ANONYMOUS writes:
I am deeply saddened and angered by the removal of the name ‘KJ Ablett Hall’ from the hall at Norkem Park Primary School.
When queried, I was told that the name was removed in order for the building to be painted. However, after a great lapse of time and numerous requests for the name to be replaced, it is concluded that Mr John Clark, the current principal of the school will not see the name returned to the building.
I find this unacceptable and an echo of the defacing and destroying of statues throughout our country. Will we crumble into a history-less society? What gives one man the right to remove the name from a building that is the history of a school, and forms the foundation for many students who attended the school in the great Mr Ablett’s time as principal?
While a name can be disregarded, along with the sadness and anger of many, memories and legacy cannot. To many who called Norkem Park Primary their school in the 80s, under the integrity and guidance of a true gentleman, Mr Ablett, the school will always hold his fingerprints, name or no name.
Norkem Park Primary school’s principal John Clark responds:
It is a pity that the person chose to remain anonymous as we have an open door policy and we never deal with anonymous issues.
The facts of the matter are as follows:
· Mr Ablett was a fantastic headmaster of the school for 18 years.
· His picture is placed in a prominent place in the hall foyer.
· The signage K J Ablett Hall was removed when the exterior of the hall was repainted.
· When the signage was removed, the letters crumbled as they were made of wood and had perished.
· The cost of replacing them with metal or brass letters did not seem warranted as funds were put into more critical areas such as toilet facilities for our learners.
· There has only been one enquiry (not numerous) about this situation coming from one of our current staff members.
Mr Ablett will always be respected as playing an important role in the history of our school as he was the first of only two principals.
