EDUCATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 65, 24 April 1946, Page 6

EDUCATION

WHAKATANE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

TWO YEARS'OF PROGRESS

The biennial report which was presented by the Chairman of the Whakatane School Committee (Mr J. W. Wilson) at the meeting of householders which took place recently for the purpose of electing a new School Committee contained a record of marked progress over the past two years. In his report, Mr Wilson stated as follows: —

Buildings

In his report two years ago, the Chairman, Mr Lysaght, expressed the hope that new classrooms would soon be added to the school. I have pleasure in reporting now that a building permit for two new rooms at the High School and two at the Primary School has been issued and some of the timber is already on the ground. The delay has given the committee much concern and I feel that had it not been for the frequent letters to the Minister of Education on this subject, we might

still be far from, our objective. A modern Home Science Block was included in the building programme but the Department refused to accept the contractor’s tender and instructed the Education Board to redesign the-building to consist of a normal Domestic Science Room with a small utility kitchen room on one end. This was a great disappointment to the committee and it was decided to lodge an emphatic protest at the shabby treatment accorded one of the largest District High Schools in the Auckland Province. Those members of the oxd committee who are re-elected will make every endeavour to See that the Block as originally planned is pro-

vided. An increase in the Inf aat roll this year and the provision of an extra teacher has necessitated the u.~e of a corridor as a temporary classroom, The matter of further permanent accommodation in this Department will receive the committee’s immediate attention. Grounds • After protracted negotiations a fine Learn-to-Swim Pool has been erected in the school grounds and was opened by the Mayoress, Mrs B. S. Barry in November 1944. At this time a circular appeal was made to parents for donations to convert a shelter shed into a dressing shed and towards the cost of a concrete area for physical training, tennis and basketball. A sum of £65 was raised and the dressing shed provided. The balance will be used towards the cost of a concrete path from the street entrance near the Pool to the Primary School. The Department has approved a grant for laying down two full-sized tennis courts in concrete and these are

now neai’ing completion. Other improvements include:— Concreting of 'main drive from Goulstone Road to High School and to the conveniences. Removal of a fence which separated the school buildings from the football field. Provision of a thirty-yard shooting range. Employment of a groundsman for three days per week as a result of which the general appearance of the grounds has greatly improved. Milk Supply The free issue of milk to pupils

has long been advocated by the committee, but the Health Department’s requirement of pasteurised milk has always been a stumbling block. However the Department has now made the necessary arrangements with a local supplier and, had it not been for the non-arrival of part of the necessary machinery from the United States, the school would have been receiving the supply now. The severe drought this summer will no doubt delay matters until next spring. Houses For Teachers The provision of suitable accommodation for teachers, both married and single, is a constant source of worry to the committee. Representations have been made to the Minister of Education for the provision of houses for assistant teachers without result, his reply being that, except in the case of First Assistants in certain circumstances, it was not in accordance with Departmental policy. At the present time, however, the Board has recommended the purchase of a house in Whakatane and the provision of a new re-

sidence at Matata for teachers at our school.

Ohope Side-School

In December last the committee received a deputation of Ohope residents requesting the establishment of a side-school there for the benefit of children up to Standard 2, about thirty being affected. The committee recommended the establishment of such a school to the Education Board who have applied to the Department for the necessary authority and their decision is at present awaited. Mr A. Bell, a member of the Board, in company with two of the committee visited Ohope and selected a site for a permanent school in the future, the acquisition of which is under consideration by the Board.

Agriculture Last year a sub-committee of the Auckland Education Board visited Whakatane in connection with the establishment of an Agricultural College South of Auckland, and members addressed residents at a public meeting. A resolution supporting the project was passed unanimously. My committee has been negotiating for some time for the purchase of about three acres of land with a house opposite the school for use as an agricultural plot and teacher’s residence. Cabinet approved a grant for its purchase but the owner, owing to unexpected circumstances, could not give vacant possession. During recent negotiations for the purchase of the land only, the owner advised that he had obtained a house else-

where, and we daily expect advice from the Board that the former grant made by Cabinet is still available. Departmental Buses No single problem has given the committee more trouble than the provision of transport for pupils from country schools. The Department’s Transport Officer from Wellington told us in 1944 that our claim for improvement was No. 1 priority in New Zealand. At the commencement of the school year in 1945 two new teacher-driver buses were provided and Jewish to convey the committee’s thanks to those teachers who are carrying out driving duties, for small remuneration and with inconvenience to themselves.

In conclusion I wish to place on record the committee’s appreciation of the services of Mr J. H. B. Warner who was Chairman until April last year when pressure of business forced him to resign, of the Rev. J. C. J. Wilson, who has left the district to serve with J Force and of Mr L. R. Spring, Treasurer, who is not seeking re-election as he feels he cannot give the necessary time to the affairs of the committee. During his term of office Mr Spring brought down a very able report on school finance which was forwarded to the Board. As a direct result we have had no difficulty in obtaining