Moonee Ponds Central School No. 3987
Moonee Ponds Central School c1919
Public Education was important to the Victorian colonialists, and a request was made for a school in Moonee Ponds as early as 1889. Overcrowding in the classroom was a common problem as the population boomed and primary education became compulsory. However, it was not until 1917 that the Department of Education was convinced of the need and made funds available for the purchase of land to build a new school. On 30 October 1918 the foundation stone was laid, and eleven months later, on 29 September 1919, Moonee Ponds Central School was officially opened. It would have been sooner if not for the influenza epidemic that was raging the world over, and the school site being commandeered for use as an influenza hospital. Nevertheless, 279 children had been enrolled in the school for that year, with grades ranging from Prep to Year 8.
It was not long before there was a great deal of excitement at the school, with an aeroplane flying overhead. Rock Chote, a student at the school between 1919 and 1925 recalls:
I remember one day in December 1919, when we all rushed out of the class to gaze up at an aeroplane, a Vickers Vimy flying over the school. It barely seemed to move. We knew it contained Keith and Ross Smith on their epic journey from England to Australia and it was going to land at Flemington Racecourse.
It was just 11 years later in 1930 that another historic flight occurred in the sky above the school, this one by Amy Johnson. “She was the first woman pilot to fly solo from England to Australia. There was an air of great excitement. She flew over Moonee Ponds Central School and Miss Clunes ushered the class out to the front garden of the school to see the single engined Tiger Moth plane fly over,” remembers Valda Strauss (née Mooney).
School during the 1920s was different to what many students would experience today. At Moonee Ponds Central students would begin the week by assembling in the quadrangle and pledge allegiance to the King. During the winter months the day would begin with exercises and marching to warm up the body, and wood fires in the classrooms kept students warm during the day.
Grade 2B , 1929
Examinations were held twice a year. If a student failed the end of year exam then they were required to repeat the grade. ‘Staying down’ often happened, especially when a student had too many absences. There were no vaccinations for illnesses such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, rubella and whooping cough, and diphtheria was of great concern, too. Most children became infected with these illnesses, and those who contracted several of the illnesses in one year would have to stay down.
The Great Depression resulted in hardship for many families. Sometimes children would come to school without any lunch, and sometimes without having eaten breakfast too. The school provided what assistance it could, encouraging the more well off students to bring an extra sandwich or two for those who were without. If some students still went without, the Mothers’ Club would pay for the meal provided by the tuck-shop. Second-hand clothing was also kept by the school should students require it.
In 1955 Moonee Ponds Central opened a library. The District Inspector approvingly noted that, “The library contains ample shelving, seating accommodation for 24 pupils and filing cabinets for books and films.” It even had fluorescent lighting, electric heating, and washing facilities. But it was not long before the library was considered too small for use by large classes, and library activities had to be conducted in the classroom.
The migrations from Europe after the Second World War meant that the faces of students were changing. No longer would there be only the white faces of British and Irish descendents; children of war-torn Europe, from Greece to the Netherlands, would now also occupy the classroom. It would be a difficult time for all, as most of these children could not speak English. To help ease the transition, these immigrants would not be seen as foreigners, but New Australians. Extra English classes were held to assist the students learn their new language. In 1965 the District Inspector commented that Moonee Ponds Central School was “doing valuable work with a group of New Australians recently admitted to the school. This is a very interesting school successfully providing for individual progress in basic skills,” and in 1968 that “the Principal and his staff have made strong purposeful efforts to ensure that all pupils feel accepted and secure and that all aspects of communication are developed as quickly as possible.” Over the decades the proportion of students at MPCS from non-English speaking backgrounds steadily increased, so that by 1965 the proportion was 50%. In 1973 the student population was approximately one-third Anglo-Saxon, one-third Greek and one-third Italian.
In 1978 the school buildings were extended, with a new and large library, several double classrooms, a new staff-room, a clay room and art & craft room, and offices for the Principal, Vice-Principal and Secretary. These new, modern, additions improved the physical environment of the school, ensuring a more conducive learning environment for students.
Boredom in the classroom affects not only the bored student, but the entire class. Children learn best when they are engaged with the subject. In 2003 MPCS joined the Melbourne Network Classrooms programme. The programme was introduced to investigate and implement new methods of teaching that would provide students with an interesting yet challenging education.
In 2003 there were 206 students attending Moonee Ponds Central School.
Personal Recollection
Melbourne Dust Storm
I attended Moonee Ponds Central School between 1981 and 1983. In February 1983 a dust storm hit Melbourne. We were told by our teacher to get under our desks and stay away from the windows. At first it was quite exciting, seeing the sky darken and the the outside slowly disappear as the dust came through. Then the lights went out and it was pitch black; I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. That was a little scary. But the dust passed by and daylight returned. Getting out from under the desk I went to the window and looked outside. The school-grounds was now brown, covered in dust. It was an amazing sight.
- Stephen Moore, 2005.
MPCS student in Grades 1-3, 1981-83.
References:
Angus, C. (Ed), Wilson Street School: A Brief History of Moonee Ponds Central School No.3987 1919-1994, Moonee Ponds Central School, Moonee Ponds, 1994.
http://www.mnc.vic.edu.au/index.html
