PROGRESS OF EDUCATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22196, 24 February 1934, Page 8

PROGRESS OF EDUCATION

j. ALBANY STREET SCHOOL OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY ( THE MINISTER'S ADDRESS t " A further step forward in the progress tef education in Otago was accomplished with the official opening yesterday afternoon of the new Albany Street. Intermediate -School. The' conditions were of the most - favourable nature, and* there was a large, attendance of the public, ■avhich: • listened, with interest to the address cf the Minister of Education (Mr R. Masters), who was accompanied by Mrs Masters. Members of the Otago Education ' Board were also present, and the Otago Harbour Board, with which the Education Board negotiated for the land on which the school is built, was represented by Mr John Loudon. The Mayor, (the Rev.. E. T. Cox),, expressing a welcome to the Minister, said that from the earliest days of the settlement Dunedin had always made provision in the schools for a complete and full education for its children. The high standard of education in this country to-day, lie was sure, showed the value of the control of the system by the Government, and he would like, on behalf of the city, - to thank the Government for providing the new school, which was being opened at a - particularly suitable time. ' The chairman of the Otago Education Board (Mr James Wallace) said that it was indeed a day of note in the educa-, tional history of Otago, for after a long time of waiting they now- had a school that was equal to any of its kind in the Dominion. Nevertheless, the happiness of the occasion was tinged with sadness, because the old Albany Street School, which they knew so well; had gone toe way of all things after occupying a notable place in the life of the community. It had been founded, he thought, in the seventies with Mr Alexander Montgomery 1 as the__ first headmaster, and the succession of headmasters since that time until its .closing last year had been one of which any city and any service might be proud. The board was indebted to many people for the new school. The Otago Harbour Board, had been most generous in the way it had met the Education Board regarding the site of the new building, and once_ it had been decided that an intermediate school should take the place of the old one there had been no delay by, the Education Department, The school had been built well up to time, for which the contractors, the Love Construction Company, were, to be thanked, and the ■cost Had .been considerably within the .sum granted by Cabinet. The architect (Mr A. B. Welch) had also done his work well, while the board’s own employees had co-operated to good effect,and signal;service had been rendered by the ‘secretary of the board (Mr G. W. Carrington), who'was largely responsible for the fact that the children were able to be settled in the school on the opening day,' They must also pay a tribute .to, a man who had fought tooth and nail for the new school, but who, unfortunately, had not lived to see the result of his labours. That was Mr J; H. Wilkinson, who had been one of the foremost advocates of the building of the school. PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL The headmaster, of the school (Mr W. A. Sproat) welcomed Mr and Mrs Masters on behalf of the teachers,and pupils. The school had evoked a great deal of interest in. Otago, he said, and now that it was an. actual being if would probably create more .interest, and not a little criticism. He hoped, however, that the criticism . would be of a helpful nature. They . were very gratified at being the occupants of such a fine building, and were thankful to all %ho were responsible for its being. He referred to the composition of the school, with its two classes, Forms X and 11. and said -that although the intermediate course was now only a twoyears one, pupils who did not intend to go on to a secondary school could spend, a third year there if they wished to do bo.' Some such pupils had already availed themselves of the.opportunity of enrolling at the school. The idea underlying the intermediate school was that the teachers might be enabled to note the aptitudes o£ the pupils, and to train them with special emphasis on the subjects to which they were most suited. The course .of study 4 provided for the proficiency examination, but it was a,raore clastic one than in the ordinary school, and facilities were present for the teaching of commercial - 'subjects, agriculture, art, and music. There were several specialists on the . teaching ! staff., These men and women were full of enthusiasm, and he was certain that when the children were fully into their stride -they, would make rapid progress. Later they might have greater facilities,-but at present they were handicapped to some extent by the fact that, they had not a proper workroom for boys or a domestic loom for girls. The school was, however, •ideally situated fur playing areas. Improvements had yet;to be made to the playground, of course, but Logan Park wag very close, and before long the physical education, of the children would be-attended to with the best results. Mr J. Y. Love then presented to the Minister an engraved, writing set as a memento of the. occasion, for which Mr Masters returned thanks. ' A NEW DEPARTURE The Jlinister said he had first of all to .tfiank-those- pr'esent for..- the cordial welcome that had been given to Mrs Masters and himself. He had always been very hospitably received in Dunedin, and had readily assented to Mr Wallace’s suggestion that he should perform the Opening ceremony in connection with the new school. ‘ Dunedin was noted throughout the Empire for the up-to-date educational facilities it possessed, and he . was very pleased to see another step taken in primary education in Otago, because, although a new departure, the“ school was more or less a primary one. There had not been much chance during the past two years, on account of financial difficulties, to do much of a. constructive nature for education in New Zealand, but he could say, with respect to that type of school, fhat considerable advancement had been made in spite of the lack of money. The. Government wished to give the children a system of practical education. and he believed, after having given the matter consideration, that the intermediate school would, do something to give the pupils a lead into the walk of life for which they were particularly adapted. In respect of Mr Sproat’s remarks about the necessity for .workrooms, he assured his hearers that the Goyernment intended, when the time came and finance, permitted,. to provide up-to-date facilities for home science-, woodwork, and metal work. He had Issued instructions to district high schools, particularly in the country, that technical, education should’, be taught wherever possible, with emphasis on subjects that would enable the pupils later to take their part in the prevailing industries or occupations of the district in. which they lived. Another matter to ’ Which consideration was being given by the Government was that of the school leaving certificate; At present, he said, a boy might spend three or four years at a secondary school,; and have, nothing to show for it unless he was fortunate enough to matriculate, but under the system of certificates which it was proposed to, introduce a pupil, on leaving school, would have something definite con--cerhiug his education to place before a possible employer. ■- During the past, year or two, the Minister continued, considerable economies had had to be effected in. the education system in New Zealand, with the result that its cost to the country had been reduced by £1,500,000, but he would say that as far as the basis of education was concerned the position had not been changed; the standard was just as high as when tnuclr’lnore money wag being spent, because most Of the economy measures had been applied to the costs of administration. ' EMPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS Durihg.his tour of the country lately, Mr- Masters continued;'he had been delighted ; to ; 'bear the . expressions of approval of the Government’s action in providing employment, even though it was not permanent, for all of the teachers in New Zealand. At the end. of 1,933 there had been 1800 unemployed in the country, and, although therS-was rcally no obligation on the I Government to provide for them, he had felt a moral responsibility to do something to improve the position. Accordingly he had approached the Unemployment Board to

