SOUTH STATE SCHOOL

Southland Times, Issue 19123, 15 December 1923, Page 5

SOUTH STATE SCHOOL

FOUNDATION STONE LAID BY HON. J. A. HANAN BUILDING PROGRAMME STARTED. The ceremony of laying the foundaticn stone pn connection with the new buildings at the South State School took place yesterday afternoon. The high wind made the conditions for an outdoor function somewhat unpleasant, but nevertheless there was a large attendance of parents and friends as well as several members of the Education Board and the School Committee. The Mayor, Mr Bain, was also present. The Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.P., exMinister of Education, officiated and declared the stene to be well and truly laid. The chairman of the Education Board, Mr H. E. Niven, in his opening remarks mentioned that ever since bis connection with the Board the wants of the South School for a new school had been stressed and he was pleased to say that the culmination of those representations had been reached that day. The Department had given a grant of £5OOO towards tho cost of the new building and the Board Qnd the school were indebted to Mr Hanan for the efforts which he had made to secure the gront. The Hon. J. A. Hanan in the-course of hie remarks which dealt principally with the different phases of education and the important part that it occupied in the life of a nation, spoke of the splendid record which the Dominion had achieved mainly as a result of the fine services rendered by the teachers generally. It was also pleasing to see, he said, such a large assemblage which showed that a great deal of interest was manifested in the school by the parents. It was gratifying to find also that throughout the country an increasing number of people were recognising the close connection between education and efficiency and also between right education and good Government. He was hopeful that in the near future the difficulties at present surrounded the question would disappear and that our educational system would be widened in its outlook. He was also sorry to say that there was a tendency for many parents to throw the w’hole responsibility for the training of their children on to the State. He wished to stress most strongly the dangers arising from such a policy because the sole aim of the Dominion was to build up an industrious body of citizens. Conduct rather than learning was what made the reputation of a school and it should be the' aim of every pupil to be honourable, upright, kind and gentle, and to be diligent in all things. He concluded by congratulating the scholars, teachers and administrative officers on such an auspicious occasion. Mr D. Jensen, the contractor for the new building which is the first portion of the re-building contract to be carried out then presented Mr Hanan with a silver trowel with which to carry out his task and as a memento of the occasion. Having returned thanks to Mr Jensen for his much appreciated gift, Mr Hanan z duly carried out the duties connected with placing the stone in position and at the same time expressed his earnest hope that the school to be erected would be an honour to the town and to the country as well as a fine moulding place of character and a living influence in the national life. Mr A. W. Jones, chairman of the School Committee, detailed the steps which had led up to'the inauguration of the work which he said was essential fcr the proper carrying on of the educational work in the district. He also thanked the parents for the active assistance which -they had rendered to the committee in helping to secure the new buildings.