Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) formerly known as Correspondence School turns 100 this year. For an amazing overview of the school’s history visit their website created to celebrate the centenary https://tekura100.co.nz/.
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The Postman, New Zealand Education Department, Volume XXIII
(Christmas 1950) |
Delving into the Tauranga Heritage Collection I came across The Postman, the school’s annual magazine. First published in 1927, it contains student poems, essays, and short stories alongside photographs of children and their pets. An entire section is dedicated to the school’s clubs and societies which in 1950 included The Naturalists’ Club and School Museum, Esperanto Club and Meccano and Models Club.[i]
My Puppy.
Two little ears
and a little pink tongue,
That goes in
and out when he’s had a long run.
Four padding
paws as quiet as a mouse,
There’s nothing
he likes better than a run through the house.
Two little eyes
like twinkling stars,
Afraid of
nothing except tractors and cars.
A little stump
tail that wags all the day,
That is my
puppy when he’s at play.
MARY HENDERSON, S.3. Picton.[ii]
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The Postman, New Zealand Education Department, Volume XXIII
(Christmas 1950) |
A poignant feature of the magazine is the ‘In Memoriam’ page, a reminder of why many students were enrolled in the school and a clear example that building relationships with students – all be it from a distance – was a core principle established by Janet Mackenzie when she established the service in 1922.[iii]
“Thomas Overton - It is with deep regret that we heard of the death of Thomas Overton early this year. Thomas was a bright, cheerful little boy, and the news of his death following an operation, came as a shock to his teachers. To his parents and his brother John, we extend our sincere sympathy.” [iv]
The Postman, like Te Kura has evolved and is now
called Link up. Published several times a year it is also available
online https://www.tekura.school.nz/assets/link-up/Link-Up-April-2022.pdf.
Much of the content remains the same and, as I discovered, is a wonderful
source of positivity and inspiration.
[i] It is interesting to note that by 1955 the Esperanto Club is no longer in existence at the Correspondence School. Esperanto, a language created in 1887 by Leyzer Zamengov, was intended as a universal second language that promoted world peace and understanding.
[ii] The Postman, New Zealand Education Department, Volume XXIII (Christmas 1950), p.50. Tauranga Heritage Collection.
[iv] The Postman, New Zealand Education Department,
Volume XXVIII (Christmas 1955), p.36. Tauranga Heritage Collection.
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