SCHOOL OPENED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32305, 27 August 1943, Page 3

SCHOOL OPENED

CEREMONY AT MATATOKI infant classes housed DONOR OF AREA THANKED In a perfect spring afternoon, last Saturday, a large gathering af parents and scholars attended the official opening of the new infant school at Matatoki by Mrs J. Thorn on behalf of her husband, Mr J. Thorn, MjP., who unfortunately was detained on important business in Parliament. Mr J. H. Hudson, chairman of the Kopu School Committee, of which the Matatoki School is a part, presided, and on the platform with him were Mrs T. A. Cooper, donor of the area on which the school is erected, and Mrs Thorn. After extending a welcome to Mio Thorn and those present, the chairman said that while they regretted the absence of Mr Thorn they had m Mrs Thorn, he was sure, a perfect substitute. He then asked Misses Joan Lundberg and Janice Denize to present to Mrs Cooper and Mrs Thorn two beautiful bouquets of spring flowers. Proud Day. for Matatoki “This is a proud day for Matatoki, said the chairman, “for after many years of persistent agitation, the very generous donation of this ideal section by Mrs Cooper, and the untiring help of Mr Thorn, the residents can now say, ‘We have our own school.’ ” Mr Hudson then explained that for many years the school had been held in the public hall, which, in spite of all they could do, was not satisfactory. Having heard that the Kerita school was closed, the committee, after receiving the generous donation of the site from Mrs Cooper, was, with the help of Mr .Thorn, successful in inducing the Minister of Education to allow the Kerita school to ibe shifted to Matatoki. The chairman then thanked Mrs Cooper for her fine ges ■ ture and asked Mrs Thorn to convey to Mr Thorn the committee’s thanks for his help. (Applause). Debt of Gratitude Mr E. C. Morgan, headmaster of the Kopu School, ■ on behalf of the teachers and scholars, thanked the committee for providing such a fine side school to the main school. “At last,” said the speaker, “we have a home that we can call our own and where teacher and scholar can do jus-

tice to their work.” He considered the people of Matatoki owed a debt of gratitude to Mrs Cooper for her generous' gift and to Mr Thorn for his untiring efforts to get them the school. He reminded those present of the good work performed by the late Mr E. Brown and Messrs S. E. Hall, W. Dynes, A., Maxwell and A. Newland. The speaker concluded by saying that with such a desirable site, a comfortable school and the hearty co-operation of the residents of the district, he felt sure that the interests of the scholars would be well cared for in the days that lie ahead. Mr A. Maxwell, on behalf of the Parents’ Association, expressed the thanks of the parents to Mrs Cooper for donating the site and to Mr Thorn for his efforts in the matter. He felt the new school would be a great help to the young people of the district, and he assured his listeners that the Parents’ Association would continue to take a keen interest in the welfare of the school.

Mr S. E. Hall, on behalf of his mother, Mrs Cooper, thanked the speakers for their kind references and said he was sure it gave his mother great pleasure to give the area for the school. Mrs Thorn’s Remarks

Before performing the opening ceremony, Mrs Thorn apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr Thorn, and thanked the speakers for their kind references to his work in connection with the new school. “It was in 1937,” said Mrs Thorn, “that Mr Thorn started his effort for a new school in Matatoki. He represented conditions as quite unsatisfactory' and the Ministers were agreed, but the Auckland Education Board was rather of the opinion that consolidation on Kopu was the better idea. However, these difficulties werq overcome and the Kerita school (which had been vacant for six or seven years) is now added to the Matatoki school and nicely reconditioned. It will, I am sure, have a good and useful life.

“The war has proved a lamentable cause of hold-up in the rebuilding and conditioning of our schools, but since December, 1935, nearly £4,000,000 has been spent on 400 1 schools, built, rebuilt or reconditioned, and nearly 300 new or improved residences for headteachers.

“Although teachers’ activities have been affected by the war, much of their energy has been diverted into other channels. Fifty per cent, of men teachers are with the services, staffs have been depleted, yet the men and women left in the schools have car-

ried on, and I believe that education has not gone backThe New Order “We are hearing a lot about the new order after the war. I believe with a 1! the conviction possible that children are the most important people in any country. This is the world we have made for them', and I think the large part of all our energies and our resources should be at the disposal of our children to equip them for their struggle with the problems we have created. “I think education has to be directed from three angles: (1) The living of one’s personal life; (2) the living together with one’s neighbours; and (3) the avenues of using our gifts to earn our living and place in society. “Next in importance to the children come the teachers. We must have conditions in each school where eacn teacher can realise his social vision and where children are living a common life where the art of giving and taking and seeing the other fellow’s point of view is practised. I hope smaller classes will come about, with 30 as the ideal, and I hope that mothers and fathers will learn with their children to forget the past, with its misery and failure and sad disillusionment, and forge ahead to the kind of new order where men and women are trained to give of their best, can reason straight and clear, and are led inescapably to the- conclusion that their mission in life is to serve their fellow-men. To every really intelligent person on this earth, education is the light of the world.” (Applause). Mrs Thorn then turned the key in the door of the building and formally declared the school opened. Those present were then entertained to afternoon tea by the committee.