A POPULAR SCHOOL INSPECTOR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2773, 19 August 1924, Page 2

A POPULAR SCHOOL INSPECTOR.

* MR. BAKEWELL FA REWELLED AT LEVIN.

Mr F. 11. Bakewell, late Chief Inspector of the Wellington Board’s district, was tendered a farewell at the Levin District High School on Saturday morning, when some sixty teachers from the Horowhenua Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, incluidng representatives of the teaching profession from Shannon to Paraparanmu', assembled to hid farewell to the retiring educationalist. Amongst those present also were Mr J. Linklater, M.P., Messrs TTarkness and Atkins, members of the Wellington Education Board. Inspector Cowles and Blackic and Mr T 3. W. Mntheson, chairman of the Levin "Dist rict- High School Committee.

Mr F. IT. Taylor, president of the district branch of the N.Z.E.1., presented Mr Bakewell, on behalf of the branch, with a well-tilled wallet. Eulogistic speeches were made by members of the teaching profession. Mr J. Linklater. ALP., said he felt somewhat diffident about expressing himself in such a- learned company as was assembled (laughter), ha; he u as wr\ pleased indeed to l, able to join in the tribute paid to Mi Ila ken ell. lie wanted to say that the teaching profession was rem. generally as the greatest ..Moo on earth in it- influence and effects. Li the teacher’s hands was the moulding of the future citizens of a country and areording to whether thcii work was done well or ill depended largely the future of that country.-Mr Bakowell’s work had been the inspector of schools of the Wellington district and in this lie bad bad a very heavy responsibility placed upon his shoulders. That he was leavisg with such all excellent feeling existing between himself and the teachers of the district ,spoke highly of the manner in which lie had carried out his work, whilst the advance in standard of the schools was a high tribute to his ability. (Applause). As he had stated previously it was recognised that the teaebisg profession was the most- important in the country. It war. not his intention to discuss whether the teacher was adequately paid or otherwise, but lie would like to say that the salary given should he sufficient to attract the host brains of the country to ilc profession.

A junior teacher: It does now! (Laughter and applause). Continuing, Mr Linklater said that although New Zealand had just come through the greatest slump in history, it was eminently satisfactory to note that the vote for educational 'purposes had been-'largely increased. The total money voted foi the purpose this year had been .€3,271,781, to which must be added the amount derived from educational endowments, etc., which made up a further £78.100, as against £2,280,000 for 1922 -23. The expenditure on education hud risen since 1911 by 100 per cent, and whilst this was largely due to the increase in the number of scholars and to the greater advantage taken of secondary education, the improvement in educational facilities was responsible for much of it. Whilst ii was pleasing to see the wide advantage taken of secondary education at the present time, it was an open question if the secondary education as provided at present was in (lie best interests of the country. It was an undeniable fact that it gave a decided bias towards professional and clerical life. This was all very well in its way but New Zealand was an essentially fanning country, and the time had arrived when secondarc education should he directed hi a larger degree to titling the youth of the country more fully-for New Zealand’s greatest profession — farming. In conclusion he hoped Fiat the autumn of Air Bakeweil’s life would be spent in happiness and health and felt that he could assure him, in common with those who bad spoken before of hearty good wishes of tile teaching profession and of the general public. Mr Bakewell, who on rising to icspond was greeted with prolonged applause, expressed his regret at severing his connection with the profession. During his 41 years’ connection with education in this eountrv, he had -seen so much of the d faculties with which the teachers,

more especially in hack-block districts, had to contend with —lack of facilities, poor accommodation, and more particularly still, lack of stimulating companionship and society that he felt always that any encouragement lie could give them was the very least lie could do. Mr Bakewell sketched at length the advance in education in the country since he had first joined the profession, emphasising particularly the advance in public opinion regarding its value and necessity. He agreed with Mr Linklater as to the necessity of agricultural colleges, which would he places where the students would not merely gain degrees, which in the past had often merely covered a lack of practical knowledge, hut where farming would be taught as a practical seieuce and men sent out, not with useless degrees hut with a wider knowledge of farming. '■ Finally he asked those whom he left behind to carry on the business of education to always work so as to let the public know that the service, which was a public service, was the most dignified and the unfit necessary of all to the public. He would always bear with him a recollection of the many fine men and women with whom he had been associated in the work and he thanked them sincerely for their expressions that day, and for many past kindnesses. (Prolonged applause). The function concluded with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” and three hearty cheers for the retiring inspector.