FIRST SCHOOL CONSISTED OF SINGLE ROOM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 38 (Supplement)

FIRST SCHOOL CONSISTED OF SINGLE ROOM

How Educational Services have Developed in Fifty Years of the Borough OLD CENTRAL OF 1875 OPENED WITH SEVEN PUPILS

^MONG THE FEW SCHOOLS that were established in the Dominion in, the early seventies, great importance must be attaehed in this distriet to whai is now known as the Hastings Central. This institution had its birth' in 1875. Hastings was then little more than a name, and houses were few and scattered far and wide across tho-plain. It was after the cutting-up of the first towaship seetions by Mr F. Hicks that tke school was established. , Seven pupils in a one-room schoolhouse that to-day would be labelled a •hed — such was the insignificant beginning of education in Hastings; but from .this small beginning there have emerged f our primary schools and a high school that are now moulding upwards of 4000 future citizens every year. *Way back in the seventies tirnes were hard, and from all accounts big fimdowners werejust as hard-pressed as fchey are to-day. What is now main street . property valued at so many hnndreds of pounds a foot weht begging fer a'modest "fiver" an acre. Hastings was surrounded by swamp, where" many a boy "played the wag. " It was just before the opening of the railway through to Hastings that the few settlers determined to use a section whiclx had been earmarked as a school site. "Early in 1874 ihe great day dawned. Mr H. V. Chapman was given muthonty by the Provincial Government — that was the system of gover% ment in vogue in those days — to bi^t a schoolhonse on the eite, then at the corner of Eussell and St. Aubyn streets. One wonld jmagine that the distriet seethed with excitement at the news. But Jio ; the matter was given scant attention, only by the few selqct people whose efforts had been directed towards having the school established. Labonr in thoSe days was dear, you see. and the . children wero capable of a good day's work and could render assistanee to their parents. To lose that assistanee would be a hardship to many of the settlers, who were inelined to Iook upon the three R's as sufficient scholastie attainment for tEe needs of their offspring. Then again, the suggestion of a school was not taken too kindly by the children themselves. They were in the habit of rimning wild all day and tolerated disfeipline only from their parents. To have sonseone else hold the whip and curb their independence was cot at all to their liking. However, despite all this indifference, no opposition was placed in the way of erecting a school in Hastings. Mr Chapman gompleted his operations on the 20ft. by 40ft. schoolroom in -Tulv, 1875, and in that' month the Hastings School was opened. First Headmaster The services of Mr W. O. McLeod [ wefe secnred as headmaster. Master would describe his position at that timp more accurately, for *he was the only uiaster. On the opening day he enxolled seven pupils, four of whom were the children of Mr Chapman. It musthave" taken a eonsiderablo amount of gallaritry and a* very stout heart , to start a school in such circumstances. One long room fitted with plenty of windows but woefully lacking in furniture and teaching appliances— -those were the conditions then.

• Progress aftor the establishment of the school was not rapid. It was steady, though. At the end of the first montli there were 20 pupils, and gradually the number increased until it becamo neceseary to partition the rooxn by. placing a curtaiu dowu tho centre. Miss K. Doney ' was • appointed assistant-mistress, though her reign was very brief, and in 1879 a fornier pupil, Miss L. Chapman, took over the role of teacher. The ro'll number was then between '40 and 50,|Whieh warranted a larger school. It was in that year that a change was made in the lsTew Eeals^j|d educational system. The direction ' of the Hastings school came under the newlyconstituted board and rejognised school committees were appointed and given a certain amount of authority. The alteration in adminlstration had an eflcect on the townspeople, who beigan to take greater interest in the school. A house was built n ear th e school for the headmaster. In 1879 they were making representations for a bigger school. Sevefal offers were made, and the final choice was a block of land — or, 'more truthfully, a bed of shinglo — at the corncr of Karamu road and Southampton street, the present site. ' The erecVion of the new school was placed in the hands of Mr S. T. Tong, who in years to come was to play an , important part in local politics and in

the development of Hastings. The building was on the same lines as th8 first school, but was twice as long and had a porch attacied to it to add a little more dignity to the scene. Theschool cost £709. To-day it may be seen from the main entrance gateway, though it has been altered and many additions have been made to it. Tke well-worn wooden steps leading into the eorridor may still be seen. The transfer to the new school .took place in 1880. The old school, by the way, was for many years used as a" church and later as the Masonic Temple- ' 0 ■ The New School In the* sueceeding three years the school attendance showed a marked inerease, and in 1883, when M»r McLeod resigned the headmastership to enter into business on his own account as an irorimonger, the roll was about 80 and the teaching stsff numbered three. Mr McLeod was succeeded by Mr J. A. - Smith, a product of the old Manchester schools aud Durham Training College. Associated with him from the beginning- of his term. was Miss H. Percy..

