Preparing for a School
The Theosophical Education Trust came into being in India in 1913 when Dr Annie Besant founded the Benares School. Since then Theosophical Schools have been established in many countries with varying degrees of success. France was the first country outside India to embark on such an enterprise, Scotland followed with the Moray co-educational school opened by Mrs Ensor, and later Brackenhill in England, as a ‘rescue’ home-school for slum children, and then St Christopher's at Letchworth for those more happily endowed. New Zealand was not far behind in responding to Dr Besant's direction that education should be one of the main interests of the Theosophical Society. The origin of the idea is always hard to place when reviewing the events of past years, but it seems safe to attribute the first precipitation of the idea that the New Zealand Section should start a school to Mr Simpson.
During the New Zealand Theosophical Society’s 1915 convention under the heading of “Other Business”, an interesting discussion developed on the subject of child education.
“A humorous suggestion of a ‘No Tears,’ or a ‘No Cane’ League evoked information that some teachers find their chief difficulty is in stiffening themselves against too much lenience. One speaker pointed out that in cases where the attempt to gain the love of the child is not successful, there must be a will force in the teacher which can take the place of physical force, else order will not be maintained. This implies self-training among teachers, and is a gradual process. There was some agreement that it is not yet possible, in every case, to dispense with corporal punishment. The Chairman remarked that we shall have to provide for the education of children of a newer and higher type. Finally, a committee, consisting of the sixteen teachers present, was appointed to act with the Chairman, with the object of formulating some scheme for united effort.” (Theosophy in NZ Janurary 1916)
Correspondent Mr Geoffrey Trevithick appealed to his fellow Theosophists in New Zealand.
“Brothers,” he wrote, “There is not a single Theosophical school, though there are over one thousand members in our Society. Yea, I knew you would be shocked. We have such lots of children, and soon there will be more, extra special ones, too, Sixth Reinforcement: yet we have made no provision for their education. To begin with, let us open one good Kindergarten. They are amazingly simple to start; no apparatus; nothing but the household cat and other common utensils. Any teacher sufficiently gifted to attract the little nuisances to school, and keep them there, is hailed as a public benefactor, and rewarded accordingly. But, of course, in our school we should have the best and sweetest teacher and all apparatus that loving hands can make, sitting up o’ nights in rosy sacrifice.” (Theosophy in NZ April 1916)
Inspired by The Theosophical Education Trust in London that had eighteen educational institutions entirely under its management, a tremendous thrust was underway mid 1916 for the development and procurement of a property for the school to come into existence in New Zealand.
In 1918 an announcement was made in the Theosophy in New Zealand magazine that the Theosophical Educational Trust Board (TETB) had found and purchased a property in Auckland ideally suitable for the Day and Boarding School which the Section, at last Convention, decided to establish.
The trustees wrote:
“We have no doubt that members will be proud of their School and will freely support it. For some years regular contributions will be needed; but if each one who is able gives a little, all difficulty will disappear. One pound per year is not much for most of us to spare; even those whose means are small will scarcely miss it, if it be -put aside at the rate of five pence weekly, or one shilling and eight pence per month.
The Treasurer of the Trust needs at once £500 more in loans at five per cent to complete the purchase money, and begs all members to send in without delay their promises to tribute annually to the Income Fund. Gifts of books, pictures and furnishings will be welcome.
The School will be opened early in February, 1919. It will, at first, be conducted as a Primary School, so that only those children who have not reached the Proficiency Certificate level will be eligible. Ere long, when the staff is complete, classes for more advanced children will be added.” (abridged)
Later the trustees vision expanded to include the co-education of boys and girls with a boarding wing. Originally named ‘Vasanta College’, it was changed to ‘Vasanta School’ in 1924, and then ‘Vasanta Garden School’ in 1927. Vasanta is the sanskrit word for spring. In 1933 Miss Darroch established a Secondary department so that students sitting their Proficiency Certificate level would not have to leave. Under her guidance the school flourished with a roll that would reach nearly 100 pupils.
Compiled and written by Lara-May Thorne
Next chapter: A New Era
During the New Zealand Theosophical Society’s 1915 convention under the heading of “Other Business”, an interesting discussion developed on the subject of child education.
“A humorous suggestion of a ‘No Tears,’ or a ‘No Cane’ League evoked information that some teachers find their chief difficulty is in stiffening themselves against too much lenience. One speaker pointed out that in cases where the attempt to gain the love of the child is not successful, there must be a will force in the teacher which can take the place of physical force, else order will not be maintained. This implies self-training among teachers, and is a gradual process. There was some agreement that it is not yet possible, in every case, to dispense with corporal punishment. The Chairman remarked that we shall have to provide for the education of children of a newer and higher type. Finally, a committee, consisting of the sixteen teachers present, was appointed to act with the Chairman, with the object of formulating some scheme for united effort.” (Theosophy in NZ Janurary 1916)
Correspondent Mr Geoffrey Trevithick appealed to his fellow Theosophists in New Zealand.
“Brothers,” he wrote, “There is not a single Theosophical school, though there are over one thousand members in our Society. Yea, I knew you would be shocked. We have such lots of children, and soon there will be more, extra special ones, too, Sixth Reinforcement: yet we have made no provision for their education. To begin with, let us open one good Kindergarten. They are amazingly simple to start; no apparatus; nothing but the household cat and other common utensils. Any teacher sufficiently gifted to attract the little nuisances to school, and keep them there, is hailed as a public benefactor, and rewarded accordingly. But, of course, in our school we should have the best and sweetest teacher and all apparatus that loving hands can make, sitting up o’ nights in rosy sacrifice.” (Theosophy in NZ April 1916)
Inspired by The Theosophical Education Trust in London that had eighteen educational institutions entirely under its management, a tremendous thrust was underway mid 1916 for the development and procurement of a property for the school to come into existence in New Zealand.
In 1918 an announcement was made in the Theosophy in New Zealand magazine that the Theosophical Educational Trust Board (TETB) had found and purchased a property in Auckland ideally suitable for the Day and Boarding School which the Section, at last Convention, decided to establish.
The trustees wrote:
“We have no doubt that members will be proud of their School and will freely support it. For some years regular contributions will be needed; but if each one who is able gives a little, all difficulty will disappear. One pound per year is not much for most of us to spare; even those whose means are small will scarcely miss it, if it be -put aside at the rate of five pence weekly, or one shilling and eight pence per month.
The Treasurer of the Trust needs at once £500 more in loans at five per cent to complete the purchase money, and begs all members to send in without delay their promises to tribute annually to the Income Fund. Gifts of books, pictures and furnishings will be welcome.
The School will be opened early in February, 1919. It will, at first, be conducted as a Primary School, so that only those children who have not reached the Proficiency Certificate level will be eligible. Ere long, when the staff is complete, classes for more advanced children will be added.” (abridged)
Later the trustees vision expanded to include the co-education of boys and girls with a boarding wing. Originally named ‘Vasanta College’, it was changed to ‘Vasanta School’ in 1924, and then ‘Vasanta Garden School’ in 1927. Vasanta is the sanskrit word for spring. In 1933 Miss Darroch established a Secondary department so that students sitting their Proficiency Certificate level would not have to leave. Under her guidance the school flourished with a roll that would reach nearly 100 pupils.
Compiled and written by Lara-May Thorne
Next chapter: A New Era