Jack's Mill School by Kath Baynes
If you turn off the road between Jacksons and Stillwater that passes Lake Brunner on the West Coast of the South Island toward Kōtuku you find the Historic Miniature Bungalow which is part of the old Jack’s Mill School.
We were fortunate the day we visited to be shown around by John O’Brien, an ex-pupil. Boards in the ground record the history of this place.
In its heyday Kōtuku had a population of 500 people and many of these people were involved in the 27 forestry mills in the area. Today there are half a dozen homes. Kōtuku produced oil at one time. This was extracted using an oil derrick but drilling ceased when an earthquake cut off the supply. John said that the oil was of such high quality that it could be used in vehicles unrefined.
Molloy Brothers, carriers, used to rail ten 44 gallon drums a week to the Grey River Wharf to be used unrefined by the ‘Gale’ and another small coastal vessel. Farmers used to mix kerosene and oil for use in their tractors. The boss of the oil company used to run his Stutz motorcar on it (but with large clouds of black smoke following him).
The school building was unremarkable and representative of many of the era in which it was built but it has an intriguing history. The school rooms and the adjacent hall are full of photos and memorabilia.
When Mr E R Darracott arrived in 1935, to be Headmaster of Jack’s Mill School, he came from the Fendalton School in Christchurch with the express purpose of putting into practice the American John Dewey’s ideas, which were, apart, from the 3Rs, teaching children practical skills which would prepare them for later life.
The area in front of the school was a 10 foot deep gravel pit, and to raise money to fill it in, Mr Darracott ran a Queen Carnival for 11 and 12 year old girls which raised 130 pounds which paid for depression labour to fill and level the ground. The pupils had to set out gravel paths, north, south, east and west, using compasses. Gardens were then established on each side of the paths. As a gesture the Public Works concreted the paths.
The school won the trophy for the Best Garden for Country Schools in the Canterbury Education Board District for some years.
After the projects were completed, the pupils compiled a large scrapbook which detailed what they had done together with drawings of the oil derrick and the local sawmills and drying kiln and sent it to Dulwich College in London. The students there were so impressed that they took up a collection and sent out a box of seeds which the pupils planted in 1938.
One large tree near the bungalow was measured by an arborist recently and had reached a height of 92 feet, not bad growth in 70 years.
Following on from this project the school set about designing and building a complete replica bungalow on a half scale. A competition for designing the bungalow was held and John had great pride in telling us that the prize winning entry was from his sister Rosemary.
Everything in the building was built to scale and the Atlas Stove Company provided a three quarter stove. The house was completely plumbed and wired and even had a built to scale hot water cylinder. On the day of the grand opening John was chosen to take a bath in the house and can remember being very indignant as his mother made him have a bath before he set off for the ceremony. Two baths in a day was a terrible imposition.
Home Economics were taught in the completed bungalow.
John explained the reason for the projects carried out at the school.
Mr Darracott did this with the encouragement of Mr Beeby, the Director General of Education, and keen interest from the Minister of Education, Mr Peter Fraser.
The Labour Government intended to use this as a prototype for the whole of the country as a forerunner of the present day Polytechnic, with secondary departments added. In fact, Mr Darracott taught seven pupils in a secondary class he established in his tiny office.
Unfortunately the Second World War was breaking out and the plans were shelved.
The Jack’s Mill School closed in 1955 due to the declining population. Ownership went to the Christchurch Teachers’ Training College who used it for some years for different teaching programmes.
Left to deteriorate it was only when John’s sister burst into tears on seeing the state of her beloved school that John and his brother Tom set about the task of restoring this remarkable school back to its former glory.
A trust was set up to ensure the survival of the Jack’s Mill School. It has now been purchased by the Department of Conservation.
Among the many interesting memorabilia on display were two mats.
The two mats were designed by my sister, Rosemary who of course also won the competition for the bungalow. The larger mat was darned by the girls and the smaller one by the boys. The girls also made the towels, bedspreads, curtains etc.
The mats are perfectly crafted and would fit into any modern day home.
One wonders what became of the children whose lives must have been enriched by such an enterprising school.
NB: Words in italics are quotes from John O’Brien.
The following is more information supplied by John.
War Memorial Gates:
The war memorial gates were first planned in 1937 but not erected until 2007. The gates were made out of Tōtara from a tree felled in 1938 and cut up by Ray Thomas, who is engaged in recovering sunken logs from Lake Brunner.
The theme on the gates is a crosscut saw denoting the main industries of the Ōtira Line District.
There were a tremendous number of young men working in the area at the times of both World Wars. In fact, the membership of the local RSA based in Moana after the Second World War exceeded that of Greymouth.
The saw on the gate is an “M” tooth saw which was invented by a resident of Kōtuku in 1927 and who held the World Patent Rights for it.
However, when an American Company started marketing it without paying rights he tried to fight them but lacked funds and consequently nearly went bankrupt.
Standardised Handwriting:
An innovation he (Mr Darracott) introduced to the school was a card he designed to standardise the handwriting of pupils.
He was very strict on neatness and the angle of writing. This was in the pen and ink days. No blots or work to be done again.
Mr Darracott did not neglect the scholastic aspects of teaching. That last year,
Proficiency Exams were held, he recorded a 100% pass rate.
Note: This has been read on Sounds Historical, Radio National New Zealand.
Acknowledgement: John O’Brien
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