School Jubilee Should Produce Much Data On District's Growth

Chronicle (Levin), 15 October 1949, Page 4

School Jubilee Should Produce Much Data On District's Growth

No public institution is as closely allied with a towli or district's developmeht as its school and in this Levih is no exception. When its first settlers cleared the busji to provide for their future homes, their immediate thoughts were for a school in which to provide for the education of their children aild a chureh for their Christian training. The Levin Public SchooTs celebration of its 60th. jubilee., 1 early "ne'Xt year'ik,* tfi'6'r fe'f Sfgrfffif8A"il1f ahd' will C'reafe Widespread interest. " The history of Levih's school is also the history of the district, and the publication of the jubilee book will be a valuable addition to the all too meagre printed record of the district's growth and development.

The compilation of this book is in the capable hands of Mr. F. G. Carrington. One hundred pages . of the Levin School's jubilee publication will be 'devoted to phas.es of the district's development and its early settlers. He has secured 5 permission to use extracts from Mr. E. O'Donnell's "Te Hekenga," { being the reminiscences of the llate Mr. Rod McDonald. The purchase of an area of land . for the | town of Levin, its ineeption as a boroUgh, the introduction of electricity and gas will all be outlined. ' Then there is a history of the school itself to be compiled and it is here that early pupils can be of valuable assistance. A 100 per cent analysis of any 50 years can become dull reading without those personal touches. The first lesson every journalist learns is that wherever a group of people gather there must be a story. The number of persons who have passed through the Levin School is in itself a story and each and every on'e will have his or he-r ' The e'ditor of the jubilee book will welcome contributions of a historical, humorous or personal nature, or if it is more convenient the secreta ry, Mr. L. R. Salgions, reminiscences. cSwi

"The Chronicle," Levin, will act as a receiving agent. Photographs, too, will be most acceptable. "School opened this morning, the attendance being three. There is no blackboard, teacher's desk or chalk in the sehooiroom. After takihg down the names in the register, the children were dismissed with instructioris to attend sharp at 9 o'clock." The above is a quotation from the diary of the first teacher in the Levin School on the day it opened for the reception of pupils — February 24, 1890. He was Mr.! R. J. Pope, later to become its first headmaster. SUch was the sihall beginning of what was to become (before the advent of Horowhenua College) the largest district high school in the Dominion. The "Cyclopedia of New Zealand" of 1897 records that "Sihce 1892 the number of pupils attending the school ha^s increased from 50 to 167. The headmaster is assisted by an assistant and two pupil teachers." Today a much diffetent story is seen. The last roll figures available for 1949 give the number as 755 with 18 of a teaching staff. two of whom are pfobationary teachers. ,