Woodford House School.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume I, Issue 9, 1 March 1911, Page 130

Woodford House School.

a _Yunc Acceptabile Tempits."

Opening Ceremony. The opening ceremony m connection with the new Woodford House School, which is situated on the sunny slopes of the Havelock hills, took place on February 17th, m the presence of about four hundred people, representing all parts of the Hawke's Bay district. Seats on the stage m the large hall, where the opening ceremony took place, were occupied by Mr W. Nelson (m the chair), the Right Rev. A. W. Averill (Bishop of Waiapu), Miss Hodge, Mr T. E. Crosse, Mr Mason Chambers. A short introductory speech was made by Mr Nelson m inviting the Right Rev. Bishop Averill to address the gathering* Bishop of Waiapu's Address. Bishop Averill said that it was a source of great pleasure for him to be present at the opening of such an important school. At present a movement was going on m New Zealand for the promotion of up-to-date schools fur the education of girls. In Dunedin, Ohristchurch, and Auckland, excellent schools had been provided, and as a resident of Hawke's Bay he was proud i o feel that they had m their midst an institution which was second to none m the Dominion. In the past rather too much attention" had been devoted to the education of their boys, and too little to their girls, and it was i.ow being recognised that girls and women held a very high influence m the community. It was only common sense that they should accord the best education available to their girls. The time had come when the Dominion should provide such educational institutions, so that there would be no need to send them to the Old Country to conclude their studies.' ■ Education m New Zealand .was more suitable to the home life of its people than education

which could be obtained at Home. Continuing, the Bishop said that the day had gone by when it was thought that education concluded when the child left school, and a year or two were quite sufficient. They were now beginning to realise that school life was only the beginning, and not the end of training. It was far easier to educate their children while they were young. He did not believe m the system of cramming or training for examinations, which was not true education. Another thing which was not true education was the development of the mental at the expense of the spiritual side of the question, and he was glad to know that m the new college the latter adjunct was to receive full attention True education was not complete without the inclusion of religious instruction. The Bishop spoke of the strong and elevating influence which environment had on the training of the mind, and from this view alone he considered that a better site for the building could not have been chosen. He strongly believed m education m community, because it was not only the teaching, but the home life which was essential m the moulding of the girls' minds. School life was the enemy of selfishness, priggishness, and snobbishness, and m toning down the girls' natures, it rid them of their angles, corners, and promontories, and brought home to them the necessity of working for the general good, and not concentrating their efforts solely on their own behalf. Above all things m girls they wanted reverence to realise the dignity of work, which should be a great education m life. This could not be obtained unless the spiritual education was taken hand m hand with the secular instruction. The success of a school such as Woodford House depended m the main on the mistress — they needed a mother m Israel, one who would insist on discipline when it was needed, and one who would bestow praise when it was deserved. Such a person they had m Miss Hodge, and if they had the loyalty of the parents and children, he was sure the school would be a great blessing to the community. , His Lordship then formally declared the school open, amidst loud applause. The chairman thanked Bishop Averill for his scholarly and eloquent address, which was good matter for those present to digest. He paid a warm tribute to the taste, self-will, and energy displayed by Miss Hodge m promoting the erection of the new building, and concluded by wishing

her many years of life to work out the destinies of Woodford House; Design of the Building. The design has been carried out on the English Domestic lines, the aim being to give the inmates homelike surroundings and influences, combined with the student's life. That the effort has been a pronounced success has been readily recognised by all who have had the privilege of looking over the buildings during the afternoon. We wish Miss Hodge and her staff all success, and trust that they may be enabled to carry out the high ideas they aspire to m creating the traditions of the new school.