EDUCATION BOARD GATHERING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27410, 24 July 1954, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD GATHERING

END OF FOUR YEAR TERM

The Canterbury Education Board’s last formal gathering before election results are announced next week was a morning tea reception given yesterday by the chairman (Mr S. J. Irwin) and Mrs Irwin. They had invited all the retiring board members, representatives of the board’s staff in all departments, of the inspectorate, Teachers’ College, and Normal School, Canterbury University College, and the Canterbury School Committees’ Association, with their wives. At the close of this board’s four-year term, it was only right that appreciation should be expressed to all who had co-operated in the interests of education, Mr Irwin said. Officers and staff of the board had never failed in their duties, the inspectors had provided a happy link with the Education Department, teaching staff had remarkable achievements in spite of difficulties, the university gave friendly co-operation, school committees had shown unprecedented interest by laymen, and the public had been kept fully informed by the newspapers. “Never before has therq been such public interest in our schools,” Mr Irwin said. The striking feature now emerging was the contrast between the older schools and the new ones, Mr Irwin said. It was only to be expected that demands would arise for the modernisation of established schools to the standards of the new. Building expenditure by the board had doubled in four years, but the situation of the older schools would become a burning question for the Government. Retiring Members *

Mr F. G. Armstrong and Mr A. McNeil, board members of long standing, are not seeking re-election. Mr Irwin presented pipes to them from their colleagues “for times of happy reflection.” Mr Armstrong had always keenly advocated the improvement of country schools and amenities to maintain rural communities. He had long been chairman of the board’s agricultural committee, Mr Irwin said. Mr McNeil, after long service as a senior inspector, nad contributed unstintingly from professional knowledge,- and had been chairman of the appointments committee.

Dunng his reply. Mr Armsti-ong reiterated his desire for facilities to keep young people’s interest in the country. The only difficulty seemed that the structure of the educational system was becoming too cumbersome, he said. Mr McNeil said he retained the warmest admiration for teachers. “Tell them what 'you want and they will give it to you,” he said, “but don’t make vague generalisations about the st ™ da £ ds ~ of spewing and arithmetic.” Mr C. S. Thomp'son, senior member the retiring board, paid a tribute to Mr Irwin as “one of the best chairmen we have ever had.” Dr. H. E. Field, professor of education at Canterbury College, and Mr Duncan t Mackay, principal of the Teachers College, said they were impressed with the complementary nature of ®ll edticatipnal services and the unselfish devotion given by interested laymen.