Laghmor School

October 28, 2018

Laghmor School

Until this small one-roomed school building was erected at Laghmor around 1918, Tinwald and Westerfield Schools accommodated pupils from Laghmor, a name which I understand is the ‘Gaelic’ word for ‘broad field.’

With the closer settlement of the area, large properties were being surveyed into smaller blocks by the Land Settlement Act, passing through Parliament around 1893. More young families of moderate means were able to become established onto the land. ought teachers residence and yet another eleven years for the Education Board to provide a prefab to accommodate overcrowding in the school. It was in 1965, the Parent Teachers

On May 3^rd 1918, the Laghmor School constructed by Tuckers Ltd of Ashburton was officially opened by Mrs Cow on a small block of land, previously donated by her husband.

An official school flag, also donated by the Cow family, was hauled up the new flagpole, donated by Mr Tucker.

The school was only opened one month, when the committee wrote to the Education Board, advising that already the school was too small as thirty-six students were now attending Laghmor.

Mrs Marjorie Willis, the first teacher was reported to have requested more desks to seat the increasing number of children attending school. In November 1919, again the Education Board was advised of overcrowding at the school. In addition, the committee requested officialdom considers its application for a teacher’s residence.

However, it took another thirty-two years for the Laghmor School to receive it's much -sought teachers residence and yet another eleven years for the Education Board to provide a prefab to accommodate overcrowding in the school. It was in 1965 the parent teachers association accepted a surplus school building from the West Coast school of Arahua Pa. This was finally opened in 1966.

Reading through a few files from those early years one realizes how colourful those years were and how enjoyable it is to revisit some of those memories.

Marjorie Willis recalled the excitement and expectation of arriving at the Laghmor School in 1918, her first sole charge position.

Remember the new school ‘standing in all its glory’ as she put it, in the corner of a paddock behind a ragged gorse hedge. She also recalled how agonizing it was to wait for Mr Evans the inspector, to visit the school. She recalled Mr Evans as a large friendly man, however, she felt rather uncomfortable that day when he asked one of the pupils to recite their favourite piece of poetry.

‘The boy stood on the burning deck’ was recited word perfect and at speed. Reading between the lines, I gained a feeling Miss Willis wished the inspector had chosen another pupil on that occasion.

Some excerpts of letters from the Committee to the Education Board raise a smile –

1920. “The teacher wants to shift all the desks forward, please advise us what to do?”

Another delightful one to the Board in the same year: -

“Re stamps and envelopes, I wish to inform you that the stamps won’t stick to your envelopes; neither can they be closed up, as the gum on them won’t stick.”

Stories from a teachers log book;

A pupil’s interpretation of some lessons, and their answer.

‘What is masculine for duchess?’ ‘Tallboy’.

‘Caviar is made of surgeon’s roes’.

‘A Rotation crop is what makes the birds turn round.’

The best one of all is when the teacher reminded a student -

‘You must not count on your fingers; you should use your head’.

The students reply.

‘But I don’t have that many heads.’

It is only when we look back we can see how colourful and precious some of those little incidents have become through the years; even though at the time, we would rather they were forgotten.