j She was headmistress and held in higii esteem by everj'one who kiiew her. The starting of the first Sunday School in Hastings is attributed to her. Before her death in February of 1901 she had served the school faithfully and well for 21 years. In the playground at the school thero is a garden seat, much the worse for wear. It bears the simple inscription: "Miss Percy. Died Pebruary 20, 1901." , Among those who associated themselves with the development of the echool in these very early days were Messrs E. Sonierville, the firet chairman; J. 2ST. Williams, who succeeded him in 1880; J. Collinge, clerk of the Hastings Town Board and later of the Hastings Borough Council; H. V. Chapman, E. Wellwood, later the first Mayor; W. A. Beeeroft, who was secretary of the committee; ana uaptain (later Sir) William Russell, first chairman of the Town Board, later M.P., and one of tho best-known figures-in early Hastings. Mbny noted men served on the school staff, too. Among them were Mr Charles Laws, better known in later years as Dr. C. H. Laws, B.A., of the Theological College, Auckland, and Mr J. Caughley,' later Director of Educatien in New Zealand,

Technical School If is intcresting to note that in the late eighties there was a wave of " educationism " in New Zealand. Schools were bemg rapidly erected in all towns, and the department was sofely pressed by applications for new schools. Hastings, having satisiied it.-' self for a year or two, by .securing additions to the infant department of thp school, turned its attention to securing a technical school. The bopes in this direction were never quite fulfilled, though dressmaking and wood work classes were conducted early in Ihe century. Incossant agitation led .to the department '» agreeing. to allow special assistanee for separat8 classes ot secondary-school status. This divislon was conducted as a part of the school and, though nominally under the controf of the headmaster, was really under the sUpervision of an assistantmaster. Another advance was made in 1904. when a secondary department was attaehed and the school became known as' the Hastings Distriet High School. The first master in charge was Mr L. F. Pegler. who was later to become a

prominent figure in the school and in the borough. By sheer perseveran c.p and ability he overcame" all the diiliculties and established his school on a firm foundation. Another change in the headmastership of the school was occasioned in 1907, when Mr Smith was appointod assistant-inspector of the Education Board. There was a big stir over the appointment of his successor. The coinmittee favoured the appointment of Mr Pegler, and the board wanted to place in charge a inan one grade higher than Mr Pegler. There was a regular "storm m a teacup" at one board meeting, and Mr W. C. Maddison, then a prominent member, resigned. He was reported as having declaTed that the "way they conduct the business is the laughiug-stoek of the colony. The members eontinually have wrangling rows like wild beasts." By a curious coincidence, his son, Mr G; A. Maddison, is to-day chairman of the Education Board, and tho board is noted for the manner in whieh it I'onduets its business Mr. Pegler's T erm The committee 's seieetion, however, was ultimately approved, and Mr Pegler assumed control on Aprii i, 1907. Old pupils speak very warmly of him as a teachfer and as a man. Onder Mr Pegler's guidanee the school rapidly grew in size, and in J 908, under the chairmanship , of Mr G. -F. Eoach, we find that it had the largest attendance of any school in the province. Later the baths were laid down — they are now the headquarters of the Heretaunga Swimming Club — and the representations for a .new school were fulfilled by .the coming into being the Mahora, Hastings West and later the Parkvale Schools.. Having settled the question of baths, Mr Pegler turned his attention to the tormation of a flfe and drum band. In this venture he was materially assisted by Mr A. A. George, who was one of the fuunders of the Hastings Citizens' Band. In 1915 the band was started, and it flourished for a long number of years. When the excitement of the war had died down, the committee became actively engaged in th8 disestablishment of the Distriet High School in favour of a teehnical high school "where all the local requirements could be met and the educational prestige of tho town could be maintained," as a recommendalion to the board put it. At this time it was mentioned that 100 pupils were being. sent into Napier for higher education. A site of twenty acres was purchased in 1919 for a technical school. This was actually built, but its scope was not extensive, and later the present High School was. built. The year 1920 found the Central Schoo] roll soaring into the nino hnndreds. The sixth standard was aecommodated in the King 's . Theatre (pnrehased by the Borough Council as part of its scherae for the laying-down of the Civic Square), and the primer classes were ! transferred to the hop kiln. The building of Parkvale Sehool, the restriction of the boundaries and the handing over to separate control of the secondary division of tho school led to a big reductiou in the roll numbers. Then again, the committee, which up to this time iind had control of both the high-school and the primary-school divisions, reJinquished its control of the High School, and in 1922 we find the school changing its titlo again, this time to Hastings Central. its present name. "Jazz" Banks En March of 1924 Mr Pegler resigned, and, after Mr J. A. Bark had been in control for a montli, Mr J. Banks assumed the position of headmaster. Mr Banks eontinued in the position until his retirement on superann nation in 1033. Old pupils still at school when Mr Banks— "Jazz," they called him — was in control still refer to the good o]d days. Tn January, 1933, the school came under the control of Mr D. T. MeCorniiek, recfintly relurncd aflcr an extonded pei-iod of scrvice in tlm if-lands. Mr McConnick (in the words c.f the l-Jducation Board chairnian) was n born leader and was regnrdcd by the Education Board as oue of the mosf able teachers under it> control. Tt was with regret thnt tho p-ipils and parents snd the committee learned of Mr Mc Cormick 's transfer to the linwood Avernie fchonl. Christchurch. The jiresent heedmasfor. ?lr Pav! »r fc'mitli, was transferred from the Cen- ,

