recently had received the gift of a cinematograph rallied at £25. The Minister then formally declared the building open- A display of folkdancing was given by the pupils, and the official guests were entertained to •afternoon tea by the committee and staff. .

MATAMATA HIGH SCHOOL raising of status sought [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] MATAMATA, Monday In reply to a deputation asking for the raising of the Matamata High School to the status of a technical high school, the- Minister of Education, the Hon P Eraser, notified the school committee 'that he will be pleased tp go folly into the matter with the committee when he visits the Matamata district, which will be at the very earliest opportunity. The Minister congratulated the committee on the interest shown in the welfare of the school. Advice was received from the Auckland Education Board that the Education Department had approved the application for the Okauia School to be moved to a new site and reopened as a native school. '