SCHOOL LIBRARY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18627, 24 July 1930, Page 4

SCHOOL LIBRARY

OPENED AT TIMARU MAIN. “PARENTS’ DAY” YESTERDAY. Opportunity was taken by a number of parents and friends interested in the Timaru Main School to inspect the pupils at work yesterday, and to be present also at the opening of the new school library. The headmaster (Mr W. Garton) and staff did everything possible to make “Parents’ Day” an interesting one, and the visit was much enjoyed by all. The new library, which is situated in Standard VI. room, was opened by the chairman of the school committee (Mr A. Carnegie) ir the presence of the whole school, and a large number of the public. “Arbor Day” was celebrated by the planting of a number of trees in the school gardens. The chairman said it was pleasing to see parents taking so much interest in the school, and also of advantage to them to see how their children were being educated. The library which was to be opened that day was a very good one, and should be a decided acquisition to the school. When the Committee were approached to provide a library, the question of finance was hard to settle, and the staff came willingly to the school’s assistance, and organised a concert from which £SO was raised. With the subsidy from the Education Department, £IOO was in hand. The Committee then set about partitioning off a portion of the Standard VI. room, the total cost of the library being £l6O. The Rev. H. T. Peat, speaking as an ex-school committeeman, congratulated the Main School on the provision of such an excellent library, which he said should be a continual source of inspiration to scholars. The School Committee had for its chairman Mr A. Carnegie, and it was appropriate that they should now have a library, which was of great value. He congratulated the Committee on their initiative, and hoped that their well-directed efforts would meet with every success. The speaker referred to the great asset an assembly hall would be at the school, and' he hoped that before many years had passed this suggestion would take material form. In a few words to the assembled pupils Mr Peat impressed on them the necessity of loyalty to their teachers and to the school, with the desire always to play the game. Mr J. G. Gow, a member of the Canterbury Education Board, stated that he first visited Main School in the capacity of an inspector in 1886. Times had changed, however, and this was most apparent when inspecting the classes at work that day. A feature of the syllabus to-day was the introduction of hand-work, which was doing a great deal to improve the scholars’ intellects as well as providing recreation. Mr Gow spoke of the value of a library to the School, and hoped that every effort would be made by pupils to increase their knowledge from its shelves. Mr J. W. Preen, an ex-chairman of the School Committee, and a member of the Canterbury Education Board, stated that his 20 years’ association with school committees had been amongst the most pleasant in his life. The gathering should be proud that they were present at the opening of such a valuable adjunct to the School, in a library of knowledge, on the shelves of which were to be found the works of great writers. Mr Preen, in a few remarks to the pupils, told them to always cherish the memory of their old school, so that 'when they reached mature age they would be able to assist in the work. Mr Carnegie then declared the library open amidst much applause. TREE PLANTING. For the purpose of beautifying the school grounds, a number of ornamental shrubs were planted by representatives of the staff, committee, and past and present pupils. The scholars were grouped around the plots, and much interest was taken in the proceedings. Trees were planted by the following: Miss C. Shirtcliffe, a past teacher; Messrs A. Thoreau and C. Reid (Old Pupils’ Association); J. W. Preen, A. Carnegie, A. Dephoff Unembers of the School Committee), Mr W. W. Garton (headmaster), Miss C. I. Macdonald (infant mistress), Mr H. Oram (first assistant), the Rev. H. T. Peat (Timaru Ministers’ Association) and one pupil from each standard in the school.