CHIEF INSPECTOR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 11

CHIEF INSPECTOR

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

MR. E. J. PARR RETIRES

TEACHERS' TRIBUTE

Appreciation of the help given to secondary school teachers by Mr. E. J. Parr, who has retired from the position of chief inspector of secondary schools, was expressed by members of the executive of the Secondary Schools' Association and the Assistants' Association when they met at Wellington College to farewell Mr. Parr. Tributes were paid to the work done by Mr. Parr for education in New Zealand.

Mr. E. N. Hogben, president of the Secondary Schools' Association, said that among those present there were several who had made a special trip to Wellington to do honour to Mr. Parr. He referred to the services rendered by Mr. Parr in addition to his official work, particularly in connection with the institution of the grading scheme and payment of teachers on a national scale. Twenty years ago the secondary school with a single course was the regular thing. Now such a school would be difficult to find. He then dealt with the "personal qualities which had made the chief inspector so respected and appreciated by secondary teachers—his never-failing courtesy and kindliness, his dislike of the limelight, and his good humour.

Mr. H. Henderson, president of the Assistants' Association, referred to the urbanity and sincerity of the guest of honour.

Mr. W. A. Armour, headmaster of Wellington College, said he had always been impressed with his ability and his wide range of knowledge, which was almost encyclopaedic. He referred also to his mastery of detail and his sense of fairness and justice.

Mr. Hogben presented Mr. Parr with a set of bowls.

In his reply, Mr. Parr expressed his appreciation of the opportunity of meeting some of the secondary teachers. After 22 years spent in visiting the secondary schools of New Zealand it was pleasant to know that he was parting from friends. He stressed the gradual" improvement that had taken place in the attitude of teachers to inspectors and vice versa, and stated that the standard had been set by his predecessor, Mr. Cresswell, and that he had tried to keep it up. He felt certain that the standard of efficiency displayed by the teachers was much higher than when he joined the inspectorate.