EDUCATION OF INFANTS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1928, Page 5

EDUCATION OF INFANTS

HAWERA’S OPEN-AIR SCHOOL OPENING BY HON. A. D. McLEOD. UNIQUE AND USEFUL BUILDING. The consummation of yews of endeavour marking a further step in the progress of Hawera took place yesterday, when the new open-air infant classrooms on the South Road were officially opened by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, in the presence of a large gathering of the public.

On the beflagged dais in front of the school were the Minister, Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., Mr. E. A. Pacey (Mayor of Hawera), and Mrs. Pacey, Mr. J. W. Harding (chairman of the Hawera School Committee and prime mover in the procuring of the new school) and Mrs. Harding, Mr. R. S. Sage (chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hawera High School) and Mrs. Sage, Messrs. S. G. Smith (chairman), IL J. Deare, H. Dempsey and A. Lees (members of the Taranaki Education Board), C. 11. Moore (architect to the board), and N. R. McKenzie (senior inspector).

The Mayor extended a welcome to Mr. McLeod, and apologised for the absence of the Minister of Education, Hon. R. A. Wright, who, he said, had recently taken over the portfolio of Labour, thus incurring for himself a good deal more work.

The new school, said Mr. Pacey, was, he understood, unique in New Zealand. It was the design of Mr. C. H. Moore, the board’s architect, and had been erected in quite an efficient manner by the board’s own workmen.

Mr. Pacey said that personally he was inclined to the view held by Mr. Wright that schools should be erected in wood in such a changing age, so that they could be converted to keep pace with the times. Though Hawera had not been successful in securing a new school, it had the new infant classrooms, and must be thankful for small mercies. The new classrooms, he considered, should be good for the next 20 years. The erection of the building marked an epoch in educational matters in Hawera.

Before bringing his remarks to a conclusion, Mr. Pacey read out apologies from Messrs. T. Eaves (Otakeho), and Percy White (New Plymouth), members of the Taranaki Education Board, who were unable to be present. Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., said an openair school for Taranaki had been under discussion for some time, and he had visited Christchurch to inspect the Fendalton type of open-air classrooms. The architect of the Taranaki Education Board had, however, produced a design which was unique in New Zealand. It was good to see the school actually there, and to see the children already in

Mr. S. G. Smith, chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, gave an interesting historical review of education in Hawera, and said that he had no hesitation in declaring that one of the greatest factors in the interests of education was the system of education boards and school committees. The establishment of a separate infant school had many advantages, not the least being the separation of the infants from the bigger children, and the promised promotion to a higher school when the children completed their course at the infant school.

The Hon. Melted said that as a Minister who had little to do with that particular part of the government of the country dealing with the administration of education, lie was very interested in the new school and in the facts and figures quoted by Mr. Smith. He had approached his colleague on different occasions to get certain new schools in the important part of the country lie represented, the Wairarapa, but Mr. Wright had advised that he had not the funds available, much as he would like to assist. "Now, when I heard Mr. Smith read out those figures, I know where the funds have gone,” he remarked jocularly.

The whole question of the proper education of the children should, he said, be of interest and great concern to every person in the country. Not only should interest be taken in the financial side of education, but a keen and close intelligence should be concentrated on seeing that value was being returned, so that the children should be getting the worth of the money spent. At the present day lie could say New Zealand had an education system of which there was every reason to be proud. The educational staffs and boards were being criticised from time to time, but in his opinion they were a large body of men and women working for the better education of the children placed in their hands.

I "While we can out up on cheap lines 'schools such as this, which meet the j requirements of the district, then I be- : lieve you will agree the Government is doing the right thing." went on Mr. Mci Leod. “From my colleague, and from the Government, to the children of the school and to all those associated with education matters in Taranaki, 1 say: ‘May your most hopeful desires for this school and for educational matters generally, be gratified.” The Minister then officially and formally declared the school open. | Mr. Harding returned thanks to the Minister for being present to open the school, and to Mr. Dickie for his valuable assistance, and he offered hearty .congratulations to the chairman and members of the Taranaki Education Board, stating that during the time he had been chairman of the Hawera Committee they had had the hearty co-oper-ation of the board. Hawera was, in some, respects, even ahead of the requirements of New Plymouth in education. In conclusion lie exhorted the public to do their share and assist in the matter of laying out the grounds of the school. Three cheers were given for the Minister, after which the visitors adjourned to the school, where a dainty afternoon tea was provided by the wires of committeemen. During the afternoon the visitors were entertained with interesting selections by the Hawera Main School flute band and the school orchestra.