Melbourne High School opened by the Governor, 08/06/1928

Title

Type

Document / Newspaper

Creator

The Argus

Date

08/16/1928

Publisher

The Argus

transcript of

MELBOURNE HIGH SCHOOL.

NEW BUILDING AT SOUTH YARRA.

Opened by Lord Somers.

The imposing new building of the Mel-bourne High School at Forest Hill, South Yarra, which has been erected at a cost of £100,000, was declared open yesterday afternoon by His Excellency the Governor (Lord Somers). The large school hall was filled, and the chairman of the advisory council (Mr. A. G.Byrne) presided.

Lord Somers said that he hoped that the boys educated in the school would leave it with a desire to make up their minds what they could best do for their country, and that they would take their part in its service. He felt that the inspiration that they would derive from the school would give them the sense of civic responsibility which was so needed.

Owing to illness the Minister for Education (Mr. Lemmon) was unable to attend. He was represented by Mr. Webber, M.L.A., who said that Mr. Lemmon had asked him to say that the opening of the new school building marked the consummation of the efforts of the director of Edu-cation (Mr. Frank Tate). The establishment of the old High School in Spring street and the opening of the new building synchronised with the entrance and exit of Mr. Tate upon the educational stage of Victoria. There were 717 boys in the school at present, and 511 pupils in the Girls' High School—a total of 1,231, continued Mr. Webber. This demonstrated re-markable progress in the higher branches of education. The Ministry was determined that if any "cuts" had to be made in public expenditure it would not make them at the expense of education.

Sir Alexander Peacock. M.L.A., said that Mr. Tate retired with the knowledge that he had been one of the Empire's greatest public servants.

Mr. Tate said that he had visited every State, but he knew of no more complete building for high school purposes. In the fittings and general arrangements much was due to Mr. M.P. Hansen, chief inspector of secondary schools, who had made good use of his study of secondary education in England and in America. The Melbourne High School had been the first State secondary school in Victoria, and at its establishment there had been much fierce criticism at the entry of the State into secondary education. He thought that it would be admitted now that this entry was justified. In 1905, when the school was established, he had published a return showing that there were not more than 7,000 boys and girls receiving secondary education in Victoria. Today the secondary schools of the State had an enrolment of about 27,000, and at least 14,000 pupils were receiving secondary education in schools not under the Education department.

"The movement for State secondary education has brought home to parents the fact that children cannot be educated for the complex duties of twentieth century citizenship by a school training ending at the age of 14," continued Mr. Tate. "In the near future we should undoubtedly see a great extension of the facilities for secondary education by the establishment of schools of varied types, some aiming at a six years' course leading to professional careers, and some at a three years' course preparatory to industrial, commercial, or other callings. We have a long way to go in Victoria before we can provide secondary education for all. Our provincial centres are well supplied with educational facilities, but the same cannot be said of the metropolitan area. In Melbourne we cannot accommodate the qualified candidates who are anxious to join the schools. I cannot sufficiently express my satisfaction at the action of the Prahran City Council, which has given to the High School a portion of its playing area, a substantial grant for the building, and has undertaken also to keep the garden and grounds in satisfactory order."

The Chancellor of the University (Sir John MacF'arland) said that the State now had an educational system of which it might well be proud. Any boy or girl in the primary schools, with the necessary ability and application might, with the assistance that he received, make his or her way to what should be the Mecca of students the University.

A vote of thanks to Lord Somers was moved by the major of Prahran (Council-lor F. Harvey). The principal (Mr. C.A.H. Searby) and Mr. Jackson, M.L.A., also spoke. During the afternoon choral numbers were sung by the school choir.

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