EDUCATION AT OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1920, Page 3

EDUCATION AT OPUNAKE.

A HIGH SCHOOL WANTED, THE BOARD SYMPATHETIC, A deputation, consisting of Mr. H. H. Sinclair and the Rev. C. Strand, waited on the Board of Education at its meeting yesterday with a view to urging the claims of Opunake.

Mr. Sinclair said the chief matter for which the deputation had come was to urge that efforts should be made to get without delay a grant towards the erection of the new school at Opunake. They were therefore pleased to know that a grant had been authorised. Mr. Sinclair urged that the erection of the school should be proceeded with as rapidly as possible on account of the fact that a denominational school was being built, and would' rob the State school if it was not ready first. They hoped also that in the new building a room would be provided as a rest room for children who might become sick. If that was done the residents would undertake the cost of furnishing the room. A request was also made for the building of a bookcase in the school to accommodate a library, which it was intended to establish. Mr. Sinclair mentioned ttfat a bazaar recently held by the committee had placed its finances in a very satisfactory position, the result of the effort being a sum of over £2OO. The final matter stressed by Mr. Sinclair was for the establishment of a District High School at the earliest possible date. There were 29 pupils on the list which had been completed after a canvass of the district to ascertain the number of eligible children. Owing to there being no secondary school in Opunake many parents had arranged to send their children to [ outside schools, and others were not able to take advantage of their qualifications on account of there being no facilities at Opunake for taking up that to which proficiency certificates entitled children. The Rev. Strand endorsed Mr. Sinclair's presentation of the case, and stressed the urgency of the need for facilities for secondary education owing to the isolated position of Opunake. The members of the Board congratulated the deputation on' the splendid position in which the committee was. Mr. Masters said the provisions of the Act were that a District High School could be established provided there were 20 eligible pupils. He did not know why the Minister should stipulate 25 pupils for Opunake. He would be in favor of reducing the number on account of the peculiar position of the district. Mr. Masters said the plan for the new school was prepared and the Board's architect would be in Opunake the next day. There was a teachers' room provided, and he thought that would meet what the committee required in the wav of a rest room. The architect would attend to the matter of the bookcase. He said the grant for the school was £I9OB, and with the fire insurance of £<3oo they would be able to build a school which would be a credit to the I district and an attraction to children. ; The deputation could rest assured that ■ the Board would do all in its power to I have Die new school erected as soon as '■■ possible, and the District High School established without delay and on the basis of the provisions of the Act. The deputation then, thanked the i Hoard and withdraw.

At a later stage the Board decided to erect the bookcase on the understands? that the committee would supply the material.