NO SCHOOL, NO CHILDREN! OHOPE PARENTS DEMAND ACTION BEFORE NEW YEAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 3, 2 October 1950, Page 5

NO SCHOOL, NO CHILDREN! OHOPE PARENTS DEMAND ACTION BEFORE NEW YEAR

“That this meeting of Ohope parents records its dissatisfaction with the lack of progress made in the erection of a school at Ohope Beach and expresses the intention of parents to refuse to send primary pupils to school unless a satisfactory school is established at Ohope Beach before the start of the first term in 1951.” This resolution was passed at a meeting of Ohope parents on Thursday night.

In spnte of rain a large attendance met at the St. Andrew’s Hall to consider action necesary to obtain a separate school at Ohope Beach. Mr F. B. Cutler was in the chair.

Mr Duthie, for the Whakatane School Committee, outlined its endeavour over the past three years to have a proper Ohope school established. It was originally planned' to put the school on the section now asquired by the Croquet Club and permission of the Ohope Domain Board, which controls this area, was obtained. However the Land and Survey Department refused permission on the grounds that the area was a valuable picnic ground. Negotiations were then renewed with the Maori Affairs Department to obtain part of what is known as the Caledonian Sports Grounds. The Maori Affairs Department agreed and it had been learned that the lease had been signed last week. The preparation of the lease had taken 12 months. The School Committee had been in touch with the Education Board at least at monthly intervals and had done everything within its powers to obtain prompt decisions. Mr Fryer-Raisher, Chairman of the Whakatane Parent-Teacher Asciation and Headmaster of the Whakatane Primary School, expressed his concern that so many children should have to journey to Whakatane in crowded buses. He also told parents of the difficulty at present being faced with staff shortages and the adverse effect on children’s schooling of frequent staff changes. A school at Ohope Beach would be attended by from 70 to 80 pupils. Many supported Mr Fryer-Raisher in his concern at children having to travel to Whakatane in crowded buses over a difficult section of road. All agreed that the only,, solution was the establishment of a separate primary school at Ohope Beach.