A POPULAR TEACHER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 127, 22 February 1921, Page 8

A POPULAR TEACHER

MR. J. T. O. STEVENS HONOURED.

For the purpose of fayewelling Mr. J. T. O. Stevens, formerly first assistant at the I’etone West School, who has been appointed to tho headmastership of the Roseneath School, citiens, parents, and scholars foregathered at ilia Oddfellows’ Hall, Petone, last evening. Tho building was .packed to tho doors. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M’Ewan) presided. associated with him on the platform being the guest of honour, Mr. Stevens, and Mrs. Stevens, Mr. D. S. Bcdingfield (headmaster of the Petone West Schoo)), Mr. C. N. Haslam (headmaster of the Petone D.H.S.), Mr. D. M’Kenzie, and members of the West School committee. On behalf of the scholars, Mr. J. Hay (secretary of the committee) presented Mr. Stevens with a gold watch, after which tho gathering sang ‘For HUs a Jolly Good Fellow.” Loud cheering followed.

Tho Mayor said it gave him much pleasure to see a teacher so highly honoured. He could say.with a good conscience that Mr. Stevens had proved to be in every way a good citizen of tho town. Mr. Stevens’s job at the Petone West School had been to help in the production of the good citizens of the future. "Every one of you who have come under his control will always remonber him and what he has done for you," said the speaker. If wo were going to have a country worth living incontinued Mr. M’Ewan, we would have to have an educated people. Referring to the guest of honour, the speaker said he was worthy of the honour the people of the town had. been so generously disposed to confer upon him. "You have highly honoured him to-night, and I can assure you that we wish him every prosperity and success in his new sphere of labour." Mr. Bcdingfield said it was gratifying to see such a large gathering to do Mr. Stevens honour.

Mr. Haslam stated that he did like to see scholars so loyal to a teacher. In being loyal to their school, their teachers, and their country they were, inculcating the very fundamentals which Aheir teachers were trying to teach them.

Mr. D. M’Kenzie and. Mr. J. Piper also spoke. Mr. Stevens feelingly responded. During the everting a bright >rogrannne whs (submitted, (among those contributing to it being the following: —Overture, Miss Molly Evans; songs, Misses Evans (2), Connie Philp, Joyce Morris, Molly Evans, Mr. Manning, and Master Pollock; duets, ! Misses Carter and Robinson, Misses Green and Casey, and Misses P. Armstrong and Molly Evane; recitations, Bruce Fleet and N. Hannah; Eileen Wiggans, “Butterfly Dance”; Dorothy Armstrong and Ruby Gibson, “Dance of the Roses." At the conclusion of the proceedings, Edward Blacker, of the Sixth Standard, was presented by the Mayor with the Shelly medal, in honour of his being dux of the school.