RONGOTAI COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 21, 25 July 1945, Page 4

RONGOTAI COLLEGE

PRINCIPAL RESIGNS

The resignation of Mr. F. M. Renner, principal of Rongotai College, to take effect from January 31 next, was received by the Wellington Colleges Board of Governors yesterday. A tribute to Mr. Renner's services over 46 years was paid by board members. It was recalled in the board's tribute that he entered Wellington College with a Governors' Scholarship in 1891, and while there won the Moore Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship, and Barnicoat Memorial Prize, becoming head of the school in 1894. He was a member of the first cricket eleven. Proceeding to Canterbury College with a university scholarship, he obtained his Master of Arts degree with honours in languages. He was appointed assistant master of his old school in 1900. While at Wellington College he had charge of College House (1909-1911) and charge

of college boarders, 1912, during Mr. J. P. Firth's absence. He was head of the English Department in 1921----1928, and for over 15 years served with the cadet unit with the rank of captain. For ten years he was O.C.unit, and on his retirement from military service in 1929 was awarded the Efficiency Decoration. He played most games and was a member of the Miramar Golf Club in the early 1900's. He held important positions in education outside the classroom. He was a member of the University Entrance Board, 1921-1928, secretary of the Secondary Schools Assistants' Association, 1912-1928, and secretary of the Secondary Schqols' Association from its inception until 1929. His publication in 1919 of "The Status and Pay of the Secondary School Teacher in New Zealand" had a profound effect in ameliorating the conditions of pay and service and superannuation. The salary scheme outlined in the booklet was until comparatively recently the basis on which salaries were computed. The granting to teachers of the right of appeal against dismissal and improved conditions of superannuation were important milestones during his years of office. He was appointed principal of Rongotai College in 1928, continued the board's tribute. His work there had been largely devoted to an insistence on the docti'ine that true democracy could only be developed by developing the individual, and that every boy haa the right to contribute something .to the progress of humanity; that a wellbalanced education on a broad basis was the only type that would fit. a boy for service, hence the insistence at Rongotai College on the value of cultural subjects, such as art and music. The soundness of those doctrines ,has ;been proved again and again. I Mr. Renner's resignation was aciCepted. i 1 The board yesterday also accepted the resignation of Mr. Temple White, part-time music master at Rongotai College. _______________