We asked people around the country to send us stories in their own words about their experiences of country schooling.
What's your story?
Little River School, Canterbury
Harvey McQueen went to Little River School in Canterbury during the early 1940s, when memories of the economic depression of the 1930s lingered, and lessons were overshadowed by wartime concerns.
Riding to school on Great Barrier Island
Lesley Rockell (then Lesley Mabey) rode to and from school in the 1940s and 1950s on Great Barrier Island. (From front) Lesley, Murray and Laurie Mabey are shown seated on their horse before setting off to ride the four miles to Okiwi School on Great Barrier Island in the 1950s.
Pakeho school, King Country
After the Second World War some country schools expanded, as servicemen settled on farms with government assistance, married, and raised families. Ann Somerville recalls the glory days of Pakeho school, near Te Kūiti.
Manahune School, North Canterbury
In 1947 Helen Hirst spent a year as a sole-charge teacher on a farm called Manahune, at Waipara, North Canterbury. Helen (left) and Mrs Thomson (right) are shown with the pupils of Manahune School in 1947.
Te Arakura School, Manawatū
Ngaire Swinburne (then Ngaire Harper) attended Te Arakura School, between Feilding and Palmerston North, in the 1930s. In this 1937 photo Ngaire is fourth from right in the back row, next to her foster sister, Kath Bennett (Davies).
Kahuika School in the Catlins
Mary Murphy went to schools in the Catlins, South Otago, in the 1930s and 1940s. Mary is fourth from left in the middle row of this photo of Kahuika School pupils, taken in 1940.
Tokorangi School, Manawatū
Tokorangi School in Manawatū was one of the country schools that Celia Geary attended. Her father, Len Browning, was a teacher in various country schools – he is standing in the left background of this photograph.
Crownthorpe School, Hawke's Bay
Margaret Joll remembers Mr Chadwick, the long-suffering bus driver who transported children to Crownthorpe School near Hastings in the 1950s, and the fun of getting to the bus stop. This 1950s photograph shows (from left) Margaret, Colin and Elizabeth Joll at Crownthorpe School in the 1950s.
School at Arapōhue, Northland
When Hazel Simpkin started school in the Arapōhue district in Northland, she had to brave floodwaters to get there. She is shown here a year or two before she began school.
Riding to school
J. L. Brunel’s brother (left) sits on Ponto, a pony that carried all the children in his family to and from school at Kaikōura in the 1920s. His sister is on a horse called Midnight. The trip to and from school is a vivid memory for many who attended country schools. Mrs D. McGregor, Mr J. L. Brunel and Mrs N. Johnson recall their adventures.
Fun and games
Children of Turiwiri School, near Dargaville, pose for their 1932 photo. Betty Frost (now Mrs N. Johnson) is third from left in the middle row. Mrs Eileen Shaw, Mrs Dawn Beattie and Mrs Noline Johnson remember some of the games children played and the trouble they got into.
Different lessons
This photo of Waiharakeke School, south of Kāwhia Harbour, shows its features in the 1940s, when Mrs Eileen Shaw was a pupil. Children who went to country schools learned to take responsibility for themselves and others at an early age, and acquired a range of skills not necessarily shared by children in city schools. Mrs N. Johnson, Mrs G. Peddie, Mrs Eileen Shaw and Mrs Dawn Beattie explain.
Piripiri aided school
Piripiri school in 1927 and 2009. Grace Shaw (nee Dassler) was just 17 years old and had completed three years at high school when in 1927 she was employed as the sole teacher of the Piripiri aided school, south-west of Ōtorohanga in the King Country.