1915 - The beginning of Tokoroa
In the early 1900s, Tokoroa was only a very small settlement for families that were involved in farming the land surrounding Tokoroa. There were several families that were settled in the area, with some of these families having school aged children. In 1912, a proposal was put to the Government of the time to establish a school to cater for the few families living in the area at the time. This proposal was passed and the original school building was built (pictured above, with the class of 1916).
Mr Sloss, owner of the land known as Tokoroa Block No.1, started the Tokoroa Land Company in 1912. 1912 also saw the arrival of the West Brothers, who had a long-term vision for the wasteland. The Wests owned a farm just outside of the current town. The Government of the time had just recently taken-over control of Education in New Zealand at the time and introduced the Education Act 1877 making Primary Edcucation free for students up to Grade 6 (Year 6 or 7).
The settlement of Tokoroa Consisted of a few farming families, as well as those involved in the early planting of the Pinus Radiata. The school retained similar numbers for decades to come, as the town did not start developing until the early fifties. During this time, the development of Tokoroa was very slow, with little reason to settle here. The West brothers, and several others saw the potential though, and that Tokoroa will eventually take off, when the Pinus Radiata was ready to be processed.
Mr Sloss, owner of the land known as Tokoroa Block No.1, started the Tokoroa Land Company in 1912. 1912 also saw the arrival of the West Brothers, who had a long-term vision for the wasteland. The Wests owned a farm just outside of the current town. The Government of the time had just recently taken-over control of Education in New Zealand at the time and introduced the Education Act 1877 making Primary Edcucation free for students up to Grade 6 (Year 6 or 7).
The settlement of Tokoroa Consisted of a few farming families, as well as those involved in the early planting of the Pinus Radiata. The school retained similar numbers for decades to come, as the town did not start developing until the early fifties. During this time, the development of Tokoroa was very slow, with little reason to settle here. The West brothers, and several others saw the potential though, and that Tokoroa will eventually take off, when the Pinus Radiata was ready to be processed.
Tokoroa School - The beginnings of Schooling in Tokoroa
The Education Board approved the construction of a school in 1915. In July of 1915, construction of Tokoroa School was complete. The school was built just above a pumice track that is now State Highway One. There were 9 pupils, and one teacher. Mr West, was made school commissioner because of the lack of people at the time to form a school committee. Students were catered for in a single building and warmed by a wood-burning stove.
The first teacher was Miss E.M. Martin, an English-woman from Auckland who would travel to Putaruru via train, and picked up by Mr West on a horse and carriage. Miss Martin, was totally out of her element living in rural New Zealand, not having ventured far from the city. This sole-charge position had differed so much in comparison to Miss Martin's previous teaching posts. This resulted in her leaving at the end of 1915, and being replaced by a younger teacher, also from outside the area.
In the Early days, Tokoroa School ran with no corporal punishment which was very radical at the time, and was not that common. One of the Early sole-charge teachers had decided that this would be a great school to trial such innovative thinking.
The first teacher was Miss E.M. Martin, an English-woman from Auckland who would travel to Putaruru via train, and picked up by Mr West on a horse and carriage. Miss Martin, was totally out of her element living in rural New Zealand, not having ventured far from the city. This sole-charge position had differed so much in comparison to Miss Martin's previous teaching posts. This resulted in her leaving at the end of 1915, and being replaced by a younger teacher, also from outside the area.
In the Early days, Tokoroa School ran with no corporal punishment which was very radical at the time, and was not that common. One of the Early sole-charge teachers had decided that this would be a great school to trial such innovative thinking.
1915-1917
The school soon became a social hub for the slowly developing community. It housed church services, district meetings and social evenings where couples would dance to musicians using a violin, or a mouth organ. The school was still running in the single building, with the population of Tokoroa not increasing or decreasing much at all within the first two years of the school's life.
In August of 1917, the first school committee was formed, and the school was now being governed by the citizens of Tokoroa and not just Mr West, who had done an exceptional job in the role of school commissioner.
In August of 1917, the first school committee was formed, and the school was now being governed by the citizens of Tokoroa and not just Mr West, who had done an exceptional job in the role of school commissioner.
1919-1925
By 1919, the school's roll had increased to 28 students, with new families having moved into the area. The town was still occupied by mainly farmers. A proposal was sent to the Education Board to grant permission to build another classroom. This was granted and the classroom built ready to use in 1921.
Also in 1921, the NZ Forest Service became a Government department and established a plan to replace the native trees that were destroyed in the clearing of the land. However, native trees take a very long time to grow. The decision was made to plant Pinus Radiata which really grew well in the supposed waste-land. These trees take 20-25 years to mature, hence the many millions of Pinus Radiata planted all around the area surrounding Tokoroa.
Also in 1921, the NZ Forest Service became a Government department and established a plan to replace the native trees that were destroyed in the clearing of the land. However, native trees take a very long time to grow. The decision was made to plant Pinus Radiata which really grew well in the supposed waste-land. These trees take 20-25 years to mature, hence the many millions of Pinus Radiata planted all around the area surrounding Tokoroa.
Original Pool built in 1916.