Published in Wellington College Old Boys' Association Newsletter
Some interesting information about past health crises and how schools and students coped. This Wellington College newsletter is from David Cox’s old school.
Technology has changed how we do things but the realities of epidemics are still the same.
On-line media and digital learning platforms have made a huge difference in helping our boys keep focussed in this day and age. Spare a thought for our former students whose studies were much more antiquated during times of previous epidemics.
In 1918, the school year ended in October and Wellington College became a temporary hospital. Wellington had so many people dying from the influenza epidemic [also known as the Spanish 'flu] at the time that Post Office trucks were taking 16 bodies at once to the cemetery. Health workers and police were overwhelmed, many dying themselves, and temporary hospitals such as one at Wellington College struggled to cope.
The 1937 Wellingtonian said: "1937 has proved to be a difficult year for masters and boys alike. The epidemic of infantile paralysis, which had begun to make its existence felt in December of last year, hung ominously like a cloud over school holidays, and delayed the reopening of schools for a month. After six weeks of school, we were closed again until the end of May. In order to minimise the disadvantages which boys would suffer, the school was organised for tuition by correspondence; assignments were despatched each week and work returned twice in each week.
In November, 1948, the school again closed early with the poliomyelitis epidemic, and again, Prize-giving was postponed. While healthy children appreciated the time off school, those who caught polio could not enjoy the extended holiday. Lessons were carried out by correspondence at home. Lessons were also broadcast daily over the national radio station".
Even mention of the word 'polio' caused shivers to pass down the spines of all New Zealanders old enough to know their meaning.
The 1937 Wellingtonian said: "1937 has proved to be a difficult year for masters and boys alike. The epidemic of infantile paralysis, which had begun to make its existence felt in December of last year, hung ominously like a cloud over school holidays, and delayed the reopening of schools for a month. After six weeks of school, we were closed again until the end of May. In order to minimise the disadvantages which boys would suffer, the school was organised for tuition by correspondence; assignments were despatched each week and work returned twice in each week.
In November, 1948, the school again closed early with the poliomyelitis epidemic, and again, Prize-giving was postponed. While healthy children appreciated the time off school, those who caught polio could not enjoy the extended holiday. Lessons were carried out by correspondence at home. Lessons were also broadcast daily over the national radio station".
Even mention of the word 'polio' caused shivers to pass down the spines of all New Zealanders old enough to know their meaning.