rral School, Napier, and "assumed control at the beginning of September, 1935. The school is progressing under his headmastership. Mahora Appears "When one speaks of Mahora School as the first offspring of 'Hastings Central, one always associates it with the' name of Mr W. T. Chaplin. He was its first headmaster, and after he took charge he nursed the scliool with tender eare. For some time before 1903 efforts had been made to have a second school established in Hastings. Sir "William Eussell was induced to take up the matter, and he prevailed upon Mr Hogben, then Inspector-General of Schools, to visit the proposed site at Mahora. The inspector is xeported to have remarked: "But where are you goang to get thirty children in this distriet?" And it was not such an idle question. At that time, within a radius of half a mile, there were only three houses in sight; the surrounding distriet consisted of large open fields with scarcely a tree on them. Fortunately for the distriet, Sir William was persistent, and the resull was that on August 25, 1903, Mahora? North School opened its doors, or rather its door, to its first pupil. The school building consisted of one room, 36ft. by 22ft., and was situated on one acre of playground. The parents put their hands into their pockets and raised enough raoney to buy another acro. A wire fence was put Tound the grounds. and the school committee was left to make any further improvements it wished. Before the opening of tbe^ school the newly-elected . committee h'ad appointed Mr Chaplin, a: Canterbury product, to take charge. It ean be imagined that his task was not an easy one, faced as he was with 62 children of all ages from infants to standard six pupils. For nearly a month this condition ,_of affairs eontinued, with the roll steadily mount'ing, and finally an assistant, Miss M. Gray, was appointed. Miss Gray took charge of the infants, a position she held for 21 years. The first committee of Mahora consisted of Messrs J. C. Cairns, J. C. Baird, G. AV. Doggett, J. B. Hird, G. D. Love, J. Eeston, and W. Sinclair. Mr Cairns had been the prime ruover for the establishment of the school. The first attempt to raise funds for the establishment of swimming-baths was made in 1913, when a floral carnival was held on tlie racoeojirse, over £200 being raised on that occasion. Efforts in subsequent years raised the fund to over £2000, and as most of that amount was subsidised ( £ fqr £ by the Education Department it will be realised how valuable the efforts of tlie parents and the committee were. Mr C. Lassen's name has for a number of years been prominent in connection with the sehool. After 27 yeaTs the school consisted of 14 rooms and the grounds covered 51 acres. The numerous other improvements made at the school trace back to the funds raised by the parents. Mahora, is regarded as the champion school for sports, but it has also a notable scholastie record. The grounds contain a full-length football ground^ baths, and a gymnasium, where boxing is- taught. The schoo] now consists of 16 rooms. The present headma'ster, Mr E. Bissell, succeeded Mr Cliaplin on his resignation. Mr C. Lassen is still chairmari of the committee. West School "A monument to mark Mr G. F. Eoach 's interest in the educational advancement of the distriet." Such was the summing-up of one spoaker at the opening of the Hastings West, or rather Mahora South School, as it was then called. The oflieinl opening eeremony was performed on April 27, 1914, but actually there were classes held on