sec if it were possible tp obtain any assistance there, and once the matter had been explained to the Minister of Employment (Mr Adam Hamilton) 'he had offered a substantial grant that enabled employment to be given to the--teachers. - Although their salaries were , low, he was satisfied that they were exceedingly gratified that they were being enabled to enter their profession. . , Referring again to the' intermediate schools, the Minister -said the department had been criticised for building these pore ot less spasmodically, and . the opinion had been expressedthat it would be better to wait until intermediate .schools could be built all over the Dominion. At E resent, however, that was impossible, and e was satisfied that once the Albany Street School had .become established there would be further demands for such schools 'in Dunedin. They .Had been built when ' opportunity allowed, and he was satisfied that although they were as yet few they would fill- a* .definite need. The course in the intermediate schools had formerly been a ; three-years’ one, Mr. Masters continued, and the reason that it had not been' reduced to two years was that, it was not intended to become an end in itself, but merely a stepping stone to higher education. Nevertheless, there was no objection to pupils who were not going on to a secondary school staying for a third year. The reason why the special schools had been established for children of that particular age wag that natural gifts seemed to develop between the, ages of 11 and 12 years. The pupils, 6c course, differed materially in their ability, and while there was a large school with only two classes the teachers had'a good opportunity of dividing them into various sections and giving them specialised training. ]■ ' Concluding, the Minister said. “ I would ask you not to pass any judgment' on this school until you have had an opportunity, of ..seeing how it will fulfil its purpose. Give it 12 months, and I believe that after the pupils have spent that time under the direction of Mr Sproat and his staff you will see results that you will have reason to be proud of.”. -

The Minister then unVeiled a commemorative tablet in the main vestibule of the ; school to mark the occasion of the opening ceremony.