HIKUTAIA SCHOOL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4455, 18 August 1922, Page 3

HIKUTAIA SCHOOL.

fine new BUILDING. OFFICIALLY OPENED. The opening of the new school was heid a Httle while after the opening of the post office at Hikutaia on Tuesday, and this ceremony was performed by the chairman of the Education Board, Mr E. C. Banks, of Matamara. In introducing the various speakers Mr A R. Robinson (Chairman of the School Committee) again thankei Messrs Poland and Rhodes for the assistance given .to them in getting a ne,w school building. He apologised fior the Minister of Education, the Hon. Mr C. J. Parr, who was prevented from being present owing to his Parliamentary duties.. They had, however, done the next best thing, and Mr Banks, who had only just got back from Wellington, was present. As chairman of the committee he extended a hearty welcome to all, especially the visitors, and he paid a high tribute to the former chairman, Mr Hanlen, for the untiring efforts he had made to get the new building. Mr Rhodes, in addressing the gathering, said that it was a real red letter day. He had known Hikutaia since 'he Was a “kid,” and felt sure there had never been such signs of progress as were exhibited that day. The post office, he thought, was good, but he believed the school one of tn?, most up-to-date yet erected by the Board of Education in the Auckland province. It was modern ip every detail, and simply one that anyone could desire. The added playground was also a credit to the committee. He had known the headmaster, Mr Elliot, for the last thirty years, and considered he was one of the best generals he had met. When he looked upon the present school and grounds he was now pleased that the first .applications were not successful.- The refusals were blessings in disguise for the Department would never have erected such a fine building in war time. There are blessings even in delays. In order to get what they wanted from Ministers, Members of Parliament sometimes had to be a nuisance. In the matter of getting the new school he and Mr Poland, the member for Ohinemuri, had to pul] together, and the fact remained that they eventually got the new and up-to-date school. He predicted that the day was .not very far distant when this fine new building would be too small. Nothing could stop this district progressing, especially when the present farms would be sub-divid-ed and more intense cultivation would take place. He was proud indeed of the efforts inaugurated by the school committee, and was pleased at .all times to help and push the district forward. He congratulated the teacher, Mr Elliot, for the flpe behaviour of the children, and would ■•say to them, if they don't get through their examinations, don’t say its Mr Elliot’s fault.

Mr Poland, jn addressing the assembly, gave a little of his experience when he went tp school. There were no hacks on the seats then, and you were lucky if you didn’t get the stick two or three times a day. Tnere was no credit to the child to-day for getting on. There were good teachers apd education should be a pleasure them. There was, however, just the change .that we were pampering them too much, and this was a thing he did not agree with. He hoped the teacherswould inculcate in the minds of the children, even more than the lessons, for the boys to be manly 'boys, and manly men when grown up, and the girls to grow up womanly wojnen. They had got to be t ( aught to respect and reverence old ageThey had to be taught to Pave a pride in their country and be loyal tp the flag. They had, to .be taught the history of New Zealand and what the flag stands for. He thought that before leaving school every child should pass the sixth standard. Last year out of every 109 children 39 had left and not passed. Therefore 39 out of every 100 had not received the education they should have received. The first essential was a primary education, and the education given to-day was better than that given years ago. He was a firm ijelievor in home lessons, for it was impossible for the child to improve if it had to depend solely on the teaching at school. He considered it a duty parents owed tp the teacher and to the child to see that tbc home lessons were carefully done. The Hikutaia school was a credit to the district and the Education Board.

Mr W. H. Taylor, chairman of the District High School Committee, said that he had seen most of the schools in the valley, and there were none that compared with the* present fine new building. He congratulated the people on the very fine school and the good effect it must h.aVe on the scholars. Mr E. C. Banks said it gave him pleasure to open such a fine school. The people were indeed lucky to have a school costing £l7OO erected in these hard times. The erection of this school was only another mark of the remarkable advancement of this Thames. Valley district. He had lived at the southern end of jt for 18 years, and was well acquainted with the whole of the Dominion, and was sure that, no part of New Zealand had made such strides during the last year on two as this had; The dairy companies had been at their wits ends every year to know how to keep pace with the advancement, and it was still going on as rapidly as ever. Schools and post offices were in demand all over the territory. He hoped that with the introduction of the junior high schools there would be an improvement in the education of the children. He hoped that the class distinction that had crept in would be done away with altogether. The whole idea was to keep all the children together. While attending the junior high school it would be the duty of the teachers to find out what the child would be most adapted for and would take the course most fitted for his calling. He appealed to parents to send their children to school regularly and not only give them a chance, but also the teacher. One backward child in the class very often delayed others. He advised parents to give the children all the

education they could, and not to stop at the sixth standard. Education was far better than money to them. He said he had pleasure in declaring the school open for public instruction. Three cheers were then given for Mr Banks and also Mr Robinson, chairman of the school committee. A delicious afternoon tea, prepared by the ladies, was then partaken of, at the conclusion of which three hearty cheers were accorded them. The headmaster, Mr Elliot, sail that he would like to express his indebtedness for good work done by both the architect and builder. The work was a distinct credit to the contractor. especially so as they were able to use part of the school the whole time.

The committee consists of Messrs A. R. Robinson (chairman), W. H. Alley, H. Cameron, A. Gubb, B. McSweeney, G. Avery, and I- M. Robinson, hon. secretary.