the grounds some monthe before. A huge marquee sheltered the seholars from the weather while the sehool proper was being erected. First mention of a sehool site in this' quarter of the town was made at a meeting 'of the Hastings Distriet High School Committee by Mr G. AVilson Warreii as far back as 1907, when he declared that there were at last fifty pupils 'from Mahora South attending. the already overcrowded Hastings schools. „TTo was instrumental in having this fact pointed out ta the Education Board, but that body showed little interest in the disqps'-nre. The settlers took up the matter and interested Mr G. F. Eoach and Mr H. M. Campbeli, M.P., with the result that in Jannary, 1914, we find the householders gathered in the Mission Hall, Stortford Lodge, with a view to clecting a school • committee. The comi mittee set up to further the interests of the sehool consisted of Messrs M. W. P. Lascelles (chairman), E. E. Hay, W. Chapell, G. Purvis, J. C. Baird, G. W. Warren a*h& E. A. Wellwood (secretary). In February the" new school came Into being, and in the first week 170 pupils were enrolled in the huge marquee. The school proper, consisting of four large, airy rooms, was in briek, and the cost, including the price of the grounds, was £3,6&A Tlie eommittee and parents set about raising. funds, and gradually the . grounds were improved and the school was enlarged. To-day the Hastings West School is one of the prettiest in the province. The distriet grew rapidly, and the progress of the school was in keeping with that of the distriet. To . finish off an excellently-appointed school a swimming-bath was required, and the means for seeutrmg this was obtained through the efforts of Mr G. A. Maddison, Mayor, and chairman of the Hawke 's Bay Education' Board. He arranged for a bequest of the late Mr liobert * Harding, of Eaukawa, to be divert'ed to the construction of baths at Hastings West and also at Parkvale. The year 1929 eaw the "Harding" Batlis opened. To-day we find that Hastings is one of .the very few towns in the Dominion which • may boast of having a swimming-bath attaehed to every pnblie primary sehool. Mr G. Iv. Sinclair was the first headmaster, coming from Clive. In 1922 he ieft to take charge of -a larger school at Hamilton, and Mr A. E. Cullen, who was born and educated in Hastings-, succeeded him. Following Mr Cullen as headmaster was Mr Polson, but his icerm was short, and in 1928 Mr E. W. Maxwell, M.A., " was appointed. Mr Maxwell was in 1929 appointed' an inspector of the Hawke 's Bay Education Board, and Mr W. B. Koe took office, contmuing until the beginning of 1933. when he was transferred to Parkvale. Mr W. J. Driller, the present headmaster, took over from Mr Koe. Mr George Ebbett, Mr Eobert Wellwood, Mr A. R. Nirkham, and Mr Jos. Wright are among the men who have presided over the committee, and the present chairman of tlie committee is Mr Lindsay J. Mackersey. Parkvale It is fittmg, perhaps, that the tliard offspring of the mother school should 'have been brought about by the neeessity of giving greater facilities t.o the infants and standard one pupils o± the Hastings Central. The tiny tots were assembled in tlie hop kiln dn Sehvood road, and to wipe off a deficieney on a site purchased for a school an energetie committee of householders raised £100. The school was then nominally under the jurisdiction of Mr L. F. Pegler, headmaster of Hastings Central at thc time, and but for his wise guidaneo the birth of Parkvale School might have been delayed for a number of years. Mesdames Lovell-Smith, S&orriff and Hill, too. were interested in the project, and they were of great

assistanee in having the sehool established. The school was popnlarly lcnown as the model sehool, for the architeet was given the . oppoj-tunity of introducing several new ideas, partieularly in relation tb "open-air" aceommodation, . a feature cf the school. % The building was officially opened by Sir Jame3 Parr. The headmaster was Mr F. A. Garry. He and the committee organised "shops" to raise the funds to' transform the grounds into. their pTeBent-day beauty. Parkvale owes much to Mr Garry, for in everything that had a bearing on his school he took a keen interest. It was with deep regret, therefore, that householders and parents of that area of the borough bade him farewell in 1924 on his departure - for Auckland. In his stead Mr E. A. Day was appointed, but he resigned to take , charge of the Helensville High Sehool and was succeeded by Mr G. A. Lord. The present headmaster is Mt W. B. Eoe.

The High Sehool - The Hastings High School was first opened on March ' 3, ' 1927, and was built to replace the former Teehnical School, a building which the growth of the town's population had made wholly inadequate to the needs of local education.,- So greatly did the schoqj's popularity and reputation for seholarship increase, however, that even at the time of its opening it was found to be too small to accommodate all the pupils that enrolled, and temporary classrooms had to be provided. The school 's change in status from that of a technical high school to that of a high school gave to Hastings every requirement necessary to a thorough and complete local secondary education, and as an added consequence gave the town considerable .importance as an

educational centre, The school. openei with a roll of 246 boys and girls, of whom 126 were newljr enrolled, • and ;tbi attendance soon afterwards • grew M A over 300. . . The prineipal is -Mr W. - A. - G.- Pea* lington, M.A. . , . - ; v ' The curriculum includes eommercial and agricultural courses as well as thi academic cOurse, and , in all those • suIn jeets the sehool has achieved a dhH tinction of which it may-be proud. . Few State schools in New-ZealanC are so fortunately placed in the matte* of roominess of surroundings, and th#. size of the . grounds has enabled th# board of governors to lay out " tenni# courts, basketball - courts, . cricket pitches, running "tracks, football fields„ shrubberfes, and gardens. The present roll of the schoe| numbers about 440.