EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18420, 29 June 1925, Page 8

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

FAREWELL TO MR W. BROCK.

There was a large, and representative gathering of Canterbury teachers at "To Wharo" on Friday evening to bid farewell, and make a presentation to Mr W. Brock, who recently retired from tho position of Senior Inspector of the Canterbury Education District. The inspectors wero represented by Messrs McNeil, Evans, Raymond, Graham, and Haslam, and there'were in addition :i number of retired teachers present, including Mia Chaplin, Messrs C. T. Aschman, W. N. Scay, J. B. Mnyne, H. Thomson, and H. R. Wilkinson. Apologies for absence wero received from Misses Sponee, Callaghan,' Wills, Finlayson, and Messrs' C. D. Hardie, J. F. Wilson, J. A. Henry, T. W. Ambrose and G-. F. Allen. Mr J. E. E. Smith (president of tho North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Institute), in asking Mr Brock to accept from the teachers as a tangible token of their appreciation of his work among them, a table grand gramophone and records, said the Canterbury Education District had always been fortunate in its inspectors. Tho teachers had been specially fortunate in having among them as a guide, counsellor and friend, an educationist of tho calibre of Mr Brock. Ho had ever been most approachable, quick to recognise merit, and ready at all times" to give helpful advico to tho teachers. Throughout tho many changes during his long connexion with the control of education, Mr Brock had carried out his duties with characteristic thoroughness. Ho had always set a high standard, and his influence on the schools would bo felt for many years to come. On behalf of the' teachers of the whole Canterbury District, ho wished Mr Brock many years of.lcistired caso and happy retirement, and assured him of tho gratitude of the teachers among whom he had. laboured during his long period of service. Mr B. A. McKeown, who spoke on behalf of the Ashley branch, assured Mr Brock that the North Canterbury teachers would feel his retirement very keenly, and thanked him on their behalf for the many kindnesses they had received at his hands. Mr C. W. Colee, representing the South Canterbury branch, conveyed to the guest of the evening the best wishes of the branch for many happy years of leisure, and in doing so, stressed ihc assistance and kindness he personally hnd received, as a voung teacher, from Mr Brock. Mr W. N. Scay, on behalf of the retired teachers, spoke in appreciative terms of the valuable work Mr Brock had done. He pointed out how greatly the relations between inspectors and teachers had altered during the last forty years, and emphasised the point that the greatly improved conditions under which teachers now worked wore due to the battles fought by the stalwarts of the past. Mr Brock, who, on rising to reply, was received with musical honours, thanked the teachers for their gift, and the speakers for their kindly references to his work. He paid a tribute to his colleagues on the inspect irate for their loyal and untiring resistance; it .was to their efforts any success he had achieved must be attributed. He pointed out how materially the position of teachers had improve-.' in every respect during his fifty vc.:i.\s u'i service, and in this connexion str.j-.sed the importance of the grading list- to teachers, lie had always found that the* Canterbury teachers could be depended upon to carry out their wor': efficiently, and to adapt themselves to the changes made necessary by educational progress. In conclusion, he declared that he had enjoyed every moment of his work, and that while ho deeply regretted severing his orti.-ial connexion with the teachers, he wot:M always be only too willing 1o ::s-=ist them in their work in even- wav possible. Musical items were given by Misser, Sowden, Hounsell, and Habcrficld, and Messrs Hoskius,. Morgan, and Par.-v. A very successful evening was-brought to a close by the singing of '"Auld Lang Sync. ' '