The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1921. PILLARS OF THE STATE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1921. PILLARS OF THE STATE.

The debt which a country owes to its teachers of the young is one that grows greater year by year. In their hands is not only the key to the future success of the community, but the moulding of its character, its virility and its standard of intelligence. Our teachers, and especially those who prove worthy of their vocation, are veritable pillars of the State, for to them is entrusted the works of laying the foundation of good citizenship. Education is not merely teaching, but the leading forth of the inherent intelligence of a child in the right direction, inculcating aims and ideals, stimulating the right sort of ambition, and impressing on the young the stamp of personality. Children are natural critics, so that a teacher to be successful must not only be equipped with knowledge, but must understand his pupils, be a good organiser and possess a character of such sterling value that will attract the respect and esteem of the children. Taranaki has fortunately been richly endowed with men and women who in their capacity of-teaehers have shed lustre on the province and sent forth into the world pupils of high promise and sound scholarship. Two such benefactors to the race have recently been honored on their retirement from their life’s work in our midst, one being Mr. F. Tyrer, headmaster of the Stratford school, and the other Miss Drew, of the New Plymouth Girls’ High School. Mr. Tyrer has thirty years of high endeavor and outstanding success to his credit, during which time the Stratford school grew from a roll of 64 to 834. What that means can only be imagined, especially as the school was .designated by the Minister of Education as the “best of its kind in the Dominion.” Thousands of men and women owe to Mr. Tyrer a lifelong debt of gratitude for his precept and example, as well as for his good advice and encouragemerit, and the gathering which recently did honor to his splendid services emphasised how keenly they were appreciated. Miss G. A. Drew for nearly twenty years has labored conscientiously and with gratifying success as a meinber of the staff of the New Plymouth High School, where her excellent teaching and kindly interest have made an indelible impress on the pupils. She has done her noble work in a way that has endeared her to those she taught, smoothing their dimeulties and inspiring them with the example of true womanliness, lhe loss of two such grand examples of the teaching profession will be keenly felt. They have, however well earned their retirement, which may they long and happily enjoy. Although no longer a factor in actual school life t heir influence and good work will remain to inspire their successors and benefit their scholars throughout their lives. .