A POPULAR MASTER

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 160, 1 April 1919, Page 6

A POPULAR MASTER

MR. H. A. PARKINSON FAKEWELLED

Members of the School Committee and tlio teaching staff and a number of exteachers of the Wellington South School met yesterday to say farewell to Mr. 11. A. Parkinson, who for many years has occupied the position, of headmaster, and is now retiring on superannuation. JUr. Wiles, 'chairman of the School Committee, said that in this work at Wellington South Mr. Parkinson had secured the sympathy and good will not only of pupils and teachers, but of the public as well. Though they were sorry that Mr. Parkinson was leaving the school, he could still do a great deal in his new position (that of secretary to the Educational Institute) for the cause of education. Mr. T. Forsyth, chairman of the Education Board, said that Mr. Parkinson was entering a wider sphere for tho exercise of his recognised ability as a teacher and organiser, and of his qualities as a citizen. He very much regretted that tho school was losing Mr. Parkinson's services, but, like Mr. Wiles, he 'believed that Mr. Parkinson still had a great deal of. useful work before him, He believed that the good work that Mr. Parkinson had done in the school would be ably carried on by his scuccessor, Mr. Bethune.

Mr. J. C. Burns (first assistant) presented to Mr. Parkinson, on behalf of tho people of the district, punils, and expupils of the school, and members of tho teaching staff past and_ present, an illuminated address, expressing regret at his retirement and good wishes for his future. Mr. Parkinson. 6aid Mr. Burns, had been described as ''a popular headmaster." Well, it was easy for a headmaster, if ho was easy-going, to lie popular, but Mr. Parkinson had not earned his popularity by easy-going methods: he had been a straightforward, iust headmaster, untiring "in the cause of ! the school and of education'.

Several other speakers very briefly endorsed tho good things that had been said of Mr. Parkinson.

In reply, Mr. Parkinson thanked his fellow teachers and the School Committee for their kindness to him. Re had spent twelve very hnppy years in Wellington South,' and he was genuinely sorry to be leaving the school. lie sincerely hoped that within the next five years the foundations would be laid of much that was new in nationnl education. Changes were gradually coming about already. When lie had first como .to the school there had been 112 pupils under one teacher in the sixth standard: The reduction that had since been made in the number of pupils allotted to one teacher had brought about certain welcome modifications in the methods of teaching, ami he hoped that further modifications would soon bo possible. It had been said that nobody vet knew what real teaching was; and he agreed that neither teachers nor punils had yet been jnve.n the conditions that Would make for the best work possible. Tho committee of thn Wellington South School had been really good friends to the school. School committees, like many other things, were improving. (Laushter.l Most school committees were useful, and. some were very useful indeed. Educational reformers thought, however, that there should' be ?. change in the constitution of the.eommittees, The head teacher, if not all tlie.teachers in -a school, should be on. tlie committee, and the committee should be one formed for the' purpose ofj advancing education in a district, and. not for the purpose of "bossing" the teacher. There was no reason why a school, if it were properly equipped, should be closed to the public out of school' hours. It should take its proper part in the life of the community. There should be attached to it tennis courts for the young neople, and swjmmiiig baths. It should bo the local hall where the you.iig could' assemble for the singing class that, would 'be a feature of community life in the future. It should bo need by Roy Scouts and teachers' societi«i for the holding of meetings.

In conclusion, Mr. Parkinson spoko with pleasure of the happy personal relations lie had lifid with all those with whom he had been associated in tho work of the school. All had been very good friends to him, and he wished to thank them very heartily for. their expressions of good will towards liini.

Earlier in the afternoon Mr. Parkinson was' the recipient of a set of Kipling's works, a ease of pines, and a travelling bug, presented' by Miss Monteitli (a senior inipilV on behalf of the children attending the school.