NEW BUILDINGS FOR TECHNICAL COLLEGE URGENTLY NEEDED

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 December 1949, Page 6

NEW BUILDINGS FOR TECHNICAL COLLEGE URGENTLY NEEDED

“For some years the school has been fortunate in having accommodation for all of its pupils without having to call on the Education Department, U. add to the present jumble of ‘tempoi ary’ buildings,” staled the principal 01. the Wanganui Technical College, Mr J. Dash, in his annual report presented at the annual prize-giving ceremony in the Opera House last night. “Those who closely study population statistics predict gradually increasing school rolls, but no one yet has been bold enough as to predict that class rooms will be built in anticipation of these increases. Nor are they likely to be built in anticipation of demand because of the colossal ! apathy of New Zealand parents concerning the housing of school children. All show interest in factory legislation with its demands for floor space, light, sick-bay, etc. Few give a thought to whether schools could meet even these factory standards,” said Mr Dash.

“Our new school buildings appear to be still a long way off. Possibly [good may ultimately come of the delay in the placing of the new school on an area of land which provides room for expansion. What is badly needed is the development of a plan for the educational requirements oi Wanganui for the next 25 years. Surely New Zealand has experienced enough of the haphazard method of adding lean-to to lean-to as ‘temporary’ expedients. Post-primary school pupils will increase by from 25 to 4b per cent, in the next ten years. This will surely necessitate the opening up of new schools, but so far no indication has been given as to when or where they will be opened. “It is a striking commentary on building conditions generally when the taking over of a ‘Katzenjama castle’ of a shop-fitters’ workshop as a gymnasium is hailed with delight. Such has been the case this year. Despite of the leaking roof and the four level floor, the ‘gym’ has permitted physical education classes to continue throughout the winter months.” Referring to the maintenance ot buildings and grounds, Mr Dash said the attention given to the grounds by the board is bearing fruit and a marked general improvement is noticeable. “It is hoped that the Education Department will give sympathetic consideration to the request for assistance in putting the playing area at the Hostel in better orcler,” he said.

“The new arrangements for the maintenance of buildings whereby the Education Department accepts responsibility for whatever work is required have been welcomed with open arms. It has been a new experience to have on the premises a departmental official armed witn the power to authorise expenditure without the usual preliminary paper offensive and counter-offensive. While it is recognised that the bringing of our educational buildings up to a reasonable maintenance standard will cost a considerable sum, the new arrangement for prompt attention will result in major economics in the not distant future.

“Marked progress has been made during the year with the reorganising and re-equipping of the engineering workshops, which, when completed, will give the school first-class facilities. A tender has recently been let for the installation of modern washing equipment, which has been badly needed for many years. Modern lighting—a combination of fluorescent tubes for general illumination and independent 32-volt hooded lights on each machine—has just been installed and has met with marked approval. “To prepare for the training of apprentices various woodworking machines have been ordered and are due to arrive during the early part of the new year. Their installation will necessitate the rearranging of portions of the woodwork shops. These machines will fill a long-felt want and will be of material assistance in all classes in cabinetmaking and in carpentry and joinery.

SCIENCE REPUTATION “The school’s reputation for the ex cellence of the foundation in science: given to its students will, I believe, bf further enhanced following upon. th( provision next year of general science as a School Certificate subject for al courses. This will give a better bal anced scientific background to th< pupil who will not .proceed beyond the fifth form. Those who do pre-uniVer sity science in the sixth form will be equipped to take full advantage ot the various sciences offering. “The school has maintained its ex cellent games record during the year and its teams on Saturdays have par ticipated in the usual competitions Reference must be made to a particu larly fine Rugby team which crownec an undefeated record with the win ning of the Gordon Thompson Mem orial Trophy, awarded by referees foi excellence of discipline on and off tin field. “The school crew, a very fine com bination, was this year successful n winning the Mandi Cup, open to eightoar crews from the post-primary schools of the Dominion. “A feature of school games _ whirl is causing concern is the multiplicity of interruptions during the middj' term for inter-school contests. Wi make it possible for our girls to play hockey or basketball and for.the boy: to play Rugby, soccer or hockey. W« then have to cater for inter-schoo fixtures in all these games, and ir some cases for ’second’ and evei ‘third’ teams. The demand—by the pupils—is for more and still more games with other schools. Facts must be faced, however, and the oilreferred to pendulum is commencing its backward swing. Inter-school games will, wherever possible, have to revert to the Saturday. We arc fortunate in that our series of fixtures for any one winter pastime is modest when compared with the commitments of many schools, but lew schools give prominence to as many activities as we do."