SCHOOL CEREMONY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 229, 22 March 1928, Page 4

SCHOOL CEREMONY.

OPENING NEW WING. High School Suggested. On Tuesday afternoon Mr. E. C. Banks, member of the Auckland Education Board for this district, visited Putaruru at the invitation of the Putaruru School Committee to officially open the new wing which was added to the school some months back, and also the new concrete steps and other improvements. The front of the school was gaily decorated with flags and bunting, and "there was a good attendance of the general public, chiefly the mothers and female relatives of scholars.

In introducing Mr. Banks, the chairman of the School Committee (Mr. F. C. Barnett) apologised for the absence of the headmaster (Mr. J. G. Gasparich), who was unfortunately laid up, and also Messrs. F. C. Flyger and H. J. W. Scott (members of the committee). Mr. Barnett said they were honoured to have their representative of 16 years’ standing with them that day. The School Committee had done its best to make the surroundings of the school worthy of the scholars and the town by a general scheme of improvements. These included the ploughing up and laying out of the grounds, provision of shelter and the laying down of concrete steps, while they had also had a hard fight to get the two acres for a playground. The Education Board had assisted by paying for the manure, timber, wire and posts, and Mr. Banks had also worked hard in their support. The speaker complimented the staff, and stated they were very pleased to think they had carried on so successfully during the headmastI er’s absence.

On rising to speak, Mr. Banks received an ovation from the children. He stated that the Education Board looked upon Putaruru as a model committee, and one of the best in the Auckland Province. They were ever on the alert for the good of the school, and whether it was extra land that was needed, or improvements wanted, they were not frightened to take their coats off and to work for it. It was a pleasure to assist such, and the policy of the board was to help those who helped themselves. He congratulated Putaruru on their teaching staff, and remarked that in Mr. Gasparich, the headmaster, they had one of the best teachers on the board’s staff.

The school was the most important place in the whole district, and it depended largely on the character and example of the teachers as to what their children would be. Those who did not take an interest in school work were to be pitied. Speaking to the older boys and

girls, Mr. Banks urged them to be careful in choosing a profession. They should think carefully over the advice of their teachers and parents on the question, and also their own inclinations, and having made up their minds then to put all their energies into their job. Parents should send their children regularly to school in order to give them a fair chance, as nothing was so hard on both teachers and scholars as irregular attendance. The time had now come when Putaruru parents had to consider whether they would continue to send their children to the High School at Matamata, or organise to have their

own high school at Putaruru. To obtain this it was necessary to have a guarantee of 50 children, and if parents would provide this guarantee he would do his best to get the matter put through at the June conference.

For a start the same buildings and start would be used, but an extra teacher with a degree would be appointed for the higher class. It would also mean an additional £6O for the head teacher, and thus they would make it easier to keep Mr. Gasparich in Putaruru, for he was very highly graded, and without such inducement he must go. It gave him great pleasure to be present and to perform the ceremony and he hoped that God would bless the teachers and children. The National Anthem was then sung, after which cheers were given for Mr. Banks and the committee. Later on in the afternoon, after an inspection of the grounds, Mr. Banks was entertained to afternoon tea by the school committee.