BOULCOTT SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 7

BOULCOTT SCHOOL

NEW CLASSROOMS

OPENED BY HON. P. FRASER

Parents, and pupils assembled ;in force at the Boulcott' School (Lower

Hutt) on Saturday afternoon; when two new classrooms were officially' de-

clared open by the Acting' Prime Mm

ister and Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser). Also present«were the chairman of the Wellington Education Bqard (Mr. W. V. Dyer) and Mrs. Dyer, the headmaster (Mr." ; Ri J. Burke) and Mrs. Burke, Mr. ,H. Saunders (chairman of the school committee), Mr. W. I. Deavoll (secretary of the Wellington Education Board), and the board's architect' (Mr. Drummbnd). ; ' ■. '•',' '. ,' ;' -', ; . Mr. Saunders welcomed those, present and apologised for; the' ; absence of the Mayor (Mr. J. W, Andrews),and Mr. J. Stohehouse (a; member of the Education Board). He thanked Mr. Fraser for the ready response' to ■ the request- for ■ more accommodation. Boulcott -School was; biiilt ~ia 1928,' he said, and it then had; three robnis.' Later two more rooms;were'added'.andthese new rooms brought the. total to seven. When Mr. F.raser visited'the school, he said that, the accommodation would be provided if .the member

for the 'district (the" Hon.' W.r Nash)

could find, the money, and this had been done. The two members of the Education Board who lived;in the dis-

trict (Messrs. Dyer 'and . Storehouse) had looked after, the school very well and thanks were also due to the headmaster and his staff. The rooms had been tastefully, finished by the contractors. A feature of the.school"wais thermapner in which the desks were kept... .;;■ '.'.'; ...;\ ';■,', .' -*;1,.

Mr. Dyer also welcomed . Mr. Fraser and thanked him for" the attention he had given to the 'during -Mr. Nash's absence. Heiwas at all times approachable. At. times, said Mr. Dyer, he had- been" found' various schools with Mr! Fraser, who had been, able to point out-little things that could have been done by local .effort without approaching ' official' quarters.' However, much had been: achieved;;in Hutt Valley by. local effort' and^ dooperation. ' The school, at Boulcott had a magnificent site'of over four acres.' When negotiations were under way for acquiring the site it was prophesied ■ that children would .not- came to the school, but this; had proved /incorrect. There had been sorne.;doubt as to whether one or two rooms should be provided, but: Mr. Fraser had.seeij that it was really an. economy to 'put up two rooms at the present- time.-The approximate cost of-the building ahd heating was £1350. ~. ~ ■'■; f' •>;.■■.■.-:>

Mr. Dyer stated.that; because of the rapid development of the Hutt .Valley there was an - urgent need: for, another dental clinic and the Education Board would discuss the matter at its ■■ next meeting, but he did not anticipate any difficulty there, and the next 'clinic would be placed in the ' grounds" of Boulcott School. The Government had given a grant.for ' the erection of bicycle.stalls, and they would"'bVprdvided in the near;future.;.--"'' ■- ' '■■' ■ NEED OF CO-OPERATION. :-,\ '■. Mr. Fraser. said it gave .him.sincere pleasure to' be present: Much1' had been accomplished at the,: Boulcott School as : the result of co-operation between"'parents,: the; schbbl committee, the Educatidn Board, and the Government. He would like to congratulate, the school committee on 'the. beautiful'groundsarid said 'it;was a privilege for children to , attend -a school with such fine . rooms. * The school'buildings were- not, yet. completed, and they would lookeveri better when the final projection was added. The 'headmaster's' office was- a 1 model for anyschool. The rooms had access to the. sunshine and the cross ventilation allowed for plenty' of :fresh'. air. The school was fortunate in its" headmaster and staff and the beautiful environment encouraged them to;giyeof their best.; Referring to the;;general tendency • towards overcrowding of classes, Mr. Fraser said" they ,were not able to cope with that just 'yet, but they were making" progress. There were many schools in the Dominion notyet up.to the Boulcott. standard. .'■

Mr. Fraser congratulated the contractors and said that' some of tha woodwork was really -beautiful. Ha also congratulated the .janitor (Mrs. Hamilton) on the mariner in-which she looked after the school. ' " " .

, In the education system, said Mr. [ Fraser, there were • opportunities for good will and co-operation that.could well spread to other forms .of asocial activity. First of all, there was the school committee which looked after the. school and grounds, .arid' then there was. the. Education Board. The Wellington Education • Board, in/ his experience, was not excelled by any other ' education board in New Zealand. It was honest in its approach to any problem and efficient in. the way in.which it carried out the work. The board did not ask. for money unless the request was justified. 'The, secretary (Mr. Deavoll); had been secretary to every Minister of Education'since Sir James Parr and had a great grasp of the work! . '■'■'■'. : '••' •.••' ■' '

' Mr. Fraser then declared the classrooms ,open and- those j present' gave him three cheers.'

Afternoon tea was served and the school building was inspected.' : '