ARDGOWAN SCHOOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26957, 17 December 1948, Page 3

ARDGOWAN SCHOOL

New Residence for Teacher The only major development in the school buildings at Ardgowan in the 47 years since the school was opened is the erection of a teacher’s residence, the opening of which coincided with the break-up and parents’ day at the school on Wednesday. Previously, the teaching staff at the school had been supplied from Oamaru, and in the early days, before the advent of cars, the daily cycling from town over the Eden street hill made the position difficult for teachers, who usually did not remain long at Ardgowan. Happily, that state of affairs has now been removed, but, judged from the remarks of the speakers, only after a long and persistent • effort to have this amenity provided. The new residence is built of Oamaru stone on modern lines, with all facilities of water and lighting for a country residence. There was a good attendance of parents, who took a keen interest in the drill and work of the children, and made complimentary reference to the excellence of the needlework under the tuition of the teacher’s wife, Mrs Heenan. Mr J. A. Mills, chairman of the School Committee, who addressed the gathering, said that the difficulties they had experienced had been overcome with the assistance of Mr Nordmeyer and Mr W. M. Cooper. Since the outbreak of the war they had had nine teachers. They would get a good teacher, but could not hold him because there had been no residence, but they felt they could keep Mr and Mrs Heenan. Now that they were living at Ardgowan, he wanted them to feel they were part of the community. - Messrs W. M. Cooper and J. Gerrie, past and present members of the Otago Education Board, congratulated the committee on its achievement, and other speakers were Messrs J. Herd, W. Scott, A. Robb, G. D. Jardine, J. R. Fox, and the teacher, Mr R. E. Heenan. The tenor of the remarks was that as the threat of consolidation with the Oamaru North School had now been removed and a residence had been provided Mr Heenan could be retained at Ardgowan. which would have a country school second to none of its class in the Dominion. High tributes were also paid to Mr Mills, whose enthusiasm for the school and perseverance in urging Its claims had at last been rewarded.