|
The Presentation Sisters first arrived in Hospital in 1891 and established a
convent and primary school for girls. The introduction of the Intermediate Exam
in 1907 heralded the commencement of the convent secondary school and the
opportunity for the girls of the parish to avail of post-primary education.
In 1893 the De La Salle brothers arrived in Hospital and took charge of the boys
national school. Until 1940 the only secondary education for boys in Hospital
was provided by the "Secondary Top", an extension of the primary school. In
response to the wishes of the people the brothers opened a secondary school in
1940.
The 1930 Vocational Education Act established 38 local education authorities
with power to set up vocational schools to give free post-primary education
with a particular emphasis on vocational skills such as woodwork, metalwork,
domestic economy and commercial subjects. Hospital Vocational school, founded
in 1932 was the first to be established in County Limerick.
|
|
In 1972 the two secondary schools in Hospital amalgameted. The school was
called the Presentation De La Salle Secondary School. The amalgamation of two
schools run by two religious orders was unique at the time but it proved
to be an unqualified success.
School Prayer & Meditation Room
In 1997 a new and exciting chapter in the history of education in Hospital
opened with the amalgamation of Presentation De La Salle and Hospital
Vocational School to form John The Baptist Community School, incorporating all
the three education traditions of the parish.
|
