FOXTON STATE SCHOOL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2141, 17 June 1920, Page 3

FOXTON STATE SCHOOL.

OPENING CEREMONY. PERFORMED BY THE HON. C. J. PARR. The opening ceremony in connection with the local State School was performed by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister for Education, on Tuesday afternoon, in the presence of a large coiiconr.se of people. The public and school children were assembled al the school entrance, and the speeches were delivered from the portico. Prior to the ceremony the Life-Saving Scouts, under Captain Godin, paraded the Main Street, and the trumpet band enlivened the proceedings, The Minister was accompanied by Mrs Parr and Mr Edward Newman, ALP. Among those ’present were Mr Fred. Pirani, Board Chairman, Mr Alt. Fraser, Board member, local school committeemen, and Mr Hodge, Board architect. The weather conditions were ideal. The ceremony opened with the National Ant Item, followed by the school chorus, “Hearts of Oak.” Mr Hornblow, Chairman of Committee, presided, and extended a welcome to the Minister and visitors. He said one of (he last public acts performed by the late Hon. R. J. Seddon prior to bis death, was the opening of the school which was destroyed by lire, and which was now replaced by the present structure —one of the best constructed primary school buildings ot its class in Hie Dominion. They were delighted to have the Minister with them, who had been referred to as “the father of a, quarter of a million ‘children and "millions yet unborn.” The responsibilities resting upon Hie Minister were great, and he believed Mr Parr recognised a full sense ot those responsibilities, as be had been actively connected with Education for manv years, both as a committeeman and Chairman of the Auckland Education Board. He realised the educational needs of the children ot the Dominion, both as to a proper environment and expert leaching. H he could wave the magician's wand he could work wonders, but that was impossible. They knew, however, that Mir Parr was determined to do his very best to bring about much needed reforms, and that in him the cause of education had a staunch champion. Mr Hornldow said that Foxton had been treated well in the past by the .Board and Department. This was due to the fact that the Committee had ever taken a keen interest in their school and knew their rc(|nirements, and m order to secure improvements had raised hundreds of pounds from a generous and sympathetic public during the past leu years to make the environment of their school second to none. The public bad contributed £290 towards providing: extras for equipping the new school. The Committee desired improved sanitary conveniences and increased playing area for the girls, which claims would be submitted to tb» Minister by the Committee a I a later stage. He then called upon the Minister to perform the opening ceremony. Mr Parr, who was received with hearty applause, expressed his pleasure at being present at the invitation of tin* Committee through his friend Mr Newman, the member for the district. He felicitated Foxton upon possessing one of the best primary schools in the Dominion, erected at a cost of £7,500. He ref erred to (he demands for financial assistance from many quarters. He emphasised the fact that £700.000 worth of school buildings were either in course of construction nr else authorised by the Department. About £300,000 worth had, however, not yet been begun by the Education Boards. This was due to the shortage of labour, and more especially to the severe shortage of materials. The new regulation under which only essential buildings would be permitted' by the Government to be built, he hoped, would help the Boards in speeding up their building programme. He desired all the Education Boards to hasten as far as possible the construction of schools. Other people should wait, but the children should not wait. The principles of ordinary humanity dictated that the children must be housed comfortably for school work before anything else. Though the cost of building construction was about 110 per cent, higher to-day than it was in 1914, the Government, realising the needs of the children, would proceed vigorously. He proposed to summon shortly a conference of representatives of the education Boards to ■ take counsel with them as lo the best means of pushing on the building programme. Perhaps a reform as necessary as building was that more teachers should lie obtained. The Minister said he proposed to do this by raising the status of the teacher. Further, he hoped very shortly to make the teaching profession more attractive as regards remuneration. This would attract young men who at present sought employment in other directions. Ho wanted the best of our young people to take up teaching. The Minister concluded by saying that no efforts would be spared on his part to safeguard the educational welfare of the children, and he again felicitated the mothers and fathers upon having so fine a school in their midst.

The Minister was then asked to unveil a'memorial tablet, subscribed by old boys of'the school, to those ex-pupils who had paid the supreme sacrifice in the great war. In doing so, lie paid a fitting tribute to their memory, and asked .Mrs Parr to perform the unveiling ceremony. Upon - tile Union Jack being removed from the -tablet, Mr Beale bounded

the “Last Post,” while all bowed their heads as a mark of respect. The tablet contained the following inscription and names; —“For King .and Country'. This stone was erected to the memory of the following ex-teachers and old boys of the Foxton School who sacrificed their lives in the great war, 1914-1919: C. I’’. Bowe, A. - Cawic, .A. Gray (ARAL), J. Harris, H. Pay. H. Ruscoe, H. Shane, AY. Young, L. B. Stansell, R. Cole, C, F, Reek, L. Howe, F. Levett, A. Rimmer, S. Russel, I). Webb, J. Robinson.” Master Alton Frances recited “Happy Warrior.” Mr E'dward Newman, M.P., then addressed the assemblage, and expressed his pleasure at meeting the Minister in Foxton, Mr Pan 1 had been his bench male in the House, and together with the Hon. Mr Lee, another of his bench mates, both had been elevated to Ministerial rank. The selection of Mr Pari' as Minister of Education was a wise one, and he was well qualified for the position, Mr Newman, after congratulating the people of Foxton on the new school, referred to the spirit which had animated the expupils who had given their lives for King and country, and those who had rallied lo the flag, thus emulating the spirit of their forefathers. He referred to the influence for good teachers exerted upon the lives of scholars. He was sure Mr Parr would do his best to increase the pay of teachers, and so attract the best young men to the service. Jn respect to country schools, he was sorry to say that many families drifted to, the cities in order to afford their children an opportunity of receiving more efficient education. Under Mr Parr’s scheme the country schools would receive more attention. Mr Newman.referred to certain evils of the present system, which he hoped would soon be remedied. He would give the Minister his hearty support on behalf of educational reform. lie congratulated (he Committee, staff and children upon (heir very fine school.

Air Pirani, chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, pretneed his remarks by saying l that this would probably he the last occasion upon which he would address liiem in a public capacity. He paid a tribute to Mr Alf. Fraser, Board member, who had worked strenuously to obtain for them one of the best schools in the Dominion, to the Board architect and the contractor, who had carried out the work. He then made an attack upon the Department for delays,.etc., which called forth a-re-buke from the Alinister. In conclusion, he paid a high compliment to the head teacher. Air Furrie, and asked that the lot of the leaching staff should tie made congenial, for if thev were not satisfied with the present staff the next one would no! he so good. They had a good stall, ami they should endeavour to keep 1 Lem. The Foxton people were cold, and some one had burned down the old school. lie was sure cl tliai it was the work of an incendiary. He did not think they would he so successful with the present building. He said lie was there to .-peak the truth, and accused the hoxton people ot stealing £o() worth ot building material. Hie property of the contractor. He made some complimentary remarks in respect to the Hon. Air Purr, upon whose hehalt lie called for (dicers, which wore heartily responded to. Cheers were also given for the stall. The Chairman (hanked Hie visitors for their attendance, and invited the public to inspect the school.

The Minister then made an inspection of the school, and was subsequently entertained at afternoon tea, in company with the Committee end Board reprosentatives.