THE STRATFORD SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1922, Page 6

THE STRATFORD SCHOOL

RECENT RETAILERS’ EFFORT. FUNDS HANDED OVER. (From Our Own Correspondent.)’ A pleasant function took place at the Medina Tea Rooms, Stratford, on Friday night, when Mr. R. Masters, M.P., enter, tained the committee responsible for the management of the recent retailers’ “drive” for funds for the improvement of the Stratford Technical High School grounds, for the purpose of handing over the proceeds ( £BO7 Is 9d) to representatives of the Taranaki Education Board. 1 Among those present were: Messrs. - P. J. H. White (chairman of the Education Board). i Mr. Masters, who was greeted with | applause on rising to speak, congratula- ■ ted the retailers on the success of their ‘driv£. He thought they had been set a stiff task in raising £lOOO in a week, but when he saw the spirit in which the workers went about their work he ’ realised that they were equal to the task. He felt very confident they would get the £1 for £1 subsidy on the £BOO raised, and £l6OO would go a long way towards making the school grounds a very fine playing area. The children of to-day and to-morrow would owe a very ' great defot of gratitude to the activities | of the retailers. i Mr. H. Atmore, M.P. for Nelson, who was present, said he was pleased to endorse the praise given to the retailers by Mr. Masters. He did not know of another town in New Zealand that had put forward such an effort for the cause of education. There was a time when education was looked upon as a side ; line and not a man’s job at all. Now it was recognised that the best education i was a child’s birthright. He regretted : that the Government had reduced the education vote. Ignorance was most exi pensive, and expenditure on education was the best possible investment. The boys and girls going through the ' schools to-day were those who must • exert a stabilising influence on the world ■to bring it back to prosperity. It cost about £l2 10s to educate a child, but in the Great War it had cost £5OOO to kill : him. He advocated more power being • given to local administrative officers instead of the whole power being in the central office of education in Wellingl ton. MOULDING CHARACTER. I Mr. Amess said that the children were ! grateful for the way the scheme had been carried out. When they saw the children playing on the grounds they would realise the good they had done. He urged the importance of building character among the children. Children were not empty sacks to be filled with so much knowledge, but a most important factor was the moulding of character. This effort had been so successful that they ought to try another. The professional men should take up the next scheme. A great deal more money was needed to bring Jthe school up to the standard he would like it to attain. Mr. J. H. Thompson, secretary to the school committee, said they were all proud’of |he effort of the retailers. He felt the movement must 'be backed up by the country as well as the town, be. cause it would serve a large area of Central Taranaki. The completed grounds would be a standing tribute tothe business people of the town. Mr. H. Trimpie, representing the central ward of the Education Board, said he hoped, with other speakers, that further efforts would be made in the same direction. Education to-day did not I consist solely of the inside of the school. If the children were not trained Ito be upright men and women the obJject of education would have failed. Tn I this respect the outside life played a ’most important part. There would be a constant demand for expansion in the facilities at the school, and this demand : would have to be largely met by the = people of the locality. ; Mr. G. Smart said that after the i school grounds were completed there > was still much for the citizens of the town to do to help to provide the children with good clean sport. Mr. Lewis said he thought they had finished their work, but Mr. Amess had told them that there was much more to , do. j Mr. R. H. White said Mr. Rawles had put in a tremendous amount of time and work in connection with the effort, and he deserved a very great share of the credit. (Applause). Mr. Rawles said it was a pleasant duty to hand over the handsome sum of £BO7 to the Rducation Board. They had started out to make the drive a business man’s effort. They had called upon every business man in the town, and they had got a marvellous response. He thanked all who had helped.

; VALUE OF GOOD SCHOOLS. J Mr. Rawles then handed the cheque to Mr. White, who said he was very pleased to receive the cheque, and to congratulate the retailers upon this great effort and success. He pointed out that only part of their duty to education had , been done, and they would still have to put their hand to the plough on behalf of the cause. Education was of paramount importance in New Zealand. The Pacific Ocean was going to be the centre of events in the near future. The drift of population had been gradually towards the Pacific, and whatever they did they could not keep it from New Zealand. They must guide and educate the children to’lead and assimilate the population that would come to New Zealand, which was only a very small portion of the Empire, and dependent to some extent upon the goodwill of America. He cited the case of President Wilson, who had a great task to bring the great , American nation to a single view in the i Great War. and likened it to New Zea- | land’s position in having to assimPate ' the drift of population. He asked the business men to see to it that education ■was of the right kind, and urged the necessity of smaller classes, so that teachers could do justice to them. Another great need was the provision of more room, if they were to have post primary courses. He appealed to the public to place first things first, and expressed pleasure at seeing the co-operation among the people of Stratford in respect to educational matters. Mr. Masters said the gathering had given them an opportunity to meet together and hear some very interesting speeches. It might be well to have other such functions.

At the conclusion three cheers were given for Mr. Masters. Among those who contributed vocal items were Messrs. G. T. Waters, J H. Thompson, and P. Aitken.